China’s 2021 Holiday Schedule

China released its official holiday schedule for 2021 through its “Circular of the General Office of the State Council about the Public Holiday Arrangement for 2021, on November 25, 2020.

As is traditional, the holiday schedule features two major week-long holidays: Spring Festival (also known as Chinese New Year) and the National Day holiday.

In 2021, the Spring Festival falls between February 11 and 17, and the National Day holiday between October 1 and 7.

Foreign human resource managers should note that Saturdays and Sundays are often marked as additional official work-days in China to compensate for long holiday breaks.

For example, in 2021, Sunday, February 7 and Saturday, February 20 are designated as official work-days to partially offset the seven days off for the Spring Festival.

Private companies in China, however, have the right to determine their own schedules – that is allow for additional days off – so long as the official holiday calendar is maintained.

China’s Official Public Holiday Schedule For 2021

New Year

• January 1 – 3, 2021 (3 day in total; Friday to Sunday)

Spring Festival

• February 11 – 17, 2021 (7 days in total; Thursday to Wednesday)
• Adjusted working days:  February 7, 2021 (Sunday) and February 20, 2021 (Saturday)

Tomb Sweeping Festival

• April 3 – 5, 2021 (3 days in total; Saturday to Monday)

Labor Day

• May 1 – 5, 2021 (3 days in total; Saturday to Wednesday)
• Adjusted working days: April 25, 2021 (Sunday) and May 8, 2021 (Saturday)

Dragon Boat Festival

• June 12 – 14, 2021 (3 days in total; Saturday to Monday)

Mid-Autumn Festival

• September 19 – 21, 2021 (3 days in total; Sunday to Tuesday)
• Adjusted working days: September 18, 2021 (Saturday)

National Day

• October 1 – 7, 2021 (7 days in total; Friday to Thursday)
• Adjusted working days: September 26, 2021 (Sunday) and October 9, 2021 (Saturday)