There are currently seven official public holidays in China. There was a major reform in 2008, abolishing the Labour Day Golden Week and adding three traditional Chinese holidays (Qingming Festival, Duanwu Festival, and Mid-Autumn Festival). A notable feature of mainland Chinese holidays is that weekends are usually swapped with the weekdays next to the actual holiday to create a long vacation period.
| Date | English name | Chinese name | Duration (2008-) | Duration (2000–2007) | Dates (2012) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January 1 | New Year | 元旦 | 3 days | 1 day | Sat 1-Mon 3 January |
| 1st day of 1st lunar month | Chinese New Year | 春节 | 7 days | 3 days | Wed 2-Tue 8 February |
| 5th solar term (April 4 or April 5) | Qingming Festival | 清明节 | 3 days | N/A | Wed 4, Thurs 5, or Fri 6 April |
| May 1 | Labor Day | 劳动节 | 3 days | 3 days | Sun 29 April - Tue 1 May |
| 5th day of 5th lunar month | Dragon Boat Festival | 端午节 | 3 days | N/A | Sat June 23 |
| 15th day of 8th lunar month | Mid-Autumn Festival | 中秋节 | 3 days | N/A | Sun September 30 |
| October 1 | National Day | 国庆节 | 3 days | 3 days | Mon 1–3 October |
Note on duration and 2011 dates: Most sources in China count the total number of days off (including statutory holidays, transferred days and weekends), which is important for Chinese people working a seven-day week. E.g. a holiday on a Friday is always announced as a three day holiday (Friday-Sunday). See the references for details of transferred holidays in 2011.
Read more about Public Holidays In China: Transferred Holidays, Additional Holidays For Specific Social Groups, Traditional Holiday Scheme, Ethnic Minorities Holidays, Novel Holidays
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