China Public Holidays 2026

China has seven legal public holidays every year, among which the Spring Festival and National Day holidays are the longest. During these holidays, people engage in various activities to enhance the festive atmosphere, and the activities vary from festival to festival.

2026 China Public Holiday and Festival Calendar

Some festivals in China don't coincide with holidays, and some holidays are only observed by specific groups of people, while everyone observes public holidays.

Major Public Holidays

China's main official holidays include New Year's Day, Spring Festival, Qingming Festival, Labor Day, Dragon Boat Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival, and National Day. Except for those working in the logistics and service industries, almost all Chinese people can have time off during these festivals.

Some holidays are arranged through adjusted work schedules, meaning people need to work on weekends following the holidays due to these adjustments. The State Council determines the specific holiday arrangements.

New Year's Day: Jan.1st, 2026

New Year's Day is the first day of the Gregorian calendar year. Many countries and regions around the world treat it as a public holiday. This festival symbolizes new beginnings and hope, and also carries people's beautiful aspirations for the future.

In China, there is a one-day holiday on New Year's Day. If it falls adjacent to a weekend, people can enjoy a three-day break.

Chinese New Year: Feb.17th, 2026

The Spring Festival is the most significant in China, just as important and grand as Christmas in the West. During the Spring Festival, the whole family gathers together to have a reunion dinner, hoping for the happiness and unity of the family. Children can also receive red envelopes from their elders, which carry the elders' good wishes for the children's healthy growth.

Chinese people usually get a holiday of about one week. It generally starts a few days before New Year's Eve. Moreover, the New Year celebrations will continue all the way to the Lantern Festival.

Qingming Festival: Apr. 1st, 2026

The Qingming Festival is also known as Tomb-Sweeping Day. On this day, Chinese people will go to pay tribute to their ancestors, expressing their yearning and respect. During the worship ceremony, they also make wishes, hoping for a prosperous life in the future.

In Guangxi, Guangdong, and Fujian, the Qingming Festival is of great importance, and people expect those who work away from home to return and clean their ancestors' tombs.

Chinese people get a one-day holiday on the Qingming Festival. If it coincides with the weekend, they can have a three-day holiday.

Best Spring Destination in China:

Labor Day: May 1st, 2026

Influenced by International Labor Day, Chinese workers also began to strive for an eight-hour workday. In the early days, they held parades on May 1st, not only to fight for their rights but also to oppose imperialism and feudalism.

Later, May Day gradually became a short holiday for people to go out and travel. Nowadays, China has a five-day holiday for May Day, known as the May Day Golden Week, which is a peak period for people to travel.

Dragon Boat Festival: Jun 19th, 2026

Loong Boat Festival is the first Chinese festival to be included in the World Intangible Cultural Heritage list. Back then, the patriotic poet Qu Yuan from the Chu State drowned himself in a river on this day. People rowed boats on the river to search for him. Now, dragon boat racing has become a custom of this festival.

Eating zongzi is also a must during the festival. Zongzi in the north are mostly sweet, while those in the south are often salty. Chinese people get a one-day holiday for the Dragon Boat Festival, and combined with the weekend, they can have a three-day break.

Mid-autumn Festival: Sep 25th, 2026

The Mid-Autumn Festival falls on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month each year. According to legend, Chang'e became an immortal on this day. Because she was reluctant to leave her husband, Hou Yi, she landed on the moon, which is the closest celestial body to Earth.

As people missed Chang'e, they placed her favorite foods in their courtyards. Later, the Mid-Autumn Festival became a Chinese festival symbolizing people's hope for reunion.

There is a one-day holiday for the Mid-Autumn Festival. If it happens to fall on a weekend, there will be an extra day off on the following Monday. If the Mid-Autumn Festival is adjacent to or coincides with the National Day holiday, people can enjoy an 8-day break.

Popular Autumn Destination in China:

National Day: Oct 1st, 2026

National Day is to celebrate the founding of the Republic of China. On this day, flags will be hung all over the streets in cities big and small across the country, and a large flower basket will be placed in Tiananmen Square. Every five or ten years (when the year number is a multiple of 5 or 10), a military parade will also be held in front of Tiananmen.

When National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival coincide, there will be an 8-day holiday.

Experience Chinese Culture and Landscape:

What is China's Golden Week Holiday

Golden Week refers to the May Day holiday and the National Day holiday. Each of these holidays lasts about a week, and during this time, many people choose to go out and travel.

Scenic spots, restaurants, and shopping malls all operate as usual. However, it's hard to get tickets for scenic spots. The prices of hotels and airplane tickets can soar to twice their normal rates. Although highways are toll-free, there are so many cars that traffic jams are very likely.

How to Escape from the Crowd on Golden Week

• Many scenic spots in China allow online ticket purchases. Buy tickets in advance to save time on queuing.
• Get up early in the morning and arrive at the gate of the scenic spot before it officially opens.
• When choosing flights or trains, prioritize those with early departure times or late-night schedules.
• Don't go to pedestrian streets or food streets at night.
• Avoid visiting trendy or internet-famous attractions.
• Don't follow the classic routes when planning your itinerary.
• Keep a good attitude, accept the reality of large crowds, and prepare alternative plans to deal with unexpected situations.

Enjoy Your Holiday With China Travel

If you plan to visit China, it's best to avoid Golden Week. But if you really have to come during this period, go to some less crowded places. You can contact our trip advisors, and they will recommend destinations according to your preferences.

We'll arrange local guides for you. They will do their best to help you avoid crowds and cut down on waiting time in lines.

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