Public Holidays in China
Statutory public holidays in China, with the dates that give people the day off, how the calendar is set, and what it means for travel, cities and culture.
China at a glance
China observes seven statutory public holidays each year, set nationally by the State Council. Short holidays are stretched into longer blocks by swapping weekends, a practice known as tiaoxiu, which is why a one-day festival can become a three-day break.
Spring Festival and National Day each generate a Golden Week of seven or more consecutive days off, and the surrounding travel rush is the largest annual human migration on earth.
China public holidays 2026
China has 22 public holidays in 2026 – the statutory days off. The table below lists those public holidays; observances and other non-statutory dates are not part of the total.
| Holiday | Date | Type |
|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Jan 1Thu | National |
| Day off (substituted from 01/04/2026) | Jan 2Fri | Substitute |
| Chinese New Year's Eve | Feb 16Mon | National |
| Chinese New Year (Spring Festival) | Feb 17Tue | National |
| Chinese New Year (Spring Festival) | Feb 18Wed | National |
| Chinese New Year (Spring Festival) | Feb 19Thu | National |
| Day off (substituted from 02/14/2026) | Feb 20Fri | Substitute |
| Day off (substituted from 02/28/2026) | Feb 23Mon | Substitute |
| Tomb-Sweeping Day | Apr 5Sun | National |
| Tomb-Sweeping Day (observed) | Apr 6Mon | Substitute |
| Labor Day | May 1Fri | National |
| Labor Day | May 2Sat | National |
Showing 12 of 22 public holidays for 2026.
Major cities in China
The urban centres that anchor most trips to China.
Beijing
Imperial grandeur paired with a fast modern core, base for the Forbidden City and hutong courtyards.
Shanghai
China's financial engine, where the Bund's facades face Pudong's glass towers.
Xi'an
Terminus of the Silk Road and home of the Terracotta Army, ringed by an intact city wall.
Chengdu
Gateway to Sichuan's giant panda reserves and the country's great teahouse culture.
Guilin
Limestone peaks above the Li River, the signature landscape of southern China.
Guangzhou
Heart of the Pearl River Delta and birthplace of Cantonese dim sum.
Top attractions in China
The places that draw most visitors to China.
Great Wall
Mutianyu and Jinshanling offer restored and wild stretches, far quieter than Badaling.
Forbidden City
Nearly 600 years of imperial power in 980 surviving buildings.
Terracotta Army
Thousands of life-size warriors guarding the tomb of Qin Shi Huang.
Zhangjiajie
Sandstone pillars piercing the cloud line, said to inspire Avatar's floating mountains.
Li River
The 83 km drift from Guilin to Yangshuo past karst peaks and fishing villages.
West Lake
Pagodas, causeways and tea terraces that shaped Chinese landscape painting.
Festivals, food and getting around China
What the calendar looks like on the ground, and how to move through the country around it.
Festivals behind the holidays
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🎉
New Year's Day
Falls on Jan 1
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🎉
Spring Festival Eve
Falls on Feb 16
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🎉
Chinese New Year
Falls on Feb 17
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🎉
Spring Festival Golden Week holiday
Falls on Feb 18
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🎉
Spring Festival Golden Week holiday
Falls on Feb 19
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🎉
Spring Festival Golden Week holiday
Falls on Feb 20
Food & drink
Getting around
High-speed rail beats flying for trips under 1,000 km once security is counted; book the moment tickets release during Chunyun or Golden Week.
Travelling around China’s holidays
What the dates mean once you are there.
Book around the peaks
Transport and hotels in China tighten around major holidays; reserve early for the busiest weeks.
Check opening hours
Museums, banks and government offices usually close on statutory holidays, and often on the nearest Monday.
Carry local currency
Small vendors and rural businesses frequently take cash only, especially on holidays when banks are shut.
Expect crowded transport
Long weekends produce the year's heaviest road, rail and air traffic. Build in extra travel time.
Confirm the official list
China's holiday dates are confirmed by government announcement; check the year page for the final arrangement.
Plan the long weekends
Pairing a holiday with adjacent weekends gives the longest breaks of the year — and the busiest.
China public holidays: common questions
How many public holidays does China have?
China has 22 public holidays in 2026, counting every date typed National, Substitute or Bank in our calendar. Observances, religious dates and regional holidays are listed separately and left out of the total, because they are not days off across the whole country.
Where can I find the full 2026 list?
The complete 2026 calendar for China is on the year page, with every recorded date in order.
Are China's public holidays paid?
Statutory national holidays are generally paid leave for employees. Observances and commemorative days are usually not.
Do holidays move if they fall on a weekend?
Where a holiday falls on a weekend, China typically observes it on the nearest weekday. Check the year page for the confirmed arrangement.
Are there regional holidays in China?
Some holidays are observed only in certain regions or by certain communities. The year page lists what applies nationally.
Which years are covered for China?
Calendars are published for 2027, 2026, 2025.
School holidays in China
The school year runs September to August. There is no single national date set - each municipality publishes its own official calendar (æ ¡åŽ†). Shown below: Beijing and Shanghai 2026-2027 academic year. In Beijing, compulsory education and senior-high tracks follow different dates.
2027
| Region | Holiday | Starts | Ends | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beijing | Winter break (compulsory education) | 18 Jan 2027 | 21 Feb 2027 | official page |
| Shanghai | Winter break | 23 Jan 2027 | 21 Feb 2027 | official page |
| Beijing | Winter break (senior high) | 25 Jan 2027 | 21 Feb 2027 | official page |
| Shanghai | Summer break | 1 Jul 2027 | 31 Aug 2027 | official page |
| Beijing | Summer break (compulsory education) | 6 Jul 2027 | 31 Aug 2027 | official page |
| Beijing | Summer break (senior high) | 13 Jul 2027 | 31 Aug 2027 | official page |
Official sources: Beijing Municipal Government - 2026-2027 school calendar (checked 10 Sep 2026) · Shanghai Municipal Government - 2026 school year calendar (checked 10 Sep 2026)
School term dates in China
Term dates below are the periods when classes are in session.
2026
| Region | Term | Starts | Ends | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beijing | First term (compulsory education) | 1 Sep 2026 | 17 Jan 2027 | official page |
| Beijing | First term (senior high) | 1 Sep 2026 | 24 Jan 2027 | official page |
| Shanghai | First term | 1 Sep 2026 | 22 Jan 2027 | official page |
2027
| Region | Term | Starts | Ends | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beijing | Second term (compulsory education) | 22 Feb 2027 | 5 Jul 2027 | official page |
| Beijing | Second term (senior high) | 22 Feb 2027 | 12 Jul 2027 | official page |
| Shanghai | Second term | 22 Feb 2027 | 30 Jun 2027 | official page |
Official sources: Beijing Municipal Government - 2026-2027 school calendar (checked 10 Sep 2026) · Shanghai Municipal Government - 2026 school year calendar (checked 10 Sep 2026)
School calendar data last updated 10 Sep 2026. Dates come from education ministries and local education authorities; always re-check with the school before booking travel.