China Long Weekends 2026
China turns its 7 statutory holidays into long breaks by borrowing adjacent weekends, which then become make-up workdays. In 2026 that produces seven blocks of time off — headlined by the 9-day Spring Festival in February and the 7-day National Day Golden Week in October.
China long weekends in 2026
New Year's Day
3 daysJan 1 – 3
Work Sun Jan 4 in exchange.
Spring Festival
9 daysFeb 15 – 23
Work Sat Feb 14 and Sat Feb 28 in exchange.
Qingming Festival
3 daysApr 4 – 6
Labour Day
5 daysMay 1 – 5
Work Sat May 9 in exchange.
Dragon Boat Festival
3 daysJun 19 – 21
Mid-Autumn Festival
3 daysSep 25 – 27
National Day Golden Week
7 daysOct 1 – 7
Work Sun Sep 20 and Sat Oct 10 in exchange.
Long weekends are built on make-up workdays
Unlike most countries, China’s long weekends do not need annual leave — they are arranged nationally by moving weekend days. In 2026 there are 6 make-up workdays (Jan 4, Feb 14, Feb 28, May 9, Sep 20 and Oct 10) when you work a Saturday or Sunday to pay back the extended breaks around Spring Festival, Labour Day and National Day.
See the dedicated China make-up workdays 2026 page for the full exchange table, and the China public holidays 2026 page for every date and the year calendar.
Official sources & data
- China's public holidays for 2026 (State Council)Visit sourceThe State Council of the PRC
- China 2026 Public Holiday ScheduleVisit sourceChina Briefing
Frequently asked questions
How many long weekends does China have in 2026?+
Seven: New Year’s Day (3 days), Spring Festival (9 days), Qingming (3 days), Labour Day (5 days), Dragon Boat (3 days), Mid-Autumn (3 days) and National Day Golden Week (7 days).
When is the longest break in China in 2026?+
The 9-day Spring Festival, Feb 15–23, 2026. The National Day Golden Week (Oct 1–7) is the next longest at 7 days.
Do China’s long weekends need annual leave?+
No. They are arranged nationally through the make-up workday system, so the days off are official and do not consume your annual leave.
Which weekends are make-up workdays in 2026?+
There are 6: Jan 4, Feb 14, Feb 28, May 9, Sep 20 and Oct 10. These support the New Year, Spring Festival, Labour Day and National Day breaks.
Where can I download the China 2026 holiday calendar?+
Our China 2026 public holidays page and the holiday calendar downloads hub offer ICS and CSV files based on the State Council’s official arrangement.