![\"launchpad](\"https:\/\/focus.cbbc.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/lp-gateway.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\nThis practice of compensatory working days, known as \u8c03\u4f11 tiaoxiu<\/em> in Chinese, allows for longer blocks of time off: seven days for Spring Festival, five for Labor Day and seven for National Day in October. China has 11 official public holidays, but this year\u2019s public holiday calendar<\/a> has a bumper 28 days of holiday, including weekends, balanced with eight weekend working days.<\/p>\n Private companies in China have the right to set their own schedules, i.e., to ignore compensatory working days, as long as the official holiday calendar is maintained. Many companies will allow employees to work from home on these days or just be available by phone\/email to outside clients.<\/p>\n The system dates back to 1999 when it was brought in to stimulate consumption in the wake of the 1997 Asian financial crisis. Certainly, the longer holidays are consumption hotspots; the 2023 National Day Holiday generated RMB 753.43 billion (\u00a383.36 billion) in tourism revenue. Moreover, they offer valuable time off for Chinese employees with minimal statutory annual leave \u2013 just five days for employees that have been working for less than 10 years (compared to 28 days for full-time employees in the UK).<\/p>\n