Tiaoxiu is China’s policy of shifting days off for holidays, you get seven days off but have to work your weekends to make up for it.
The National Day Golden Week has started in China and people are enjoying seven days off work… Or is it actually five days? No, three?
In China the unique tiaoxiu (调休) policy shifts working days around to allow longer holidays while giving fewer days off.
This National Day Golden Week holiday will see most workers in China having seven consecutive days of not working from October 1st to 7th.
However, only three of those days are public holidays. Two others are from the regular weekend. The final two are adjusted rest days. On Friday 4th of October and Monday 7th October, workers will be at home but will have to work on Sunday, September 29th, and Saturday, October 12th instead. Those shifted days will mean workers work 6 days on those weeks.
What is seven consecutive days of no work, is actually only three extra days off.
This is the same at China’s other long holiday weeks and weekends throughout the year. In 2024 there were a total of 28 days of holiday through New Year Day, Chinese New Year, Tomb Sweeping Festival, Labour Day Holiday, Dragon Boat Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival, and National Day Golden Week.
The 28 days of holiday is made up of 11 official public holidays, eight shifted working days that must be made up on set weekend working days, and a further nine regular weekend days off.
While public companies must follow the schedule, private companies are allowed to set their own schedules. Though they must comply with the compulsory public holidays. Anyone who must work during the public holidays will receive overtime pay.
The system dates back to 1999 when longer holidays – known as golden weeks – were introduced to stimulate travel and tourism spending.
The opportunity for extended time off is welcomed by many. It also certainly has a major economic impact. The 2023 National Day Holiday generated RMB 753.43 billion (£83.36 billion) in tourism revenue. This year there will be a predicted 1.94 billion inter-city rail trips made. Many people will be travelling to see family during the longer breaks or heading overseas for international breaks.
However, not everyone agrees with the policy.
More than anything, it can be really confusing. The date Mid-Autumn Festival landed on this year and the adjustments made for it and National Day meant five straight weeks of work schedules were impacted in 2024.
There is an entire government apparatus in place to sort out the holiday days.
Each year in October or November, the following year’s specific holiday days are announced by a notice from the General Office of the State Council (国务院办公厅). The specific tiaoxiu (调休) days were originally determined by the impressive sounding National Holiday Tourism Inter-ministerial Coordination Conference Office (全国假日旅游部际协调会议办公室). More simply referred to as the Holiday Office (假日办).
In 2014, it was abolished with the work taken over by the State Council Tourism Work Inter-ministerial Joint Conference (国务院旅游工作部际联席会议).
The shifting of work days allowing for seven consecutive days off – but requiring a couple of six day work weeks as a consequence – is frustrating for many. Head to Chinese social media around holiday periods and you’ll find many complaining about tiaoxiu (调休).
The top comment under an article posted to WeChat discussing the tiaoxiu (调休). system and its unpopularity read:
“Apart from workers of the Holiday Office, no-one benefits from tiaoxiu.”
The replying comment simply stated: “It is the Holiday Office who should rest ——- forever.”
Many memes are also created to express dissatisfaction with the holiday. On Xiaohong Shu, one user posted an image (see above) that sarcastically read:
Working again.
Really like working.
Tomorrow still working.
I want to work as long as I live.
Another (see below) stated: What? Today is Monday. Tomorrow also is Monday.
A viral phrase has emerged summing up the confusion: “Work six days, off three; work three, off two; work five, off one; work two, off seven; and work five, off one.”
The government have even debated if changes should be made. According to a 2013 government survey, four-fifths of respondents said they were unsatisfied with it. That same year proposals were put forward about changing the way tiaoxiu (调休) worked, but nothing came of it.
While there are many who question its benefits. Others are still supportive. In China, a person with up to 10 years of work experience is entitled to just five days of annual leave. Workers with up to 20 years get 10 days, and those with more years receive 15 days.
In a country with such limited time off, the tiaoxiu (调休) is the only chance many have for international holidays, returning home to see family, or simply relaxing.
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