How Does Sunday & Holiday Hours Work in China?
Last verified: 2025-06 · Asia
1The Quick Answer
China is commercially open 7 days a week, but government offices are closed on weekends and Golden Week holidays cause massive nationwide disruption.
2What You Need to Know
Shops, restaurants, malls, and tourist attractions in China are almost universally open 7 days a week — Sunday closures are not a feature of Chinese commercial life. Government offices and banks operate Monday to Friday and are closed on weekends. The two most significant holiday periods are Golden Week (October 1–7, National Day holiday) and Spring Festival / Chinese New Year (dates vary, typically January–February), during which domestic travel reaches record levels, popular tourist sites become extremely crowded, and many small businesses close for days or weeks. Planning travel around these dates is strongly advisable.
3Practical Tips
Practical Tips
- 1Check the Chinese public holiday calendar before booking — Golden Week and Spring Festival see hundreds of millions of people traveling simultaneously.
- 2Book trains, accommodation, and tickets to major attractions weeks in advance if you must travel during a national holiday period.
- 3Many small family-run restaurants and shops close for 1–2 weeks during Spring Festival as owners travel home — this can affect food options even in cities.
Important Warning
The Great Wall, Zhangjiajie, West Lake, and other iconic sites become dangerously overcrowded during Golden Week — entry is restricted by timed tickets that sell out; book well in advance or avoid these dates entirely.
How does this compare?
Sunday & Holiday Hours rules in nearby and similar countries:
Most shops, restaurants, and convenience stores are open 7 days a week. Convenience stores never close. Banks close on weekends.
Most shops, malls, and restaurants are open 7 days a week. Convenience stores never close. Buddhist holidays cause alcohol bans and some closures.
Singapore is open 7 days a week. Malls are open daily. Sunday is a normal shopping day. Public holidays see some closures but major malls stay open.
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