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China Public Holidays

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When making plans for a tour of China, some general knowledge about Chinese holidays can be useful to avoid transportation peaks and crowded tourist attractions. There are three kinds of public holidays in China: national holidays, holidays for some citizens, and the traditional holidays for Chinese ethnic groups.

All Chinese people take a vacation on the national holidays, which include New Year's Day (January 1st), Spring Festival (Lunar January 1st), Tomb-sweeping Day (April 5th), May Day (May 1st), Dragon Boat Festival (Lunar May 5th), Mid-Autumn Festival (Lunar August 15th), and National Day (October 1st).

In addition to these national holidays, there are also holidays for certain groups of citizens: Women's Day (March 8th), Youth Day (May 4th), Children's Day (June 1st), and Army Day (August 1st). These groups usually have half a day off for these holidays.

Ethnic groups in China have their own holidays according to tradition, such as the Tibetan Spring Festival (January 1st in Tibetan calendar), the Water-Splashing Festival of the Dai Nationality (14th to 16th of April, 24th to 26th day of the sixth month of the Dai calendar), and the Nadam Fair of the Inner Mongolian people (Between July and August).

For students and teachers, summer vacation usually falls in July and August, and winter vacation starts from the week before the Spring Festival and ends one week after the Spring Festival holiday.

 Calendar of 2013 and 2014 Chinese Public Holidays

Holidays
Duration
Date
Holidays of 2013
Holidays of 2014
New Year's Day
one day off for all citizens
January 1
Jan. 1- 3, 2013
Dec. 30, 2013 to Jan. 1, 2014
Spring Festival
three days off for all citizens
Chinese New Year's Eve, Lunar January 1st, 2nd
It falls on Feb. 10, 2013. The holiday is from Feb. 9 to 15
It falls on Jan. 31, 2014. The holiday is from Jan. 30 to Feb. 5
Tomb-Sweeping Day
one day off for all citizens
Around April 5
It falls on Apr. 4, 2013. The holiday is from Apr. 4 to 6
It falls on Apr. 5, 2014. The holiday is from Apr. 5 to 7
May Day
three days off for all citizens
May 1st
Apr. 29  to May 1, 2013
May 1 to 3, 2014
Dragon Boat Festival
one day off for all citizens
Lunar May 5th
It falls on Jun. 12, 2013. The holiday is from Jun. 10 to 12 
It falls on Jun. 2, 2014. The holiday is from May 31 to Jun. 2
Mid-Autumn Festival
one day off for all citizens
Lunar August 15th
It falls on Sep. 19, 2013. The holiday is from Sep. 19 to 21
It falls on Sep. 8, 2014. The holiday is from Sep. 6 to 8
National Day
three days off for all citizens
October 1st, 2nd,3rd
Oct. 1 - 7, 2013
Oct. 1 - 7, 2014
Women's Day
half day off for women
March 8th
half day of Mar. 8
half day of Mar. 8
Youth Day
half day off for the youth above 14
May 4th
half day of May 4
half day of May 4
Children's Day
one day off for children under 13
June 1st
Jun. 1, 2013
Jun. 1, 2014
Army Day
half day off for active servicemen
August 1st
half day of Aug. 1
half day of Aug. 1

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