The topic of this publication is holidays in China 2023. We will list all public and unofficial holidays. Let us indicate the additional days off introduced for some significant dates. All Chinese holidays in 2023 are arranged by month in chronological order. At the end of the article you will find a calendar of non-working days, national and unofficial holidays.
New Year – January 1, 2023 (Sunday) – public holiday, non-working day.
New Year’s weekend – January 2, 2023 (Monday) – day of rest, non-working day.
Chinese New Year’s Eve – January 21, 2023 (Saturday) – public holiday, non-working day.
Chinese New Year – January 22, 2023 (Sunday) – public holiday, non-working day.
On the Chinese New Year, the holidays will last from January 21 to 26, 2023. On these days, the Chinese traditionally visit relatives, which causes a heavy load on the transport infrastructure.
February
Lantern Festival – February 5, 2023 (Sunday).
Zhonghe Festival (Blue Dragon Festival) – February 21, 2023 (Tuesday).
Lantern Festival – what is it?
The Lantern Festival or Lantern Festival is an annual event celebrated in China on the 15th day of the first lunar month. It marks the end of the Chinese New Year celebrations and is a significant cultural event in Chinese society. Lanterns of different sizes and shapes are illuminated by candles or LED bulbs, symbolizing hope and good wishes for the new year.
March
International Women’s Day – March 8, 2023 (Wednesday).
Arbor Day – March 12, 2023 (Sunday).
Tree planting day
Arbor Day is a day dedicated to planting trees and preserving the environment. It was first held in 1979 as a response to increasing deforestation and other environmental issues. Arbor Day events typically involve schoolchildren, local government officials, and other members of the community.
April
Grave Sweeping Day (Qingming Holiday) – April 5, 2023 (Wednesday) – public holiday, non-working day.
May
Labor Day (Labor Day) – May 1, 2023 (Monday) – public holiday, non-working day.
Youth Day – May 4, 2023 (Thursday).
The Labor Day celebration will last five days – from April 29 to May 3, 2023.
June
Children’s Day – June 1, 2023 (Thursday).
Dragon Boat Festival (Dragon Boat Parade, Duanwu Festival) – from 22 (Thursday) to 24 (Saturday) June 2023 – public holiday, non-working day.
Why is the Dragon Boat Festival held?
The Dragon Boat Festival in China, also known as the Duanwu Festival, is a traditional festival celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month. The festival commemorates Qu Yuan , a poet and statesman from the Warring States period.
Qu Yuan drowned to protest against corrupt government officials. Legend has it that the locals raced in their boats to rescue him, throwing rice dumplings into the river to prevent the fish from eating his body.
July
Founding Day of the Chinese Communist Party is July 1, 2023 (Saturday).
Sea Day — July 11, 2023 (Tuesday).
August
Armed Forces Day – August 1, 2023 (Tuesday).
Chinese Valentine’s Day – August 22, 2023 (Tuesday).
Hungry Ghost Festival – August 30, 2023 (Wednesday).
Hungry Ghost Festival
The Hungry Ghost Festival is a traditional Buddhist and Taoist festival that takes place in China on the fifteenth day of the seventh lunar month. According to Chinese folklore, during this period, deceased ancestors return to the world of the living to enjoy the food prepared by their descendants.
Therefore, people celebrate this holiday by offering food, incense, and other gifts at temples, graves, or household altars to propitiate their hungry ghost ancestors. Many Chinese believe that if they do not perform these rituals correctly or make offerings to their ancestors, it may bring bad luck and misfortune to them.
September
Teacher’s Day – September 10, 2023 (Sunday).
Mid-Autumn Festival (Zhongqiujie) – September 29 and 30, 2023 (Friday and Saturday) – public holidays, non-working day.
October
Foundation Day of the People’s Republic of China – October 1, 2023 (Sunday) – public holiday, non-working day.
National Day (Golden Week Holiday) – October 2, 2023 (Monday) – public holiday, non-working day.
Double Ninth Festival (Chongyang) – October 23, 2023 (Monday).
The Founding Day of the People’s Republic of China will officially last from 1 (Sunday) to 6 (Friday) October 2023.
Where did the Double Ninth Festival come from?
The Double Ninth Festival, also known as the Chongyang Festival, is a traditional Chinese holiday celebrated on the ninth day of the ninth lunar month. The number nine is considered an auspicious number in Chinese culture and has been associated with longevity since ancient times. The origins of the festival date back to about 20 centuries ago. Then on this day they made sacrifices to their ancestors and climbed high hills to enjoy the autumn landscapes.
November
Journalist’s Day – November 8, 2023 (Wednesday).
December
Christmas – December 25, 2023 (Monday).
New Year’s Eve – December 31, 2023 (Sunday).
Holidays in China 2023, calendar
Holidays in China 2023. Symbols: red – public holiday and non-working day; blue is an unofficial holiday.
In this publication, we talked about the holidays in China in 2023. We provided a list of public and unofficial holidays. More information about school holidays and holidays around the world can be found on our All-Holidays.Info website. Don’t forget to share this article with your friends!
