I. Division of Peak and Off-Peak Seasons for Travel in China

1. Peak Season Times
2. National Day Golden Week: October 1-7 (a nationwide holiday, with extremely crowded tourist attractions and transportation).
3. Spring Festival Holiday: From New Year’s Eve to the 15th day of the first lunar month (approximately 1-2 weeks, with peak Spring Festival travel overlapping with tourism).
4. Summer Vacation: July-August (mainly students and families, with high traffic in popular cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu).

5. May Day Labor Festival: May 1-3 (short-distance travel surges).

6. Off-Peak Season Times

7. Winter Off-Peak: November to February of the following year (except during Spring Festival, when it is cold in the north and fewer tourists visit some southern cities).
8. Spring Off-Peak Period: March-April (avoiding the May Day holiday, pleasant weather).
9. Autumn Off-Peak Period: Mid-October-November (after National Day until early winter, beautiful scenery with fewer people).

II. Key Differences Between Off-Peak and Peak Seasons

III. How to Effectively Avoid Peak Season?

1. Adjust Travel Time
2. Choose post-Spring Festival from March to April or mid-October to November after National Day, with suitable climate and significantly reduced crowds.

3. Avoid the first and last two days of domestic holidays (such as October 1st-2nd of National Day, New Year’s Eve to the fifth day of Spring Festival).

4. Choose Non-Hot Destinations

5. Alternative Suggestions:

   • During peak season, visit the Forbidden City in Beijing; during off-peak season, choose the Chengde Mountain Resort or Pingyao Ancient City in Shanxi.
   • During peak season, visit the Bund in Shanghai; during off-peak season, switch to Suzhou Gardens or lesser-known spots around West Lake in Hangzhou.

6. Travel Timing Techniques

7. Transportation Timing: Choose early morning flights/high-speed trains (6:00-8:00 AM) or overnight trains.
8. Sightseeing Timing: Enter scenic spots within one hour of opening or two hours before closing, avoiding the peak times between 10:00 AM-3:00 PM.

9. City Connections: Prioritize high-speed rail (such as the Beijing-Shanghai line or Shanghai-Kunming line) over planes to reduce delay risks.

10. Advance Planning and Booking

11. Flights/High-Speed Trains: Book 2-3 months in advance during peak season; book 1 month in advance during off-peak season.
12. Hotels: Use apps like Ctrip or Fliggy to filter "off-season specials," paying attention to chain hotel member discounts.

13. Scenic Spot Tickets: Make reservations through official WeChat accounts or mini-programs (such as those for the Forbidden City or Terracotta Warriors).

14. Utilize Smart Tools

15. Navigation to Avoid Congestion: Gaode Map and Baidu Map show real-time scenic spot crowd levels.
16. Takeout Instead of Dining In: Meituan and Ele.me can help reduce restaurant wait times.

IV. Precautions for Off-Peak Travel

1. Some Attractions May Adjust Opening Hours (e.g., winter operations for northern snow-based attractions or seasonal closures for some mountainous areas in the south).
2. Extreme Weather Impact: Prepare warm clothing for winter (-10°C in the north), and watch out for typhoon warnings in the south during summer.
3. Reduced Service Resources: Some hotels and restaurants may close during off-peak seasons, so confirm in advance by phone.

V. Summary Recommendations

• If You Prefer Crowds and Cultural Festivals: Choose peak season but be prepared for higher costs and congestion.
• For Better Value and Deeper Experiences: Travel during off-peak seasons and adjust your itinerary flexibly.