Multiple areas in several Chinese provinces, such as Guangdong in South China, Sichuan in Southwest China and Shanxi in North China, have released autumn holiday plans for primary and secondary school pupils. As reported by CCTV News on Saturday, these holidays normally run for three to four days. In certain places, the vacation is combined with weekends to create a five-day break.
In Guangdong’s Shenzhen, students receiving compulsory education will enjoy a four-day autumn vacation from November 17 to 20. For Sichuan Province, Zigong’s autumn holiday falls between November 16 and 18, while Panzhihua’s runs from November 18 to 20. Yuncheng in Shanxi has set its break on November 5, 6 and 9. Cities in Hunan have also rolled out relevant plans, and most of their autumn holidays will start in mid-November. CCTV News adds that a number of regions have unveiled their 2027 spring holiday timetables, and neither spring nor autumn vacations will require extra make-up school days.
Xinhua notes that demands for more flexible academic calendars have been rising in recent years following the enforcement of the “double reduction” policy, which is designed to reduce students’ academic pressure.
Winter and summer holidays are longer, yet they always overlap with tourism rushes. CCTV News explains that spring and autumn breaks allow families to steer clear of massive crowds, enabling parents to go on trips with their children in a more leisurely way.
The launch of spring and autumn vacations also signals a change in education philosophy. It acknowledges that learning is not limited to classrooms; valuable knowledge can also be gained in nature, countryside environments and through travelling.
Nevertheless, one big problem still exists: school holidays for youngsters do not align with parents’ working hours. Children may be on vacation while their parents still need to work.
Experts point out that carrying out spring and autumn holiday systems needs joint efforts from families, schools and the whole society. They recommend fully putting paid leave policies into practice and promoting staggered holidays. This arrangement allows parents to take time off separately, so that students can spend their holidays in worthwhile ways.
