A Useful Guide To Chinese Holidays

China Health Insurance takes a look at Chinese holidays, as well as non-Chinese holidays that have recently been adopted by China from the West.

China officially recognizes more than 20 holidays and celebrations per year, and Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan are about the same. What's more, in recent years Western holidays - such as Christmas and Valentine's Day - have been adopted by many families and companies, giving people in China even more reasons to celebrate.

For non-Chinese, the calendar can seem a confusing series of work breaks and company dinners. But to locals, all these holidays help reflect on the past while also lending an opportunity to see friends and family. For migrant workers, holidays are a chance to travel back home for a few days each year.

So, here is a rundown of the most famous Chinese holidays, along with when they occur and some basics on what is being celebrated. Note that many of China’s holidays are based on the Chinese Lunar calendar which has between 353 and 385 days per year, depending on leap years, and thus dates don’t correlate with the standard Gregorian calendar used worldwide - in China, the same holiday will fall on a different day each year.

Chinese New Year and Spring Festival – 1st to 15th of the 1st Lunar Month

This is the big one; a two week holiday wherein almost all of China shuts down and nearly everyone spends time with their extended family, eating, drinking and exchanging gifts. Fireworks are a key element of the New Year celebration, believed to ward off evil spirits and usher in good luck. It’s also the most popular time to travel for vacationers, though fares are highest and transportation is very crowded.

Lantern Festival – 15th of the 1st Lunar Month

Lantern Festival concludes the New Year’s Celebration and is a chance for families to say goodbye before they head back to work. Typically there are lantern shows and parades to attend and everyone eats Yuanxiao, a flour dumpling that represents unity and peace for the upcoming year.

International Women’s Day – March 8th

This holiday recognizes female workers and gives them a paid half-day off while the men stay on the job for the rest of the day. Some women use it as a chance to spend some time with their own mother as well.

Arbor Day – March 12th

In honor of Dr. Sun Yat-sen who died on March 12th in 1925, a decree has been in place since 1979 stating that every person between 11 and 60 years old in China should plant a tree or do other horticultural activities on this date to recall his accomplishments and hopes for a progressive China.

Zhonghejie aka Blue Dragon Festival – 2nd day of the 2nd Lunar Month

Not commonly celebrated in cities, this is still a popular celebration in rural areas where residents give thanks for the rain that ensures success of the year’s crops. It is often celebrated by eating wheat flour pancakes or noodles from the previous year’s harvest.

Qingming aka Tomb Sweeping Day – April 4th to 6th

Devout Buddhist and Daoist Chinese visit the tombs of their ancestors on this day to do some “spring cleaning” and make offerings. This is a family celebration and everyone is expected to attend to ensure the family is blessed by the deceased’s spirits. Later, the family usually eats dinner together and some traditionalists fly a kite to bring good luck. For the other two free days, most people try to find a way to enjoy the spring weather outdoors.

May Day and International Labor Day – May 1st

Simultaneously celebrating the average worker and providing a holiday in mid-spring, May Day is popular for domestic tourism within China. As a result, popular destinations are very crowded this week if the weather is good. Usually it is a three day holiday, incorporating the weekend plus May 1st or requiring employees to work over the weekend to get two extra days off mid-week.

Youth Day – May 4th

Intended to remember the acts of a group of students in the early 20th century who opposed the oppressive imperial government of the time, Youth Day give students aged 14 to 20 a day off from studies, and instead they attend social activities at school.

International Children’s Day – June 1st

If this holiday falls on the weekend, parents often take their young children to a park or local attraction for fun, or to a museum to educate them on Chinese culture and history. If June 1st is a weekday, Children’s Day usually involves a party, movies or a talent show put on by the kids at school.

Duanwujie aka Dragon Boat Festival – 5th day of the 5th Lunar Month

Celebrated annually for over 2,000 years, Dragon Boat Festival is one of China’s oldest events. Today its origins are sketchy, but most people believe that it honors Qu Yuan, a famous poet who drowned himself in a river to avoid living under the rule of the enemy Qin State. Thus many feel it represents valor, dignity and integrity. Most people celebrate the holiday by eating Zhongzi, steamed rice wrapped in bamboo leaves, and watching the boat races held around the country. Many parents also tie a silk thread on their child to protect them from diseases on this date.

CPC Founding Day – July 1st

In honor of the first meeting of the Communist Party in 1921, July  1st has been set aside to remember the transfer of power from imperialism to communism in the country, and the social benefits brought by this change. Parades, speeches by key party members and military exhibitions are held throughout the country to celebrate.

Maritime Day and Army Day – July 11th and August 1st

These two days remember the men and women who have served, or are currently serving, in China’s armed forces. Young soldiers will often honor veterans; doing needed tasks around their homes or offering military-themed gifts.

Qixi aka Double Seventh Day – 7th day of the 7th Lunar Month

Based on a legend of a poor boy falling in love with a fairy, this holiday is for lovers to spend time together. It is basically the same as Valentine’s Day in western countries.

Ghost Day – 15th day of the 7th Lunar Month

Buddhists believe that during the seventh month of the lunar calendar the gates separating Hell and Earth are opened and evil spirits are allowed to roam around looking for victims. Swimming is considered dangerous, despite the fact that it is mid-summer, for fear of water spirits causing drowning. And all month long offerings are made to dead ancestors for protection. The 15th day of the month is the biggest day of offerings, and dragon parades are held to ward off the evil spirits.

Teacher’s Day – September 10th

Teachers and education are very highly regarded in China. In keeping with the ancient tradition of paying respect to those who pass on important lessons, teachers are honored with poems, flowers, ceremonies, gifts and student plays.

Zhongqiujie aka Mid-Autumn or Moon Festival – 15th day of the 8th Lunar Month

Another holiday with an unclear past, the Mid-Autumn Festival is celebrated on the brightest full moon of the year. The key focus is moon cakes, which are passed around as gifts during the few weeks before the festival. This is also typically a time for family reunions and dinners, along with well-wishing for distant friends and relatives.

National Day – October 1st

Marking the start of a week long holiday, National Day commemorates the anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China on October 1st, 1949. The celebration is marked by parades, fireworks and patriotism, and followed by a week off of work.

Double Ninth Day and Seniors’ Day - 9th day of the 9th Lunar Month

Tradition says that on this holiday, often called Chongyang Day, everyone should eat Chongyang cake and drink chrysanthemum wine or climb a mountain in order to ward off diseases and bad luck. Later, since “nine” is pronounced the same as “old” in Mandarin, the day was also adopted as a holiday to honor the elderly.

Journalists’ Day – November 9th

Since 2000, China has honored the work of journalists and reporters on this date by acknowledging some of the most noteworthy work and sacrifices made, both domestically and abroad, to bring the news to the country.

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