Chinese regions expand spring and autumn school breaks for students

More regions in China are implementing spring and autumn breaks for students in compulsory education, which covers nine years of primary and middle school.

At least 15 provinces and various cities, including Shenzhen, now provide these holidays. Students will receive four to five days of break during November and April. The policy began in 2004 as a pilot in Hangzhou.

The State Council encouraged local governments to adopt the breaks nationwide in 2013, and central authorities pushed for further expansion in 2025. Chu Zhaohui, a researcher at the China National Academy of Educational Sciences, said the breaks help students explore interests outside of traditional classroom settings. Local governments are also introducing measures to help parents take time off. Longnan and Foshan have asked employers to prioritize paid leave or compensatory rest for employees with school age children during these breaks.

Additionally, many tourist sites are waiving entrance fees for children to encourage travel. These holidays have increased travel demand. The online travel booking platform Qunar reported that air ticket bookings for children aged 12 and under rose 1.6 times in November compared to the previous year. Wang Qiyan of Renmin University said these breaks help people travel during off peak seasons to avoid the crowds of summer and winter.