There are currently seven official public holidays in China. Each year’s holidays are announced weeks before the start of the year by the General Office of the State Council.
Weekends are usually swapped with the weekdays next to the actual holiday to create a longer vacation period.
Lunar New Year’s Eve is no longer a statutory holiday in 2014, as the Spring Festival holiday is from the 1st to the 3rd day of the first lunar month, according to the national holiday plan for 2014 issued by the State Council on Dec 11, 2013.
According to the plan, in 2014, there is a one-day holiday for the New Year, a seven-day break for the Spring Festival holiday (weekends included) and a seven-day break for the National Day holiday (weekends included), and three-day holidays (weekends included) for Qingming Festival, Labor Day, the Dragon Boat Festival and the Mid-Autumn Festival.
Public Holidays for 2014
Name | Date | Duration |
New Year’s Day | Jan 1 | one day |
Spring Festival | Jan 31 - Feb 6 | three days plus two weekends |
Qingming Festival | Apri 5-7 | one day plus one weekend |
Labor Day | May 1-3 | one day plus one weekend |
Dragon Boat Festival | May 31-June 2 | one day plus one weekend |
Mid-Autumn Festival | Sept 6-8 | one day plus one weekend |
National Day | Oct 1-7 | three days plus two weekends |
Additional Public Holidays for Specific Social Groups
Name | Date | Applicable to |
International Women’s Day | March 8 | Women (half day) |
Youth Day | May 4 | Youth from the age of 14 to 28 (half-day) |
Children’s Day | June 1 | Children below the age of 14 (1 day) |
Army Day | Aug 1 | Military personnel in active service (half-day) |