Mianyang’s new policy proposal promotes a 4.5-day workweek as part of a broader consumption plan.
A local policy document from Mianyang, a city in southwest China’s Sichuan Province, has sparked nationwide attention for suggesting a trial of a 4.5-day flexible workweek, also known as the 2.5-day weekend. The idea quickly trended on Chinese social media, with the hashtag “2.5-day weekend is coming” gaining traction on Weibo.
The proposal appears in Mianyang’s 2025 consumer stimulus action plan, which aims to boost domestic consumption. One part of the plan encourages employers to implement flexible schedules, allow full use of paid leave, and explore a model where employees take Friday afternoons off, extending the weekend.
However, officials clarified that the policy is not mandatory. The city’s Commerce Bureau emphasized that it only encourages businesses in suitable areas to try the new model. Still, the mention of a “4.5-day workweek” quickly went viral, with many mistaking it as a confirmed government directive.
China has explored similar ideas since 2015, when national guidelines supported flexible summer hours for tourism. By 2019, over ten provinces had issued trial policies, but large-scale adoption remains limited.
The strong public response reflects growing interest in work-life balance. While Mianyang’s move is only a suggestion, it has reignited hopes that shorter workweeks may one day become reality in China.
Additional reporting by CNA.
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