The Chinese government has finally made our 2013 public holidays official. We’ve deciphered the holiday schedule and it’s not pretty. Forced vacation is never fun but when it results in eight-day workweeks and the dissolution of far too many weekends, it becomes downright painful.
Eight Days a Week: China Releases Official 2013 Holiday Dates
ReplyDeletehttp://www.thebeijinger.com/blog/2012/12/11/eight-days-week-china-releases-official-2013-holiday-dates
Here are the dates so you can start preparing.
NEW YEAR’S DAY
Days off: January 1-3
Work days: Saturday, January 5 and Sunday, January 6
Translation: We’re in work on Monday, then off Tuesday-Thursday, only to come back for an eight-day workweek. Ouch.
SPRING FESTIVAL
Days off: February 9-15
Work days: Saturday, February 16 and Sunday, February 17
Translation: We get seven consecutive days off, followed by a seven-day work week.
QING MING (TOMB SWEEPING) FESTIVAL
Days off: April 4-6
Work days: Sunday, April 7
Translation: We get a long weekend from Thursday to Saturday and are back in the office on Sunday.
LABOR DAY
Days off: April 29-May 1
Work days: Saturday, April 27 and Sunday, April 28
Translation: We’ll pay for this midweek three-day break by spending an entire weekend in the office. In other words, the holiday will be bookended by a seven-day workweek and a two-day workweek.
DRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL
Days off: June 10-12
Work days: Saturday, June 8 and Sunday, June 9
Translation: So nice they did it twice. Seven days of work, three of play and two of work.
MID-AUTUMN FESTIVAL
Days off: Thursday, September 19 to Saturday, September 21
Work day: Sunday, September 22
Translation: Finally, a three-day break where we only have to “earn” one of the days with a Sunday in the office.
NATIONAL DAY
Days off: October 1-October 7
Work days: Sunday, September 29 and Saturday, October 12
Translation: Coming off a six-day work week (see Mid-Autumn Festival), our weekend consists of a single Saturday before we come back to work on Sunday and Monday. Then we’re off for seven days. Everyone is back in the office on Tuesday (Oct 8) through Saturday. A final one-day weekend is the bitter cherry on the top of that sundae.