If you only look at “National Day = 1 October,” you will mis-plan China trips and meetings. Mainland China uses tiaoxiu — official weekend/workday swaps — to assemble longer consecutive leave. The festival name and the actual days off are different layers.
What tiaoxiu changes
Each year the General Office of the State Council publishes a notice listing statutory festivals and the exact leave window, including makeup workdays. Public bodies generally follow it; private employers apply contracts and internal rules. For scheduling, always check the leave window, not only the festival date.
Practical 2026 tips
- Spring Festival and National Day are the longest gaps and peak travel periods.
- Qingming, Dragon Boat, and Mid-Autumn are shorter long weekends but still slow cross-timezone replies.
- Do not assume Hong Kong or Taiwan share the same makeup-workday pattern.
- Avoid shipping production releases on the afternoon before a long break.
See the full table on the China 2026 holiday page, and compare with China–Japan holiday gaps.