China Golden Week Holiday: What It Means for Your Supply Chain

The ODM office in Zhuhai, China, will be closed from Wednesday, October 1st to Tuesday, October 7th to observe the Mid-Autumn Festival and China’s National Holiday. We will be back on Wednesday, October 8th. Our office in Vietnam is open for your inquiries and requests.

If you source from China, the Golden Week holiday is more than just time off. It’s one of the most disruptive periods for production and logistics in the entire year. Factories close, shipping schedules stall, and orders placed too late risk being delayed for weeks.

For marketers, procurement teams, and business owners, understanding this holiday is critical to keeping your projects on track. In this blog, we’ll discuss how this significant event can impact your supply chain and business, and provide guidance on how to mitigate its effects.

What Is Golden Week in China?

Golden Week is a seven-day national holiday that takes place every year from October 1 to October 7, marking China’s National Day celebrations. Many businesses, including factories, extend the break beyond a week. Workers often combine it with annual leave, leading to shutdowns that can last up to 10–14 days.

During this period:

Factories halt production completely.
Ports and logistics providers operate at reduced capacity.
Staffing shortages mean even after the holiday, backlogs take time to clear.

What Are the Potential Impacts for Businesses?

China is one of the biggest suppliers of all products in the world. Thus, all businesses that import their products to the country will be affected during the season.

Aside from the import industry, exports might also encounter problems. Listed below are some potential impacts of the China Golden Week Holiday.

Product Shipment
The month of August signals the start of peak season for global freight shipping. This means that more local and international shipments should be expected due to the upcoming China National Day celebration. Chinese Golden Week Holiday causes importers to rush production and send supplies earlier, thus leaving them cramming. They target to ship their supply a few weeks before the celebration to lessen the hustle in the freight space. However, during this season, product shipment is already tight. Moreover, some of the supplies are subject to use during the celebration. Having said that, it is very certain that there will be a price hike for both ocean and air freight. Moreover, trucking services would also tend to get higher demand resulting in a price increase.

Product Shipment

The month of August signals the start of peak season for global freight shipping. This means that more local and international shipments should be expected due to the upcoming China National Day celebration.

Chinese Golden Week Holiday causes importers to rush production and send supplies earlier, thus leaving them cramming. They target to ship their supply a few weeks before the celebration to lessen the hustle in the freight space. However, during this season, product shipment is already tight. Moreover, some of the supplies are subject to use during the celebration.

Having said that, it is very certain that there will be a price hike for both ocean and air freight. Moreover, trucking services would also tend to get higher demand resulting in a price increase.

Supply Chain
Another challenge during this season is the China factories’ shutdown. If you are a business that has been outsourcing to China for over a year, you must already be familiar with how factories operate during this holiday. However, if you are new to China manufacturing, you should be aware of factory operational schedules. If you are planning to use certain products for the holiday promotion, then all must be coordinated well with your manufacturers, and or factories. Having your product not set on time might cause changes to your marketing plan.

Supply Chain

Another challenge during this season is the China factories’ shutdown. If you are a business that has been outsourcing to China for over a year, you must already be familiar with how factories operate during this holiday.

However, if you are new to China manufacturing, you should be aware of factory operational schedules.

If you are planning to use certain products for the holiday promotion, then all must be coordinated well with your manufacturers, and or factories. Having your product not set on time might cause changes to your marketing plan.

How to Prepare for the Golden Week?

1. Stay Updated!

Knowing your supplier’s operational schedule is very crucial in preparing your business and marketing plan during the China Golden Week Holiday.

It is very important to be informed when they will be closed and when they will resume work.

Moreover, you as a business must be aware of when they will stop accepting orders in advance of the factory shutdown.

Aside from your suppliers, you have to get updated about the logistics operational timeline. Doing so can help you prepare and deal with the hustle of the holiday.

2. Communicate With Your Supplier

Preparing the list of the supplies you need earlier would definitely help.

Making factories aware of the specific time you need the items would help them forward the product on time.

Taking it into consideration would ensure that things are all set before the big and long event.

Outsourcing from other factories that are not affected by the shutdown would be a practical option to keep in mind. However, placing the order earlier would also be considered as the shipment of the product would also be affected.

3. Plan Your Shipment Ahead of Time

It is very certain that most shipping lines will cancel operations during Golden Week. Thus, businesses will be affected. Shipment might be delayed for a week, and logistic fees would surely increase.

To avoid such things, planning your product shipment earlier than usual would be the best solution. Consequently, you may also consider using other processes instead of relying on just one shipment option. If you only depend on sea freight, you might also opt for air and trucking this time.

Opportunity for Businesses

Despite the potential hustle the Chinese Golden Week holiday could bring, businesses can actually benefit from this celebration if they manage to plan ahead of time. It would be no surprise for streets and vacation facilities to be filled with people.

It is very timely for businesses in the hospitality industry to roll out their marketing plan during this season. As large crowds are expected, hotels would certainly be jam-packed with tourists. Moreover, malls would be filled with local and foreign shoppers.

The Golden Week Holiday in China is a peak time for tourism as local people and tourists travel to and from the country to celebrate the fascinating holiday period.

If you’re a business looking for an excellent way to promote or give back to your customers and clients during this time, you might love to check out our top picks of tourism merchandise ideas!

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Stay Updated With China Holidays

Several major holidays in China can affect production and shipping schedules. Keep these dates in mind when planning your supply chain.

February – Lunar New Year

June – Dragon Boat Festival

September – Mid-Autumn Festival

Get in touch with ODM

ODM, together with our design agency based in Vietnam, Mindsparkz, ensure that we are always ahead of the game to guarantee that you will get new and innovative products for your marketing campaigns, advertising needs and promotions.

We are one of the country’s leading sourcing companies, providing streamlined services including manufacturing custom promotional giveaways and seasonal promotional products.

During this big holiday in China, our team in Vietnam is still here to answer any of your inquiries. If you have any important requests, feel free to contact us by e-mail at info@theodmgroup.com.

Here at ODM, we are committed to giving high-quality services to businesses for all seasons.

FAQs About China Golden Week

Planning around Golden Week can feel tricky, especially if you’re managing overseas production for the first time. Here are answers to some of the most common questions importers ask:

When is Golden Week in 2025?

Golden Week runs from October 1–7, 2025, but many factories remain closed until October 14.

How long do shipping delays usually last?

You should anticipate 1–3 weeks of delays due to pre-holiday rush and post-holiday backlogs at factories and ports.

How does Golden Week compare to Chinese New Year disruptions?

Golden Week is shorter in duration, but it still creates significant congestion. Chinese New Year typically has a larger impact, but both require early planning.

What should importers do first to prepare?

Reach out to your suppliers by August to confirm schedules, secure production slots, and arrange shipments well in advance.

China Golden Week Holiday: What It Means for Your Supply Chain

What Is Golden Week in China?

What Are the Potential Impacts for Businesses?