China Make-up Workdays 2027
In 2027 mainland China has five make-up workdays (调休 / 补班): Jan 31 (Sun) and Feb 14 (Sun) for the nine-day Spring Festival break, May 8 (Sat) for the five-day Labour Day break, and Sep 26 (Sun) and Oct 9 (Sat) for the seven-day National Day Golden Week.
Dates in 2027
| Date | Day | Holiday | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 31, 2027 | Sunday | Spring Festival make-up workdayMake-up workday | Make-up workday |
| February 14, 2027 | Sunday | Spring Festival make-up workdayMake-up workday | Make-up workday |
| May 8, 2027 | Saturday | Labour Day make-up workdayMake-up workday | Make-up workday |
| September 26, 2027 | Sunday | National Day make-up workdayMake-up workday | Make-up workday |
| October 9, 2027 | Saturday | National Day make-up workdayMake-up workday | Make-up workday |
How China’s make-up workdays work
China stretches its short statutory holidays into week-long breaks by "borrowing" the weekends next to them. Those borrowed Saturdays or Sundays become regular working days — the make-up workdays (调休 / 补班). The trade-off is a long continuous holiday in exchange for working a weekend before or after it.
The State Council (国务院) publishes the exact make-up workdays each year, usually in November or December for the following year. They cluster around the Spring Festival and the National Day Golden Week, the two longest breaks.
Official sources & data
- 国务院办公厅关于2027年部分节假日安排的通知（国办发明电〔2026〕10号）Visit sourceThe State Council of the PRC (gov.cn)
- 国务院办公厅关于2027年部分节假日安排的通知（新华社转发全文）Visit sourceXinhua News Agency
- State Council holiday noticesVisit sourceThe State Council of the PRC
Frequently asked questions
How many make-up workdays does China have in 2027?
Five: Jan 31, Feb 14, May 8, Sep 26 and Oct 9. The Spring Festival alone needs two of them (Jan 31 and Feb 14).
Which weekends are worked for the 2027 Spring Festival?
Two Sundays — Jan 31 and Feb 14 — are worked in exchange for the nine-day Spring Festival break (Feb 5–13).
Are weekends working days in China?
Not normally — China follows a standard Mon–Fri workweek. However, around the major holidays (Spring Festival, National Day, Labour Day), certain Saturdays or Sundays become make-up workdays (调休/补班) to extend the holiday breaks to 5–9 consecutive days. In 2027 there are five such adjusted weekends.
Why does China have make-up workdays?
China’s State Council adjusts the calendar so statutory holidays cluster into long breaks (5–9 days), giving workers time for family reunions and travel. The trade-off is that nearby weekends become make-up workdays to keep the total annual working days roughly the same.
Which days should I avoid travelling to China in 2027?
Avoid the first and last days of the Spring Festival (Feb 5–13) and National Day Golden Week (Oct 1–7) — these are peak domestic travel periods with extreme congestion. Also note the make-up workday weekends (e.g. Jan 31, Feb 14, Oct 9) when businesses operate normally despite being weekends.
How many public holidays does China have in 2027?
China has 7 statutory public holidays in 2027, totalling 29 days off: New Year (3 days), Spring Festival (9 days), Qingming (3 days), Labour Day (5 days), Dragon Boat Festival (1 day), Mid-Autumn Festival (1 day) and National Day (7 days).