China Announces Official 2014 National Holiday Schedule

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Editor’s Note: You can find the updated National Holiday Schedule for 2015 here

Dec. 12 – China’s General Office of the State Council released the “Circular on the Arrangement of Certain Holidays in 2014 (guobanfamingdian [2013] No.28)” on December 11 and announced the official national holiday schedule for 2014 as follows:

New Year

  • January 1

Spring Festival

  • January 31- February 6 (seven days in total)
  • January 26 (Sunday) and February 8 (Saturday) are official working days

Tomb Sweeping Day

  • April 5-7 (three days in total)

Labor Day

  • May 1-3 (three days in total)
  • May 4 (Sunday) is an official working day

Dragon Boat Festival

  • May 31-June 2 (three days in total)

Mid-Autumn Festival

  • September 6-8 (three days in total)

National Holiday

  • October 1-7 (seven days in total)
  • September 28 (Sunday) and October 11 (Saturday) are official working days

The State Council also released the “Decision on Revising the Measure of National Holidays and Memorial Days” on the same day, which adds some special holidays for certain groups of people, including women, youths, children, and soldiers. It will enter into effect on January 1, 2014.

The schedule of special holidays can be found below:

Women’s Day

  • March 8: All women enjoy half-day leave

Youth Day

  • May 4: Youths over 14 years old enjoy half-day leave

Children’s Day

  • June 1: Children under 14 years old enjoy the whole day off

Memorial Day of the People’s Liberation Army of China

  • August 1: Soldiers on active service enjoy half-day leave

Public holiday-01

It is important to note that the above dates are the officially recommended schedule, but private companies have the right to determine their own schedules as long as the following holiday dates are maintained.

New Year: January 1

Spring Festival: January 31- February 2

Tomb Sweeping Day: April 5

Labor Day: May 1

Dragon Boat Festival: May 31

Mid-Autumn Festival: September 8

National Holiday: October 1-3

According to the labor law of China, all employees working on one of the days above will enjoy triple salaries for time spent working on the national holidays.

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