This year, the National Day holiday runs from 1–7 October, with the Mid-Autumn Festival falling shortly beforehand, on 25–27 September. [1]

For businesses importing from China, the familiar advice is already circulating. Book early. Allow extra time. Expect changes to schedules.

Sensible advice. But it only goes so far.

As shipments are brought forward, demand for vessel space and airfreight capacity can increase. Factory closures and reduced staffing affect production and collections, while accumulated orders can take time to work through after the holiday ends. The effect reaches beyond the week itself. [2]

What matters is what your business is waiting for.

Two shipments can leave the same port, experience the same delay and have very different consequences.

One may be replenishing stock that is already well covered. The other may contain a component needed before production can begin. Bringing both forward could create unnecessary cost. Treating both as routine could leave a critical deadline exposed.

Making that decision starts with understanding what the delivery means for your business.

At Blaiklock, that is where planning starts. When a customer gives us a delivery date, we ask what depends on it. Knowing that helps us work through the right air, sea or multimodal approach, and where an alternative would make a meaningful difference.

Sometimes there is enough flexibility to stay with the planned service. Sometimes moving a smaller, urgent part of an order separately may be worth considering. The right decision depends on the cargo, available capacity, and the cost of the options.

Those early conversations give us a clear plan to work to, with delivery priorities agreed and the right arrangements in place. You know what to expect, who is handling it and that alternatives have been considered should they be needed.

That is what control looks like: understanding what matters, knowing the options and being ready to act.

Sources:

[1] Beijing Municipal Government — Public Holidays.

[2] DSV — Golden Week China 2026: Impact on International Logistics and Preparing Your Supply Chain.