China Unveils Long-Awaited Public Holidays Overhaul

Sources: China Daily and China public holidays. Since the last May Day Golden Week, rumours of an impending massive overhaul of the public holidays of China (see our news post of July 1) have been getting more and more precise, and earlier today, the Chinese Government released a draft plan on the Internet in order to solicit public opinion.

Some of the highlights:

• The total number of legal holidays will increase from 10 days to 11 days.
• As had been widely requested, the Spring Festival would begin on the eve of the Lunar New Year, rather than on the day itself.
• The three-day May Day public holiday is reduced to one day.
• Three new one-day public holidays are created, on traditionally important festival days: Tomb-Sweeping Day, the Dragon-Boat Festival and the Mid-Autumn Festival.
• Golden Weeks will be maintained for the Spring Festival and the National Day public holiday, by working the entire weekend previous to each of these holidays.

The only real surprise is that the government is hoping that if there a is a broad acceptance of the plan, then it could come into effect in time for the 2008 Spring Festival (also referred to as Lunar, or Chinese, New Year). Until now, all rumours had been of a change in 2009, to coincide with the next 5-year-plan as has recently been decreed at the Communist Party Convention.

The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) said that November 15 would be the last day to send in replies to the online poll, and the results would be considered before giving the final touch to the new public holidays list.