travel around 国庆节 and 中秋节

[Silent]

Where would you recommend to be in (north east) China during the above mentioned festivals? What can I expect?

As far as I've understood the 国庆节 parade in 北京 may be worthwhile. But I hear also stories that it's extremely busy/virtually inaccesable maybe biased by the anniversary in 2009. Any opinions about this? I read one report that after the parade the cars are on show for a few days on 天安门。 Is this true every year on only in 2009 (60 year anniverary)? If so, how long after can they be viewed.

中秋节 falls this year on 30th of september and apart from eating mooncakes I've found little about interesting festivities. At some places it's suggested this is more like a family happening. Any thoughts about this?

I understand the weeklong holiday around 中秋节 is only bi-yearly in the odd years so this year there's no holiday. Is this correct? Do I (still) need to consider transport/accomodation issue's around this time? If so is it possible to identify certain patterns? I always understood main travel is due to migrant workers travelling from the big cities to the villages (and back). However I also read somewhere that a lot of tourists travel to 北京/big cities? What should I expect, what dates would be worse?

[abcdefg]

I understand the weeklong holiday around 中秋节 is only bi-yearly in the odd years so this year there's no holiday. Is this correct? Do I (still) need to consider transport/accomodation issue's around this time?

This year 中秋节 and 国庆节 fall back to back and that means you can expect to encounter very crowded public transport from about Friday 28 September straight through to Monday 8 October. Depending on location, your first choice of lodging may be difficult to find plus all of the usual domestic tourist destinations will be busy. There will be crowds and long lines.

Best bet might be to get off the beaten track and not skip around too much from place to place. Good time to visit an obscure village and go for a long mountain trek.

[WestTexas]

In the northeast you could go to Harbin. Harbin is nice at that time of year. Also, Changbai mountains. I suppose Changbai mountains might be relatively crowded but it's an enormous nature reserve that's not easy to get to so I don't see how really crowded it could be. Also, if you could go out to Inner Mongolia.

[Silent]

Actually, my question was mostly based on my assumption that some worthwhile, not too miss, festivities would be going on around this time. If this is not the case, I was informed that even the parade in Beijing is only once every ten years, I should drop the festivals themselves as a consideration for my trip planning. If only the crowds remain without rewards for braving them it might be a good time to visit North Korea....

Thanks for the input!

[abcdefg]

I'm not aware of any big festivities at that time of year. Getting out of China then might make good sense. Have an enjoyable trip.