Chinese workers and students get a few days off for the May 1 holiday period. Depending on when May 1 falls, people might get an "extension". So, for example, if May 1 is a Saturday, the public will get an extension and have Monday, May 3 off.
Many workers may extend the weekend to make it a longer holiday which can translate into millions of Chinese traveling domestically and internationally.
Travel fares double and triple and advance bookings must be made weeks, even months ahead for international travel. Hoards of tour groups flock to the major tourist destinations of China, so you can forget having a quite moment to ponder how the Great Wall was built.