Chinese New Year and the traditions behind the world’s biggest annual homecoming
At this time of year, a lot of global planning quietly starts to revolve around one date.
Chinese New Year isn’t simply a public holiday. It’s the cultural centre of the year for millions of people, shaping when they travel, where they go, and how long they stay. Understanding that human side explains far more about the annual pause in production and shipping than any schedule ever could.
Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, has been celebrated for more than 3,000 years. It began as a way to mark the end of winter and welcome the growing season, and over time evolved into a festival rooted in family, continuity, and renewal.
In 2026, Chinese New Year falls on Tuesday 17 February, with New Year’s Eve on Monday 16 February. Unlike Western New Year, these dates follow the lunar calendar, which is why they shift each year.
New Year’s Eve – the night people plan around
Chinese New Year’s Eve is widely considered the most important night of the year.
Families gather for the reunion dinner, often travelling long distances to do so. This meal brings together multiple generations and centres on dishes chosen for their symbolism – fish for abundance, dumplings shaped like ancient silver ingots for prosperity, and long noodles representing longevity.
For many people, attending this dinner is non-negotiable. Being present matters more than convenience, and journeys are made with that in mind.
Going home really does mean going home
In the weeks leading up to Chinese New Year, China enters a period known as Chunyun, or the Spring Festival travel season.
This is widely recognised as the largest annual human migration in the world, involving billions of journeys by train, bus, car, and plane. Cities temporarily thin out as people return to hometowns and villages that may only see their full populations once a year.
Many factory workers live far from where they grew up, often hundreds or thousands of kilometres away. Chinese New Year is the moment they return, sometimes for the only extended break they will take all year. Travel can take many hours or even days, and tickets are booked well in advance.
A festival that unfolds over time
Chinese New Year isn’t a single day. The celebration lasts 15 days, beginning on 17 February 2026 and ending with the Lantern Festival on 3 March 2026.
In the run-up, homes are thoroughly cleaned to sweep away bad luck and prepare for the year ahead. Once the new year begins, cleaning stops, as it’s believed to risk removing newly arrived good fortune.
Red decorations fill streets and homes, symbolising happiness and prosperity. Red envelopes (hongbao) containing money are given as blessings, particularly to children and younger family members. Lantern displays, temple fairs, and lion or dragon dances take place across the country, with traditions varying by region but sharing a common focus on renewal and togetherness.
Why work pauses – and why that’s expected
Because Chinese New Year is so closely tied to family and travel, businesses plan around it rather than attempting to operate through it.
Factories often close or reduce output during the holiday, reopening in stages as people return from their hometowns. This restart isn’t immediate or uniform. It reflects the reality that teams reform gradually and production builds back up over time.
From a logistics perspective, this isn’t a failure of the system. It’s a predictable outcome of people putting family first, supported by decades of established practice.
Why this matters right now
As Chinese New Year approaches, this is the point where understanding the cultural rhythm becomes especially useful.
In the final weeks before the holiday, there is still time to make sensible decisions. Confirming which shipments genuinely need to move before the break, checking paperwork is complete, and being realistic about timelines all help freight move smoothly. Where goods can wait, allowing that pause intentionally often leads to easier restarts afterwards.
This is about working with an established pattern rather than pushing against it.
If you’re interested in how this fits into the wider rhythm of early-year freight, we’ve also shared a short piece on what happens to freight over Christmas and New Year, and how January sets the pace for the months ahead:
Understanding the rhythm behind the pause
Seen through a cultural lens, the logistics impact of Chinese New Year makes sense.
Shipping volumes rise beforehand as production completes early. Activity slows during the holiday itself. Afterwards, things rebuild steadily as people return to work and supply chains regain momentum.
This pattern repeats every year. Once it’s understood, it becomes something to plan with rather than react to.
Chinese New Year is a reminder that global supply chains are shaped by people as much as processes. And understanding why the world briefly pauses often makes everything else easier to manage.
If you’re thinking about how Chinese New Year fits into your early-year planning, this is a good time to have those conversations and make sure timelines feel realistic – you can get in touch with the team.