Here’s the main holiday dates for China 2019 and the dates to join in on amazing festivals (or hide under the bed and avoid the crowds and transport chaos :))
| Date | English name | Local name | Pinyin | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January 1st | New Year | 元旦 | Yuándàn | New Years Day |
| February 5th | Spring Festival (Chinese New Year) | 春节 | Chūnjié | Feb. 4 – 10. For many, holidays last up to the Lantern Festival. Biggest event on the Chinese calendar and the most important date for family togetherness. |
| April 5 | Tomb-Sweeping Day | 清明节 | Qīngmíng jié | April 5 – 7. Combined with weekend to make 3 day holiday. During Qingming, families visit the tombs of their ancestors to clean the grave, pray to their ancestors, and make offerings. |
| May 1 | Labour Day | 劳动节 | Láodòng jié | Adopted from foreign culture to become an official holiday after 1949. |
| June 7 | Dragon Boat Festival | 端午节 | Duānwǔ jié | June 7 – 9. Cultural festival in China with roots back to the ancient Zhou Dynasty. Eating zongzi and racing dragon boats is the go at this time of year. |
| September 13 | Mid-Autumn Day | 中秋节 | Zhōngqiū jié | September 13 – 15. A traditional festival celebrating the harvest during the autumn full moon. During this time of year, everyone goes mad for mooncakes. |
| October 1 | National Day | 国庆节 | Guóqìng jié | October 1 – 7. Founding of PRC on October 1, 1949 it’s often referred to as Golden Week and it’s a superb time of year to to join in on sardine-like crowds at national attractions. |
