Public holidays and crowds

Part of Before you go, a sourced pre-trip guide for a first visit to Shanghai. Checked 2026-10-03; rules change, so each step links to its source. Data version 5e1254c0b277.

15–23 Feb · 1–7 Oct — The two longest 2026 public holidays; book museums ahead.

In short

2026 holidays: CNY 15–23 Feb; National Day 1–7 Oct

1. The State Council General Office notice 国办发明电〔2025〕7号 (issued 4 November 2025) sets the 2026 dates:

2. New Year: 1–3 January (3 days); work on 4 January (Sunday).

3. Spring Festival: 15–23 February (9 days); work on 14 February and 28 February (Saturdays).

4. Qingming: 4–6 April (3 days).

5. Labour Day: 1–5 May (5 days); work on 9 May (Saturday).

6. Duanwu: 19–21 June (3 days).

7. Mid-Autumn: 25–27 September (3 days).

8. National Day: 1–7 October (7 days); work on 20 September (Sunday) and 10 October (Saturday).

Sources: State Council General Office

National Day 2026: later trains and station closures

1. Check the 2026 National Day scheme for 1–7 October 2026.

2. On 30 September–3 October, Lines 1, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 13 run extended operating hours.

3. On 30 September from 20:00, three stations are planned to close until the end of service: Line 2 and Line 10 East Nanjing Road, and Line 14 Yuyuan Garden.

4. On 1–7 October, the same three stations are planned to close from 16:00 each day until the end of service.

5. Line 10 Yuyuan Garden Station stays open, and closures may change.

6. On 6–7 October, extra night trains are planned on Lines 1, 2, 10 and 17 until 00:00 the next day.

7. They aim at hub dispersal including Hongqiao, and the notice also flags Pudong Airport Terminal 1 and 2.

Sources: Shanghai Municipal People's Government / 上海发布

Shanghai Museum People's Square: book at peaks

1. At Shanghai Museum People's Square, individual visitors no longer need a reservation from 1 September 2025.

2. Book at peak periods such as national holidays, summer and winter school breaks, and popular special exhibitions.

3. Treat that as this museum's printed rule, not a city-wide statement that all museums follow make-up workdays.

4. Do not infer it from the State Council calendar alone.

Sources: Shanghai Municipal People's Government

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