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China Holidays & Festivals

Jan. 28 - Feb. 4, 2025 is Chinese New Year Holiday

China has seven legal holidays in a year, including New Year's Day, Chinese New Year (Spring Festival), Qingming Festival (Tomb-sweeping Day), May Day, Dragon Boat Festival, Mid-Autumn Day and National Day. Chinese people enjoy 13 days off in total for these official holidays.

The table below provides a detailed list of 2025 and 2026 public holidays in China. Hope it can help you make a good tour plan.

2025 & 2026 China Public Holiday Calendar

Holiday Name	2025 Date	2025 Holiday	2026 Date	2026 Holiday
New Year's Day	Jan. 1	Jan. 1	Jan. 1	Jan. 1 - 3
Chinese New Year	Jan. 29	Jan. 28 - Feb. 4	Feb. 17	Feb. 16 - 23
Qingming Festival	Apr. 4	Apr. 4-6	Apr. 5	Apr. 3 - 5
May Day	May 1	May 1 - 5	May 1	May 1 - 5
Dragon Boat Festival	May 31	May 31 - Jun. 2	Jun. 19	Jun. 19 - 21
Mid-Autumn Day	Oct. 6	Oct. 1 - 8	Sep. 25	Sep. 25 - 27
National Day	Oct. 1	Oct. 1 - 8	Oct. 1	Oct. 1 - 7

Check China Public Holidays 2025

In addition to the above seven festivals, Chinese people celebrate four others on which some people have a half day off - Women's Day, Youth Day, Children's Day and Army Day.

Many other galas and anniversaries are celebrated even without days off, such as Arbor Day and Teachers' Day.

Please refer to the Detailed 2025 / 2026 / 2027 China Public Holiday Calendar

Most Celebrated Festivals in China

New Year's Day:Jan. 1st

Laba: 8th day in 12th lunar month, usually in Jan.

Chinese New Year:

1st day in 1st lunar month, usually in Jan. or Feb.
The grandest traditional festival in China, the longest public holiday;
Annual family reunion, eat dumplings, set off fireworks

Lantern Festival:

15th day in 1st lunar month, usually in Feb.
Watch lanterns, eat glutinous rice dumplings, guess lantern riddles

Qingming Festival:

Apr. 4th or 5th
Also known as Pure Brightness Festival or Tomb-sweeping Day;
Visit ancestors' tombs, spring outing

May Day:May 1st

Dragon Boat Festival:

5th day in 5th lunar month, usually in Jun.
To commemorate Qu Yuan (340-278 BC), an ancient Chinese patriotic poet;
Eat Zongzi, dragon boat race.

Double Seventh:7th day in 7th lunar month, usually in Aug.

China’s Valentine’s Day

Mid-Autumn Day:

15th day in 8th lunar month, usually in Sep.
Family reunion, appreciate the full moon, eat moon cakes

National Day:

Oct.1st
Military parade and celebration on the Tiananmen Square in Beijing;
Nationwide traveling peak from Oct. 1st to 7th regarded as the 'Golden Week'

Double Ninth Festival: 9th day in 9th lunar month, usually in Oct.

Winter Solstice:Dec. 21st, 22nd, or 23rd

Golden Weeks in China

Chinese New Year Holiday and National Day Holiday are the only two week-long holidays in China. During these two weeks, people enjoy themselves in a great variety of ways, contributing to a boost in tourism industry, hence the nickname 'Golden Week'. Hotel rooms, train tickets or air tickets will definitely be in great demand then. Therefore, we recommend that people who are planning China tours avoid these Golden Weeks in view of the huge crowds at the major attractions, on trains, at railway stations and airports.

See also: Spring Festival Travel Rush, Train Travel in China during Holidays

Does business run during Chinese public holidays?

Business actually flourishes during holidays, so there’s no need to worry about the shopping, dining, entertainment. Some shopping malls, shops, supermarkets and restaurants have promotions and discounts on festivals, and some even extend their opening time. On the Chinese New Year, the grandest occasion for family reunion of the year, some personal shops and small restaurants are closed.

The civil service departments such as the government offices, embassies and schools are closed on the legal holidays. Elementary public service establishments like the public transport system run normally to facilitate the locals and visitors on their basic living and travel; however, please note that the banks and post offices only have their major branches opened on China public holidays, so it is better to go to those branches in the prosperous business districts in big cities, or arrange your money and post matters in advance. Most of the hospitals run during holidays, but maybe only the basic departments are available, without some famous specialists.

See Business Hours in China

More Festivals in Different Categories

National Holidays: New Year's Day, Women's Day, May Day, Children's Day...
Traditional Festivals: Chinese New Year, Qingming, Dragon Boat, Mid-Autumn Day, Chongyang...
Ethnic Minority Festivals: Water-Splashing, March Fair, Nadam Fair, End of Ramadan, Corban...
Tourism Festivals: Harbin Ice & Snow Gala, Luoyang Peony Fair...
Western Festivals Celebrated in China: Christmas, Halloween, Valentine’s Day…

China Holiday Packages

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11-Day Beijing/ Xi'an/ Yangtze/ Shanghai Tour from $1907
Terracotta Warriors, Xi'an
11-Day Small Group Beijing/ Xi'an/ Zhangjiajie/ Shanghai Private Tour from $1988

- Last updated on Nov. 13, 2024 by Gabby Li -

Questions & Answers on Chinese Holidays

Asked by Miti from UAE | Oct. 01, 2023 06:56

congratulation cards

Hello,
I am writing to inquire about the etiquette of sending congratulation cards in China. I would like to know which days or occasions are appropriate for this gesture. I appreciate your guidance and advice on this matter.
Sincerely

Answers (1)

Answered by Selina | Oct. 08, 2023 01:23

We usually send congratulation cards on one's birthdays, to teachers on Teachers' Day. But more commonly, we now send greetings and congratulations via Wechat on holidays and one's special days.

Asked by John Thomas from IRELAND | Feb. 25, 2020 16:35

Do they have illegal holidays?

I quote "China has seven legal holidays in a year".
Does this mean there also exists illegal holidays in China?

And also, is Trump pronouncing China correct? I feel like he's not, but I had to ask...

Che che,
John Thomas
Belfast, Ireland

Answers (2)

Answered by Carmen from UKRAINE | Feb. 27, 2020 16:34

Well, as I know, only some companies have other holidays besides legal holidays, such as birthday, Christmas Day. But I think that it cannot be called illegal.

Answered by Gao Wei | Jun. 28, 2021 08:46

“Legal” here means that you don't have to work on this holiday and get paid. If your company orders you to work on this holiday, the company will pay your three times the money they pay you on one normal work day.

We don't say "illegal" to other holidays. If you want to spent another holiday, you can ask your company for a leave, and the company will not pay you on this day.

If you mean "illegal" as forbidden by the government, that is a misunderstanding by translation.

"Legal" here means these holidays are on China's Labour Law, so companies either let their employers to have a rest on this holiday , or the company has to pay three times the money they pay on one normal work day. This is all "legal" means.

Asked by CherylAnne from CANADA | Jan. 25, 2020 08:34

What is appropriate gift for Chinese birthday that falls in Chinese New Year?

My Chinese friend has invited us to celebrate Chinese New Year and it happens to be her Chinese Birthday as well
What would be an appropriate gift to give?

Answers (2)

Answered by Carol from USA | Jan. 31, 2020 16:00

Lipstick, necklace, perfume and chocolate would be appropriate gifts. Hope helpful!

Answered by HY Wan | Jan. 14, 2021 08:59

Something in red. If is for a lady then make sure there's cake and flowers; if it's a gentleman then alcohol, tea or something from your home country. At the end of the day it all really depends on the person, but if just someone you work with then all above should do. Hope it helps.

Asked by divan from CZECH | Jan. 07, 2020 05:40

Chinese New Year x May Day holidays

I was travelling in China during Chinese New Year last year. This year I am going to travel probably during May Day holidays. Which of both holidays are "worse" (I mean because of overcrowded cities/tourist places, higher prices of accomodation, sold air/bus/train tickets etc.)? Thank you in advance for your answer.