Each year, China has 7 public holidays enjoyed by all citizens: New Year, the Spring Festival (Chinese New Year), the Qingming Festival, Labor Day, the Dragon Boat Festival, the Mid-Autumn Festival, and National Day. The Spring Festival is the biggest holiday in China.
Chinese New Year in 2024 falls on February 10. The Chinese New Year holiday is from February 10 to 16.
2024 China Public Holidays Calendar
| 2024 Date | Holiday Name | Holiday | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan. 1 | New Year's Day | Jan. 1 | |
| Feb. 10 | Spring Festival | Feb. 10 –16 | Chinese New Year, China's biggest festival |
| Apr. 4 | Qingming Festival | Apr. 4–6 | Tomb Sweeping Day |
| May 1 | Labor Day | May 1–5 | A 'golden week' for tourism |
| Jun. 10 | Dragon Boat Festival | Jun. 8–10 | People eat sticky rice dumplings and attend dragon boat races. |
| Sep. 17 | Mid-Autumn Festival | Sep. 15–17 | Mooncake Festival |
| Oct. 1 | National Day | Oct. 1–7 | Another 'golden week' for tourism |
7 Major Chinese Holidays
Chinese people celebrate the following seven major public holidays each year.
1. New Year's Day
New Year's Day is one of the public holidays in China and people usually have 3 days off. Although it's not a traditional festival in China, most malls are decorated during this holiday and the shops launch sales promotions.
2. The Spring Festival (Chinese New Year)
The Spring Festival is China's most important festival and holiday. People enjoy a week's holiday for family reunions, and many traditions and activities are pursued during that time.
Chinese New Year 2024 will fall on Saturday, February 10, starting a year of the Dragon.
In terms of travel, Chinese New Year is one of the low seasons for tourism, yet it's one of the best times for experiencing Chinese culture.
3. The Qingming Festival
In China, the Qingming Festival is also called Tomb-Sweeping Day. Chinese people enjoy 3 days off. It's a time for worshipping ancestors and starting to enjoy the greenery of spring.
4. Labor Day (May Day)
Chinese people have a 5-day holiday in Labor Day. This is one of the peak time for travel during the year.
5. The Dragon Boat Festival
The Dragon Boat Festival, also known as the Duanwu Festival, is a traditional cultural festival in China. There are 3 days off for Chinese people.
Some of the most traditional customs include dragon boat racing, eating sticky rice dumplings (zongzi), hanging Chinese mugwort and calumus, drinking realgar wine, and wearing perfume pouches.
6. The Mid-Autumn Festival
The Mid-Autumn Festival is the second most important festival in China. People usually have 3 days off.
It's also known as the Moon Festival or the Mooncake Festival. Some of the most traditional customs include family gatherings, admiring the full moon, eating mooncakes, and lantern lighting.
7. National Day (Golden Week)
Chinese people have a week off in early October each year for the China National Day. This is also a peak period for tourism since many people use this holiday to travel with their families.
Other China Festivals and Holidays 2024
Besides the seven public holidays above, other traditional and modern holidays and observances include:
| 2024 Date | Holiday | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| Feb. 24 | Lantern Festival | Lanterns decorations, lantern riddles, eating tangyuan (sweet sticky rice balls) |
| Feb. 10 | Tibetan New Year | One of the grandest festivals in Tibet |
| Mar. 8 | Women's Day | All adult females have half a day off. |
| Apr. 11 | Double Third Festival | People in Guangxi have 2 days off. |
| May 4 | Youth Day | Youths aged 14–28 years old have half a day off. |
| Jun. 1 | Children's Day | Children under 14 years of age have one day off. |
| Aug. 1 | Army Day | Soldiers in service have half a day off. |
| Aug. 10 | Qixi Festival | Chinese Valentine's Day |
| Aug. 18 | Ghost Festival | A traditional festival for ancestor worship |
| Oct. 11 | Double Ninth Festival | A day for the old — senior citizens' day |
- Further reading: Famous Chinese Minority Festivals
Chinese Golden Week Holidays
China National Day, Spring Festival and Labor Day holidays are three 'golden weeks' in China. They are the three longest holidays in China: 7 days off each for China National Day and the Spring Festival, and 5 days for Labor Day.
Long holidays boost the tourism industry. Prices of flights and hotel rooms soar during the 'golden weeks' — hence their name. Crowds are expected at popular tourism spots. If you are planning a trip during a 'golden week', we recommend booking in advance and choosing less-traveled destinations.
Tips for China's Holidays
- Government offices and banks are shut on the public holidays but they will usually have some staff on duty.
- Some businesses will keep running during the holidays. Most large malls, tourist attractions, public transport, hotels, and restaurants will open as usual, or even stay open longer.
- During Chinese New Year, most establishments close for up to a week, except for some in the service sector, such as hotels and large restaurants.
Plan Your 2024 Holiday Trip
If you are planning a trip for your 2024 holiday, you can contact us. All our tours can be customized. We will create a trip for your vacation according to your group size, time, budget, interests, and other requirements.
Or maybe start from one of our recommended tour itineraries:
