China Holidays 2019/2020/2021
Each year, China has 7 public holidays enjoyed by all citizens: New Year, the Spring Festiva (Chinese New Year), the Qingming Festival, Labor Day, the Dragon Boat Festival, the Mid-Autumn Festival, and National Day.
China's Holiday Schedule for 2019/2020/2021
| Holiday Name | 2019 Date | 2019 Days Off | 2020 Date | 2020 Days Off | 2021 Date | 2021 Days Off |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Jan. 1 | Dec. 30, 2018 – Jan. 1, 2019 | Jan. 1 | TBA | Jan. 1 | TBA |
| Chinese New Year (Spring Festival) | Feb. 5 | Feb. 4–10 | Jan. 25 | Jan. 24–29 | Feb. 12 | Feb. 11–17 |
| Qingming Festival (Tomb Sweeping) | Apr. 5 | Apr. 5–7 | Apr. 4 | TBA | Apr. 4 | TBA |
| Labor Day (May Day) | May 1 | May 1–4 | May 1 | TBA | May 1 | TBA |
| The Dragon Boat Festival | June 7 | June 7–9 | June 25 | TBA | June 14 | TBA |
| The Mid-Autumn Festival | Sep. 13 | Sep. 13–15 | Oct. 1 | TBA | Sep. 21 | TBA |
| National Day | Oct. 1 | Oct. 1–7 | Oct. 1 | Oct. 1–7 | Oct. 1 | Oct. 1–7 |
China Holidays for Certain People Only
- International Women’s Day (March 8): All adult females have half a day off.
- Youth Day (May 4): Youths aged 14–28 years old have half a day off.
- Children’s Day (June 1): Children under 14 years of age have one day off.
- Army Day (August 1): Soldiers in service have half a day off.
Main Public Holidays in China
1. New Year's Day
Date: January 1st
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)
Date: 1st day in 1st lunar month
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.
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.
Read more on the Top 10 Interesting Facts You Didn’t Know about Chinese New Year.
3. The Qingming Festival
Date: April 4th or 5th
In China, the Qingming Festival is also called Tomb-Sweeping Day. It’s a time for worshipping ancestors and starting to enjoy the greenery of spring.
4. Labor Day (May Day)
Date: May 1st
Chinese people have a 3-day holiday. This is another peak time for travel during the year.
5. The Dragon Boat Festival
Date: 5th day in 5th lunar month
The Dragon Boat Festival, also known as the Duanwu Festival, is a traditional cultural festival in China. Chinese people enjoy 3 days off during the Dragon Boat Festival.
6. The Mid-Autumn Festival
Date: 15th day in 8th lunar month
The Mid-Autumn Festival is the second most important festival in China. It’s also known as the Moon Festival or the Mooncake Festival.
Chinese people have a 3-day holiday for the Mid-Autumn Festival. Sometimes, when the date is close to the weekend, people can have more days off. People in Hong Kong usually have 1 day off after the Mid-Autumn Festival.
7. National Day (Golden Week)
Date: October 1st
Chinese people have a week off in early October each year. This is also a peak period for tourism since many people use this holiday to travel with their families.
8. Summer School Holidays (early July to late August)
The summer holidays for most Chinese students run from early July to late August. Many families plan a long journey for a relaxing family tour during the summer holidays. For advice about where to go, see the Top 6 Places You Should Visit in China During Summer.
9. Winter School Holidays (about 15 days before and after Chinese New Year)
Compared to the summer holidays, the winter holidays are in the off-season and people don’t travel as much. People are focused on Chinese New Year and family time. It’s a great time for interacting with Chinese people and experiencing local culture.
Minority Holidays
Besides these holidays, there are four other holidays for particular ethnic citizens and regional residents.
1. The Double Third Festival (third day of the third month of the Chinese lunar calendar): It's a traditional festival for many minorities in China. People in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region have 3 days off.
2. The Sisters' Meal Festival (15th day of the third month in the lunar calendar): The Sisters’ Meal Festival is an important festival of the Miao minority in China. It’s a celebration of love and spring, and the celebrations usually last for 3 days.
3. The Miao New Year Festival: Different from the traditional Chinese New Year, the Miao New Year is often celebrated after the rice harvest. The dates usually fall on the period from the ninth to the 11th month of the Chinese lunar calendar, and it usually lasts for 5 to 15 days.
4. The Water-Sprinkling Festival (April 13–15): The Water-Sprinkling Festival is a traditional festival of the Dai minority. It falls during the New Year period of the Dai calendar.
Tourism Festivals
What's more, there are many tourism festivals administered by regional governments. For example:
The Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival (January 5 – February 5) is an annual winter festival in Harbin. It was first celebrated in 1963 and is now the largest ice and snow festival in the world.
Tourism During the Public Holidays
Tourist attractions, hotels, and transportation are at their most crowded during public holidays. Government offices and banks are shut but they will usually have some staff on duty.
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.
However, during Chinese New Year, most establishments close for up to a week, except for those which are in the service industry, such as hotels and large restaurants.
Travel Tips
- 1. Book tourist attractions, hotels, flights, and train tickets well in advance because the transport system faces significantly increased traffic loads during public holidays. You can use our 1–1 tour planning service.
- 2. If you have travel plans, make sure you arrive at the railway station or airport a little earlier than you would otherwise. We, at China Highlights, can offer an airport transfer service and a train station departure service in most cities.
- 3. Find a professional travel agency and travel advisor to help you plan trips and avoid detours. Unlike many travel agencies who just sell trips, we create unique experiences, which are designed to meet your needs.
Travel China with China Experts
We can help whether you would like to visit China to experience traditional Chinese festivals or you would prefer to avoid the holiday crowds.
Our experienced guides and flexible arrangements will provide you with the best opportunity for a satisfactory tour. Contact us for a unique tailored itinerary.
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