In China, there are public holidays on 7 legal festivals in a year, namely New Year's Day, Chinese New Year (Spring Festival), Qingming Festival, May Day, Dragon Boat Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival, and National Day.

Some people have a half day off on the following four days or anniversaries including Women's Day, Youth Day, Children's Day and Army Day of the Chinese People's Liberation Army. Women have half day off on Women's Day. Young people over 14 years of age have a half day off on Youth Day. Children under 14 years old have a day off on Children's Day. Active members of the army have a half-day off on Army Day.

People celebrate many other festivals but they do not have time off: Labor Day, International Nurses' Day, Anniversary of the Founding of the Chinese Communist Party, Teachers' Day and Journalists' Day.

Most Celebrated Festivals in China

New Year's Day:Jan. 1st

Chinese New Year:

1st day in 1st lunar month, usually in Jan. or Feb.
The grandest traditional festival in China, the longest public holiday;
Annual family reunion, eat dumplings, set off fireworks

Lantern Festival:

15th day in 1st lunar month, usually in Feb.
Watch lanterns, eat glutinous rice dumplings, guess lantern riddles

Qingming Festival:

Apr. 4th or 5th
Also known as Pure Brightness Festival or Tomb-sweeping Day;
Visit ancestors' tombs, spring outing

May Day:May 1st

Dragon Boat Festival:

5th day in 5th lunar month, usually in Jun.
To commemorate Qu Yuan (340-278 BC), an ancient Chinese patriotic poet;
Eat Zongzi, dragon boat race.

Mid-Autumn Day:

15th day in 8th lunar month, usually in Sep.
Family reunion, appreciate the full moon, eat moon cakes

National Day:

Oct.1st
Military parade and celebration on the Tiananmen Square in Beijing;
Nationwide traveling peak from Oct. 1st to 7th regarded as the 'Golden Week'