Chinese New Year
Falls between January 20 and February 21 each year.
March 8: International Women's Day
Women get half a day off, though this is handled differently from one employer to another and isn't a legal requirement.
Around April 5: Qingming Festival (Tomb-Sweeping Day)
Once again an official public holiday. Many companies have employees work through the preceding weekend so that a bridge holiday gives everyone three days off to travel home and honor their ancestors.
May 1: Labor Day
For some years now, May 1 has also come with a week of holiday.
May 4: Youth Day
Commemorates the May Fourth Movement of 1919, when student protests broke out in China over the Treaty of Versailles' decision to hand Germany's former rights in China to Japan.
June 1: International Children's Day
All children under thirteen get the day off school, and parents are encouraged to spend the day with their kids (and sometimes get time off from work themselves). Schools often organize outings such as trips to the cinema.
July 1: Founding of the Communist Party of China
Not an official public holiday, but the anniversary is marked with extensive television coverage.
September 10: Teachers' Day
Teachers receive gifts from their students and sometimes half a day off, depending on the school.
October 1: Founding of the People's Republic of China (1949)
October 1 comes with five days of holiday — a time when many Chinese travel to visit family.
