Spring Festival in China
Spring Festival marks the start of the new year in China and is centered on family reunions, good wishes and community celebrations. Chinese law sets four public-holiday days for it, while official workday adjustments can make the break longer.[1][2]
A public holiday under Chinese law
The State Council’s holiday rules list Spring Festival among the holidays for all citizens. The statutory period is the lunar New Year’s Eve and the first three days of the first lunar month. If a public holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, it is made up on a workday; the State Council may also arrange working-day adjustments to create a longer break.[1]
The statutory period is not necessarily the full length of time people have off work. For practical planning, check the annual national schedule and the opening hours of individual offices and services. The national rule does not specify when banks, shops or restaurants must open.[1]
Meaning and family customs
In China, the festival begins on the first day of the first month in the Chinese calendar. UNESCO describes its social practices as ways to welcome the new year, pray for good fortune, reunite with family and promote community harmony. Customs and skills are passed on within families and communities, as well as through public education.[2]
In the days before the festival, people clean their homes, prepare food and stock provisions. On New Year’s Eve, families gather for a meal and stay up late to welcome the new year. During the festival, people may wear new clothes, make offerings and visit elders, relatives, friends and neighbours with New Year greetings.[2]
Food and regional customs
Food traditions vary across China. A Shanghai municipal government guide says dumplings are typical in northern China, where their ingot shape is associated with wealth and prosperity. In southern regions, people often eat glutinous rice balls and rice cakes, associated in the guide with family reunion and hopes for continued progress.[3]
The festival also includes community festivities organised by cultural institutions, social groups and performing arts troupes. The customs people follow are not identical in every family or place; UNESCO describes a range of rituals, legends, ballads and decorative crafts linked with the celebration.[2]
Travel and practical planning
The holiday brings a period of high travel demand as people return home for family reunions. China’s government has described the annual Spring Festival travel rush as involving rail, road, water and air transport, with authorities coordinating capacity and services around the surge.[4]
For travelers, expect busy transport around the holiday and check schedules before setting out. Public festivities take place in communities, but check locally for opening hours of specific businesses and services.[2][4]
Spring Festival in China: FAQs
Is Spring Festival a public holiday in China?
Yes. The State Council lists it as a holiday for all citizens, with a statutory period covering lunar New Year’s Eve and the first three days of the first lunar month.[1]
How long is the official Spring Festival holiday?
The statutory holiday is four days. Workday adjustments may extend the break, so check the official schedule for the year you plan to travel.[1]
What do people eat during Spring Festival?
Customs vary by region. A Shanghai government guide describes dumplings as typical in the north and glutinous rice balls and rice cakes as common in southern regions.[3]
Are shops and transport open during the holiday?
Transport operates during the holiday travel rush, but demand is high. Check locally for shop opening hours before visiting.[4]
Sources and references
Sources used for Spring Festival in China:
- 國務院關於修改《全國年節及紀念日放假辦法》的決定- The State Council of the People’s Republic of China, published by Beijing Municipal Government
- Spring festival, social practices of the Chinese people in celebration of traditional new year- UNESCO
- Chinese New Year's Day- Shanghai Municipal Government
- China unveils measures to brace for Spring Festival travel rush- The State Council of the People’s Republic of China