China extends public holidays by two days

Chinese Premier Li Qiang has signed a State Council decree unveiling revised measures on holiday arrangements, extending public holidays by two days and bringing the total number of annual holidays from 11 to 13.

The Spring Festival holiday is extended from three days to four, with the eve of the Chinese Lunar New Year added. The May Day holiday is increased from one day to two, with May 2 added.

Public holidays can be arranged to combine with adjacent weekends or paid annual leave to form longer holiday periods. Except in rare cases, the working days surrounding national holidays generally won’t exceed six consecutive days.

The new measures, effective Jan. 1, 2025, also clarify optimized holiday adjustments. The Spring Festival holiday, starting from Lunar New Year's Eve, will span eight days, including adjustments. The National Day holiday will last seven days from Oct. 1, while May Day will include five days of leave.

New Year’s Day, Qingming Festival, Dragon Boat Festival, and Mid-Autumn Festival will each span three days, with exceptions for mid-week dates. When National Day coincides with Mid-Autumn Festival, they will merge for an eight-day holiday. (Xinhua)