Happy Chinese New Year! How to celebrate in China in 2026

As the clocks strike midnight on 17 February, fireworks will set the skies ablaze over China, celebrating the coming of the Year of the Horse. It’s a remarkable time to be in the country. For the next 15 days, dragon and lion dances will weave through the crowds, the streets will sparkle with lanterns, and families will come together for festive feasts. The horse, a symbol of energy, independence and curiosity, makes 2026 the perfect year for travellers to discover China’s timeless traditions and modern wonders. What better time to join Wendy Wu Tours, together with Trailfinders, to roam centuries-old temples, marvel at epic landscapes and explore pulsing modern cities, experiencing China in all its extraordinary diversity? It’s like it was written in the stars.

Begin your journey in China’s capital, Beijing, a city steeped in imperial history, where emperors once governed from the Forbidden City, offered prayers for good harvests at the Temple of Heaven, and sought tranquillity among the lakes and pavilions of the Summer Palace.

In the mountains north of the capital, you’ll hike the Great Wall of China as it snakes over the hilly land. This feat of human ambition feels ever more astonishing with each passing century, though its wonky steps have caught many a visitor out, so watch where you put your feet.

Travel west by bullet train to Xi’an, where another feat of human endeavour awaits: the Terracotta Army. Buried for over two millennia, these thousands of life-size warriors were crafted to guard China’s first emperor in the afterlife. Afterwards, you’ll have a chance to explore this ancient Silk Road capital, with its lively Muslim Quarter and mouthwatering food. Xi’an was once the launch point for trading caravans heading deep into Central Asia.

From there, swap city streets for soaring peaks at Zhangjiajie, where pillars of rock rise through misty subtropical forest. This gravity-defying landscape is said to have inspired the floating mountains of the Avatar films, and it immerses travellers in some of China’s most dreamlike scenery, rivalled only by the Three Gorges, your next destination as you cruise the mighty Yangtze River. After three days, disembark at Chongqing, a vertiginous, futuristic city where neon-lit streets, giant pandas and fiery hot pot provide a striking finale.

This more streamlined adventure also sees you begin among the UNESCO-listed palaces and temples of Beijing. Wander the old hutong alleyways, discover on-trend cafes and boutiques, then strike out to the majestic Great Wall for an unforgettable hike through history.

From Beijing, fly south to Zhangjiajie, a landscape of otherworldly wonder. Ride the world’s longest cablecar to Tianmen Mountain, marvel at ‘Heaven’s Gate’, a natural arch in the peak, then step out onto the glass skywalk for vertigoinducing views. The forested trails of Emperor Mountain and Helong Park come next, as you trace paths through dense pine and cypress forests to a lookout that oversees the magnificent ‘First Bridge under the Sun’ – where two mountains meet in the sky, framed by mist-shrouded valleys and cascading waterfalls.

At Furong Ancient Town, a riverside gem where traditional stilt houses line cobbled streets, the town’s vibrant local life offers a taste of centuries-old ways of living. Then it’s on to modern Chongqing, where you’ll encounter giant pandas at a local sanctuary, soak in naturally heated hot springs, and explore the UNESCO-listed Dazu Rock Carvings, with thousands of Buddhist, Taoist and Confucian figures carved into the cliff face. A spectacular finale awaits after dark, as 5,000 drones perform a display of light, artistry and precision.