China Announces 2009 Holiday Schedule

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Dec. 11 – The State Council has announced the  holiday schedule for 2009.

According to Shanghai Daily, National Day falling on October 1, and the Mid-Autumn Festival, starting October 3 will be combined into China’s first eight-day holiday since the founding of the People’s Republic in 1949.

Employees will be required to go to work the weekend before the long holiday. The New Year holiday will be from January 1 to 3 while the Spring Festival, will span from January 25 to January 31 along with two days taken from a previous working weekend.

The Qingming Festival, or tomb-sweeping day will be from April 4 to 6. On the other hand, Labor Day will be from May 1 to 3, and the Dragon Boat Festival from May 28 to May 30.

Labor Day was cut from being a one-week holiday to three days for 2009 to be able to add the Qingming, Dragon Boat and Mid-Autumn festivals.

The Spring Festival was also moved one day forward to make sure families could be together for Lunar New Year’s Eve.

The new holiday schedule should help maintain tradition and lessen overcrowding during the Golden Weeks.