Public Holidays

Offices and museums are generally closed on public holidays. Shops tend to remain open.

Public Holidays
Date	Festival	Details
January 1 and 2	Western New Year's Day	Though not celebrated in China, it is a state holiday.
The first day of the year in the lunar calendar. This is usually in late January or early February *	Lunar New Year (Spring Festival)	China's most important holiday. Families gather together to eat, exchange gifts and welcome in the new year.
March 8	International Women's Day	A state holiday.
April 4-5	Qing Ming (Tomb-sweeping Festival)	The traditional day to visit and clean ancestors graves.
May 1 and 2	Labor Day	Holiday honoring workers.
May 4	International Youth Day	Memorializes the May 4 Movement of 1919.
5th day of the 5th lunar month *	Dragon Boat Festival	Festival memorializing the poet and patriot Qu Yuan who drowned himself in political protest.
June 1	Children's Day	Honors children.
July 1	Anniversary of the founding of the Chinese Communist Party	A state holiday.
August 1	Anniversary of the founding of the PLA	Honors the armed forces.
15th day of the 8th lunar month *	Mid-Autumn Festival	A lunar holiday celebrated during the harvest period. Families gather to eat moon cakes and light candles.
October 1-3	National Day	Commemorates the Communist victory in 1949.

* Lunar holidays. Dates of these holidays change yearly dependent on the lunar calendar.