Holidays play a significant role in Chinese culture, as oftentimes, they are the only time for relaxation throughout the year. During the holidays, most businesses are closed, communication with suppliers is very limited, accommodation and transportation prices rise significantly, and you may find the number of traveling Chinese overwhelming. Therefore, if you wish to collaborate with a Chinese company or simply wish to travel there, knowing Chinese holidays will come in handy. However, keep in mind that many of them are based on the Chinese lunar calendar; hence, their dates differ each year. This article discusses Holidays in China 2025 – the most significant Chinese holidays and their dates in 2025.
Holidays in China 2025
Chinese New Year
- Date: January 29th, 2025
- Days off: January 28th – February 3rd, 2025
Chinese New Year (春节; Chūnjié), also known as the “Spring Festival,” is undoubtedly the most celebrated holiday in Chinese culture. Chinese New Year is celebrated on the first day of the Chinese lunar calendar; therefore, its date differs each year.
Spring Festival emphasizes the importance of family; therefore, many Chinese travel to spend this special time with their families. No matter where you go, you will be surrounded by red, symbolizing happiness. The houses are decorated with traditional lanterns, and right above the entrance, you may find a Chinese character 福 (Fú), meaning “blessing”. An essential part of the celebration is gifting red envelopes stuffed with cash to children and the elderly. Although the Chinese are only given a few days off, the actual Chinese New Year lasts until the Lantern Festival, which in 2025 will be celebrated on February 12th.
Around the Chinese New Year, the world’s largest annual migration. All means of transportation are overcrowded; unless you purchase the tickets way in advance, they will all be sold out. Traveling to China at that time should be avoided. On top of that, all businesses are closed, resulting in many delays and ineffective correspondence.
Qingming Festival
- Date: April 5th, 2025
- Days off: April 4th – 6th, 2025
Qingming Festival (清明节; Qīngmíngjié), also known as Tomb Sweeping Festival, is a special Chinese festival that honors family ancestors by performing numerous rituals (such as burning paper objects) to bring them good fortune in the spirit world and in order not to anger them. However, you should remember that businesses are closed during that time and tons of Chinese visit cemeteries.
Holidays in China 2025 – Labor Day
- Date: May 1st, 2025
- Days off: May 1st – 5th, 2025
A term most readers are already familiar with, Labor Day (劳动节; Láodòngjié), unlike previous holidays, is not based on the Chinese lunar calendar; therefore, each year it is celebrated on the same day. Only the number of days off may differ. There are no traditions linked to this holiday, and many Chinese take this opportunity to travel, once again resulting in overcrowded transportation and tourist attractions. In addition, many businesses are closed even for the entire week.
Dragon Boat Festival
- Date: May 31st, 2025
- Days off: May 31st – June 6th, 2025
Dragon Boat Festival (端午节; Duānwǔjié) commemorates a great Chinese scholar, Qu Yuan. According to the legend, Qu Yuan was a patriot trying to put an end to the massive corruption happening in China, which resulted in his exile. Grieving the loss of his beloved country, he took his own life by wading into a river. Upon hearing such dreadful news, the local community rushed to their boats to find his body. They prepared zòngzi, glutinous rice wrapped in bamboo leaves, and threw them into the water to save Qu Yuan’s body from the hungry fish. That marks the beginning of the two main Dragon Boat Festival traditions – the dragon boat race and the previously mentioned zòngzi.
The festival occurs on the fifth day of the fifth month on the Chinese calendar, so you should check its date every year. In 2025, the Dragon Boat Festival will be celebrated on May 31st.
China’s National Day
- Date: October 1st, 2025
- Days off: October 1st – 7th, 2025
China’s National Day (国庆节; Guóqìngjié) commemorates the formal proclamation of the establishment of the People’s Republic of China on 1 October 1949. Therefore, it is not based on the Chinese calendar and is celebrated annually on October 1st. Due to such special circumstances, the Chinese are given 7 days off, known as the “Golden Week,” when businesses remain closed and most people visit their families or travel. In 2025, the “Golden Week” will align with the Mid-Autumn Festival, automatically resulting in an even greater crowd, especially on public transportation and tourist attractions, where prices will rise significantly.
Holidays in China 2025 – Mid-Autumn Festival
- Date: October 6th, 2025
- Days off: October 6th, 2025 (it is a part of the “Golden Week” during October 1st – 7th, 2025)
The Mid-Autumn Festival (中秋节; Zhōngqiūjié) is the second most important traditional Chinese holiday, right after the Chinese New Year. There are numerous legends regarding this holiday, and the one about a woman named Chang’e says that she sacrificed herself by drinking the potion of immortality, which in turn forced her to flee to the Moon. Ever since, every year on the 15th day of the 8th month on the Chinese calendar, when the Moon is the biggest and shines the brightest, her heartbroken husband could see her shadow on it.
The Mid-Autumn Festival is all about the Moon, as people were originally thanking the Moon for abundant crops on that day. Around that time, you can see the Moon’s image everywhere, and one of the main traditions is eating the iconic mooncakes (月饼; yuèbǐng). Mooncakes are made of glutinous rice, but their shapes and flavors may differ in different regions of China. The Mid-Autumn Festival is a time for family gatherings to admire the wonderful full moon and release lanterns into the sky.
How to prepare for Chinese public holidays?
Chinese public holidays oftentimes mean ineffective correspondence with Chinese contractors, delays, and massive migrations. Therefore, we highly recommend avoiding planning business affairs or traveling to China at that time. When importing goods from China, you need to verify whether initial finalization dates collide with Chinese holidays and prepare yourself for possible delays. It is strongly advised to double-check the dates of the holidays, as they differ each year.
