China will have 13 statutory paid holidays in 2027, consistent with the expanded entitlement introduced in 2025, according to the State Council. For most businesses, this is non-negotiable. But — and this is important — there are exceptions depending on how you've classified your employees and what industry you're in. Here's what you need to know about China's 2027 public holidays.
What Are China's 2027 Public Holidays?
Here's the full calendar of statutory holidays:
| Holiday | Dates | Duration | Makeup Workdays |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | January 1-3 | 3 days | None |
| Spring Festival | February 5-13 | 9 days | January 31 & February 14 (Sundays) |
| Qingming Festival | April 3-5 | 3 days | None |
| Labor Day | May 1-5 | 5 days | May 8 (Saturday) |
| Dragon Boat Festival | June 9 | 1 day | None |
| Mid-Autumn Festival | September 15 | 1 day | None |
| National Day | October 1-7 | 7 days | September 26 & October 9 |
Note the "makeup working days" on the right-hand side of the table. These are Saturdays and Sundays that turn into regular working days to offset the extended holidays. If your staff work these, they get paid their normal rate, not overtime.
The 13 statutory days are spread across seven holiday periods. Once weekends and rescheduled rest days are added, that comes to 29 days off in 2027. The Dragon Boat Festival and Mid-Autumn Festival both fall on a Wednesday, so each is a single day off with no long weekend.
What About Half-Days and Regional Stuff?
Beyond the 13 big holidays, there are a few partial observances worth noting:
- Women's Day (March 8):
Women get half a day off. - Youth Day (May 4):
Employees aged 14–28 get half a day off. - Children's Day (June 1):
Children under 14 get the whole day off school. Parents aren't entitled to time off, but some may need to arrange childcare. - Army Day (August 1):
Active military personnel get half a day.
There are also cultural festivals: Lantern Festival on February 20, Tibetan New Year, the Ghost Festival in August, and so on. These aren't statutory paid holidays across the whole country, but they matter culturally and may affect your business. If you're operating in specific regions like Tibet or Guangxi (which has its own Double Third Festival on April 9), check the local government's announcement for the exact days off.
Do You Actually Have to Give Paid Time Off?
The short answer is: usually yes, but not always.
For most businesses operating a standard working hours system, statutory holidays are mandatory paid leave. No ifs, no buts. Your staff must get paid as if they worked, and you cannot deduct it from their annual leave balance. This is baked into Chinese labor law.
But there are genuine exceptions:
If you use a "comprehensive working hours system" (common in transport, telecom, retail, and some hospitality), you can roster staff to work on statutory holidays as part of your approved schedule. But you still have to pay them at least 300% of their wage for those days.
If you use a "non-fixed working hours system", the rules depend on where you are. In Beijing, employees on an approved non-fixed system don't get overtime pay for statutory holidays, so you don't owe them 300%. Many other provinces take the same approach, but some cities, including Shanghai and Shenzhen, still require 300% pay for statutory holiday work under this system.
If you're unsure which classification applies to your operation, contact us and we can help you out. The rules genuinely differ between Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Guangzhou and other locations.
What If You Need Staff to Work on a Holiday?
If your business must operate on a statutory holiday, and you don't fall into an exemption category, you must pay at least 300% of the employee's normal daily or hourly wage for work on that day. If you need to do this, always inform employees in advance and get written consent where possible, especially for holiday work, to avoid disputes or complaints.
