China’s official holiday calendar for 2025 has just landed, and there is big news: two extra public holidays! Yes, an extra day has been added to both the Spring Festival and May Day holidays, with everyone now getting Chinese New Year’s Eve (Jan 28) and May 2 off.
With the new addition to the Spring Festival, and thanks to Mid-Autumn Festival happening during the National Holiday, this means that there are two eight-day holidays this year! Plus, the additional holiday day in May means there is a nice five-day break then too.
The new public holidays aren’t the only good news, though! In 2025 there will be fewer make-up days than in previous years, with only five make-up days, which is significantly less than the eight make-up days that were in this year’s calendar.
Read on below to see what’s in store, and don’t forget to (a) start filing for days off now; (b) forge a few sick leave requests so you can avoid turning up on a pointless weekend day; and (c) rack your brains for relatives whose illnesses you can exploit for yet more time off.
New Year’s Day
Wed, Jan 1
Make-up work days: None
New Year’s Day falls on a Wednesday, so you get a cheeky mid-week day off to help you recover from your New Year’s Eve hangover.
Chinese New Year
Tue, Jan 28 to Tue, Feb 4
Make-up work days: Sun, Jan 26; Sat, Feb 8
This year, the Chinese New Year holiday will start a day earlier, kicking off on Chinese New Year’s Eve (Jan 28) and then running for a blissful eight days. However, there will be two make-up days to go with it, so you’ll have to work the Sunday (Jan 26) before the holiday and then the Saturday (Feb 8) after the holiday.
Tomb-Sweeping Festival
Fri, Apr 4 to Sun, Apr 6
Make-up work day: None
There’s no make-up day for Tomb-Sweeping. Nice!
May Day
Thur, May 1 to Mon, May 5
Make-up work days: Sun, Apr 27
With the addition of May 2 as a public holiday, there are five days off for the May Day holiday, and as it falls on a Saturday, the Monday will be given off as an extra day. You will have to work one make-up day, though, on Sun, Apr 27.
Dragon Boat Festival
Sat, May 31 to Mon, Jun 2
Make-up work days: None
One of the few holidays with no make-up work days tied to it. Lovely!
Mid-Autumn Festival & National Day
Wed, Oct 1 to Wed, Oct 8
Make-up work days: Sun, Sep 28; Sat, Oct 11
Mid-Autumn Festival falls during the National Holiday this year (Oct 6), so you’re given an additional day off on Oct 8, making this the second eight-day holiday of the year! As usual, though, there will be two make-up days, with the Sunday (Sep 28) before the holiday and the Saturday (Oct 11) after the holiday being make-up days.
Check out the full calendar below and save yourself a copy!
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Images: the Beijingers, Unsplash
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