China Public Holidays

There are 7 national public holidays, and 9 additional holidays for special occasions in China. The 7 national public holidays are New Year's Day (新年), Spring Festival (Chinese New Year) (春节), Qingming Festival (清明节), Labor Day (国际劳动节), Dragon Boat Festival (端午节), Mid-Autumn Festival (中秋节), and National Day (国庆节). The 9 additional holidays for special occasions are Women's Day (国际劳动妇女节), Arbor Day (中国植树节), Youth Day (中国青年节), International Nurse Day (国际护士节), Children's Day (国际儿童节), Founding Anniversary of the Chinese Communist Party (中国共产党诞生日), Army Day (建军节), Teacher's Day (中国教师节), and Journalists' Day (中国记者节).

Peak travel time in China almost always happens on the 7 national public holidays. Among them, Spring Festival is probably the busiest, when people from different walks of life travel to home to spend time with their family members. Other busy travel days are National Day (the Chinese call it as the 'Seven-day Golden Week' as many companies bundle the 3 days with weekends and other off-days together to have 7-day vacation), May Labor day and the New Year's Day. Try to stay away from those days when schedule traveling in China. Restaurants, hotels, plane and train/bus/ship are always very crowded, and tickets for them are always in great demand. If you have to travel during holidays in China, follow these holiday travel tips.