Chinese New Year Holiday in Taiwan
Taiwan’s Lunar New Year is a statutory holiday centered on the first day of the first lunar month. Its five-day holiday period, family reunion customs and practical travel effects make it one of the country’s major annual observances.[1][2]
Meaning and timing
Lunar New Year marks the start of the new year in the lunar calendar. In Taiwan, the official holiday centers on the first day of the first lunar month, while the preceding Lunar New Year’s Eve is the last day of the twelfth lunar month.[1]
Taiwan’s calendar provides five days off, beginning the day before New Year’s Eve and continuing through the third day of the first lunar month. The actual public-sector schedule can include additional days off when substitute holidays apply, so the full break varies by year.[1]
Legal status and days off
The national holiday rules provide workers paid time off on designated holidays when a scheduled workday falls on one. The Ministry of Labor says this entitlement also applies to part-time and hourly workers. If a national holiday falls on a worker’s regular day off or rest day, the rules provide for a substitute day, with its date arranged by the employer and worker.[2]
Government agencies follow a separate official work calendar. It sets out the public-sector holiday schedule and substitute days; agencies that operate year-round or provide essential services may adjust days off under their sector’s rules. The government calendar does not by itself establish a uniform closure schedule for every private business.[1]
Customs and food
The Tourism Administration describes Lunar New Year as Taiwan’s most important holiday. Before it, families clean their homes to sweep away misfortune and welcome a fresh start, and put auspicious Chinese characters on doors and windows.[3]
Families gather for a New Year’s Eve dinner, a custom associated with reunion. Rice cakes are also prepared; their Chinese name sounds like a phrase meaning “rising high in the year.” At midnight, people set off firecrackers to welcome the new year.[3]
Travel and opening hours
The holiday period affects intercity travel. Taiwan’s Tourism Administration recommends booking long-distance freeway bus tickets in advance during New Year vacation periods, or choosing another form of transport when roads are congested.[4]
Government offices follow the published official calendar. Shop, restaurant and other private-business hours are not set uniformly by that calendar, so visitors should check directly before making plans.[1][2]
Frequently asked questions
When is Chinese New Year in Taiwan?
It begins on the first day of the first lunar month, so its Gregorian-calendar date changes from year to year.[1]
How long is the official holiday?
The statutory holiday period is five days, from the day before Lunar New Year’s Eve through the third day of the first lunar month. Substitute days can affect the length of the scheduled break.[1]
Do workers get the day off?
Workers are entitled to paid time off on designated national holidays when they fall on a scheduled workday. If one falls on a regular day off or rest day, a substitute day is provided under the applicable rules.[2]
Are shops and restaurants open?
Should I book intercity transport ahead?
The Tourism Administration recommends advance booking for long-distance freeway buses during New Year vacation periods, especially when road traffic is congested.[4]
Sources and references
Sources used for Chinese New Year Holiday in Taiwan:
- 2027 Work Calendar- Directorate-General of Personnel Administration, Executive Yuan
- 國定假日及補假- Ministry of Labor, Republic of China (Taiwan)
- Traditional Festivals- Tourism Administration, Republic of China (Taiwan)
- Intercity Buses- Tourism Administration, Republic of China (Taiwan)