| Holiday Name | 2019 Date | 2019 Holiday |
| New Year’s Day | Jan. 1 | Dec. 30, 2018 – Jan. 1 2019 |
| Chinese New Year | Feb. 5 | Feb. 4 – 10 |
| Qingming Festival | Apr. 5 | Apr. 5 – 7 |
| May Day | 1-May | May 1 – 4 |
| Dragon Boat Festival | Jun. 7 | Jun. 7 – 9 |
| Mid-Autumn Day | Sep. 13 | Sep. 13 – 15 |
| National Day | Oct. 1 | Oct. 1 – 7 |
China Holiday Calendar 2019
Check China Public Holidays 2019In 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 2019 / 2020 / 2021 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.
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.
Does business run during Chinese public holidays?
Business 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.
