List of Chinese Holidays 2021

Chinese Holidays 2021 - Introduction

China currently have 7 statutory annual holidays with 11 days off each year, which will be introduced in the page. In addition, China also has holidays for specific groups of citizens: On Women’s Day (8 March ), women can have a half-day off; On Youth Day (4 May), citizens over 14 years old have a half-day off; On Children’s Day (1 June ), children under the age of 14 have a one-day holiday; and on the Army Day (1 August ), military personnel in active service will have a half-day holiday. Local governments in the areas where ethnic minorities live in concentrated communities shall set holidays in accordance with the customs of the ethnic minorities.

Chinese holidays are generally connected to nearby weekends, forming three-day or five-day "small holidays" and seven-day "Golden Weeks". However, Sepcial Working Day will be set when citizens need to work on Saturday or Sunday, to not exceed the standard of 11 days off.

Chinese Holidays 2021 - New Year's Day

Date: 1 January 2021

Day off: 1 Jan. 2021 to 3 Jan. 2021 (Friday to Sunday)

No Special Working Day on 2021 China New Year's Day holiday.

In China, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day are less important than the Chinese New Year which take place usually in 1-2 months and similar to an ordinary holiday. In 1912, China adopted the Western calendar, so Chinese people are not unfamiliar with the concept of the New Year from January 1. But since many cultural celebrations are based on the Chinese lunar calendar, "Western New Year's Day" does not have much meaning, and therefore celebrations are much less than the Spring Festival.

Chinese Holidays 2021 - Chinese New Year (Spring Festival)

Date: 12 February 2021

Day off: 11 Feb. 2021 to 17 Feb. 2021 (Thursday to Wednesday)

7 February and 20 February are Special Working Days for 2021 Spring Festival holiday, and citizens need to work.

The Spring Festival is an annual Festival celebrated in Chinese communities in China and around the world. This large festival usually happens in late January and early February, and the celebrations usually lasts until the Lantern Festival in the middle of the same month of lunar calendar.

As a lunar festival, the solar calendar date of the Spring Festival is not fixed every year. This period of the year is characterized by happy gatherings and close family interactions. The Chinese New Year has a long history and represents China's rich culture.

Chinese Holidays 2021 - Qingming Festival (Tomb Sweeping Day)

Date: 4 April 2021

Day off: 3 Apr. 2021 to 5 Apr. 2021 (Saturday to Monday)

No Special Working Day on 2021 Qingming Festival holiday.

The festival usually starts on April 4th or 5th. In English, Qingming Festival is usually called Tomb Sweeping Day or Pure Brightness because of the events of the festival. The main function of Qingming Festival is to offer sacrifices to ancestors. Filial piety is a core aspect of Chinese traditional culture, so this is one of the most widely celebrated festivals in China. As the planting season is approaching in most parts of China, Qingming Festival is also a celebration of spring.

Chinese Holidays 2021 - Labor Day

Date: 1 May 2021

Day off: 1 May. 2021 to 5 May. 2021 (Saturday to Wednesday)

25 April and 8 May are Special Working Days for 2021 Labor Day holiday, and citizens need to work.

China’s Labor Day or International Worker's Day is a public holiday celebrating workers’ contributions to the country.

During the May 1st period, there will be a large number of trips, and the flow of people is expected to be intensive. China, neighboring countries, and Europe and the United States will all become travel destinations for Chinese citizens. During the International Labor Day holiday, Chinese people can enjoy a variety of activities in cities and rural areas. Due to the warm weather in most parts of China in May, many people choose to go outings in natural areas.

Chinese Holidays 2021 - Dragon Boat Festival

Date: 14 June 2021

Day off: 12 June 2021 to 14 June 2021 (Saturday to Monday)

No Special Working Day on 2021 Dragon Boat Festival holiday.

The Dragon Boat Festival is celebrated in mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau and other parts of the world. The Chinese usually take a three-day break to celebrate with friends and family.

The Dragon Boat Festival is one of the busiest tourist holidays in China. During this period, people travel to the city to enjoy various celebrations related to the holidays. During the Dragon Boat Festival, the traditional delicacy is zongzi, and the traditional interaction is dragon boat racing.

Chinese Holidays 2021 - Mid Autumn Festival

Date: 21 September 2021

Day off: 19 Sept. 2021 to 21 Sept. 2021 (Sunday to Tuesday)

18 September is Special Working Day for 2021 Mid Autumn Festival holiday, and citizens need to work.

The Mid-Autumn Festival in China is a celebration that starts on the fifteenth day of the eighth lunar month.

The Mid-Autumn Festival is called Zhongqiu (中秋节) in China and is one of the biggest festivals in mainland China and East Asia. This holiday is a time to reconnect with family members. Many traditions of the Mid-Autumn Festival revolve around family reunion and happiness.

Chinese Holidays 2021 - National Day

Date: 1 October 2021

Day off: 1 Oct. 2021 to 7 Oct. 2021 (Friday to Thursday)

26 September and 9 October are Special Working Days for 2021 Chinese National Day holiday, and citizens need to work.

On National Day, the whole China celebrates the founding of the People’s Republic of China.

The first 7 days of October are called Golden Week. This is a travel and leisure time celebrated in different ways across China. Beijing is the largest National Day activity center. Every year, a large-scale National Day celebration is held in Tian'anmen Square in Beijing.

* Check gov.cn for the original official announcement.