Regardless of whether we import from or export to China, we should plan our business moves ahead of time. You should also plan your visits to Chinese fairs or business trips to factories located there in advance, which is why we are presenting the Chinese holiday calendar for 2017. The “Holidays in China 2017” list includes the most important public holidays. We publish lists annually because Chinese holidays fall on different days every year.
Holidays in China 2017
The most important public holiday is the Chinese New Year – that is when you should expect at least a two-week break in factories or offices. However, there are also many less-known holidays, such as the Mid-Autumn Festival or the National Day of the People’s Republic of China.
Chinese New Year – January 28, 2017 (Saturday)
- Non-working days: January 21-February 5, 2017
- Many companies take two weeks off, e.g. from Jan 20-Feb 6
- Apart from offices or companies, many service outlets or restaurants are also closed during that period
- We do not recommend traveling to China at that time
- You can expect flight tickets and hotel prices to be a lot higher than usual
- If you import from China, keep in mind high sea fright rates in December and January
Qingming Festival – April 4, 2017 (Tuesday)
- Non-working days: April 2-4, 2017
- The public holiday falls on Tuesday
- Only two non-working days; Wednesday is a normal working day
- It is celebrated throughout the country
- When planning a business trip to China, you should take the non-working days into account
Labor Day – May 1, 2017 (Monday)
- Non-working days: April 29-May 2
- One of the most important public holidays in China
- Widely known as “May Day,” Chinese people go on short vacations
- When planning a trip to China, you should expect more intensive tourist traffic
Dragon Boat Festival – May 30, 2015 (Wednesday)
- Non-working days: May 28-30, 2017
- Dragon boat racing is organized in the entire country
- One of the Chines “extended weekends”
- Big tourist traffic in the entire country
Mid-Autumn Festival – October 4, 2017 (Wednesday)
- Non-working days: October 1-8, 2017
- The festival falls in the same week as the National Day of the People’s Republic of China
- Due to this overlapping of dates, the Mid-Autumn Festival and the National Day of the People’s Republic of China are celebrated at the same time, which is why you should expect huge crowds
- We do not recommend traveling to China at that time
National Day of the People’s Republic of China – October 1-7, 2017
- Non-working days: October 1-8, 2017
- Companies, factories, and offices are closed
- The second most important Chinese public holiday after the Chinese New Year
- We do not recommend traveling to China at that time
- Museums, historical monuments, and tourist stops are very crowded.
- Accommodation, plane, and railway tickets are very expensive
Singles’ Day – November 11, 2017
- Most popular “online” festival in China
- Chinese Black Friday
- Huge online sales day
- Aliexpress offers sales up to 70-90% to customers
The above list includes the most important non-working days and public holidays in China in 2017 when it is recommended to refrain from visiting that destination. There are more public holidays in China, however, the unlisted ones do not disrupt business as the ones listed above.