Gregorian calendar
New Year's Day
元旦January 1 every year
The first day of the Gregorian year offers a fresh start. It is a different occasion from the lunar New Year celebrated at Spring Festival.
Open guideChinese festivals & solar terms
Browse festival dates and the 24 solar terms by year.
Dates below mark each occasion or solar term. Only some festival dates are public holidays.Dates are shown in China Standard Time (UTC+8).
- Solar term
Minor Cold
小寒The 23rd solar term, usually January 5 or 6
Winter deepens after the solstice, with cold air settling into the landscape.
Open guide - Solar term
Major Cold
大寒The 24th solar term, usually January 20
The final solar term of the cycle marks the deepest winter before spring begins again.
Open guide - Lunar calendar
Laba Festival
腊八节Eighth day of the twelfth lunar month
Laba marks the approach of the New Year season. Families may prepare laba porridge and other foods connected with the twelfth lunar month.
Open guide - Solar term
Start of Spring
立春The first solar term, usually February 3–5
Start of Spring opens the solar year, marking a turn toward new growth even while winter may remain.
Open guide - Lunar calendar
Little New Year
小年Twenty-third day of the twelfth lunar month in the northern tradition
Little New Year begins the final preparations for Spring Festival. Cleaning, offerings, and kitchen customs differ by region.
Open guide - Lunar calendar
Lunar New Year's Eve
除夕Last day of the twelfth lunar month
除夕 is the reunion evening before Lunar New Year's Day. Family meals, staying up late, and welcoming the new year are common themes.
Open guide - Lunar calendar
Spring Festival
春节First day of the first lunar month
Chinese New Year centres on reunion and welcoming a new year. Preparations and celebrations extend beyond the single date shown here.
Open guide - Solar term
Rain Water
雨水The second solar term, usually February 18–19
Rain Water describes the seasonal shift from snow and frost toward more frequent rain.
Open guide - Lunar calendar
Lantern Festival
元宵节Fifteenth day of the first lunar month
Lantern Festival marks a traditional close to the New Year celebrations. Lantern displays and round rice treats bring families and neighbourhoods together.
Open guide - Solar term
Awakening of Insects
惊蛰The third solar term, usually March 5–6
Awakening of Insects evokes spring thunder and the return of life after winter dormancy.
Open guide - Solar term
Spring Equinox
春分The fourth solar term, usually March 20–21
At the Spring Equinox, day and night are close to equal as spring gathers strength.
Open guide - Solar term
Qingming Festival
清明节The Qingming solar term, usually April 4 or 5
Qingming is a time to remember ancestors and care for family graves. Spring outings also form part of the season.
Open guide - Solar term
Grain Rain
谷雨The sixth solar term, usually April 19–20
Grain Rain links spring showers with the growth of crops and the beginning of a busy agricultural season.
Open guide - Gregorian calendar
Labour Day
劳动节May 1 every year
Labour Day recognises working people. The surrounding holiday period is also a popular time for domestic travel in mainland China.
Open guide - Solar term
Start of Summer
立夏The seventh solar term, usually May 5–6
Start of Summer marks the seasonal handoff from spring growth to warmer days and fuller fields.
Open guide - Solar term
Grain Buds
小满The eighth solar term, usually May 20–21
Grain Buds describes crops filling with grain but not yet reaching full ripeness.
Open guide - Solar term
Grain in Ear
芒种The ninth solar term, usually June 5–6
Grain in Ear signals a demanding agricultural window when awned crops are ready and new seeds must be planted.
Open guide - Lunar calendar
Dragon Boat Festival
端午节Fifth day of the fifth lunar month
Dragon-boat races, leaf-wrapped rice dumplings, and local remembrance traditions shape this early-summer festival. Its stories differ across communities.
Open guide - Solar term
Summer Solstice
夏至The tenth solar term, usually June 21
Summer Solstice brings the longest daylight of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
Open guide - Solar term
Minor Heat
小暑The eleventh solar term, usually July 6–7
Minor Heat announces the beginning of the hottest part of summer, before the seasonal peak arrives.
Open guide - Solar term
Major Heat
大暑The twelfth solar term, usually July 22–23
Major Heat marks the hottest stretch of the year, when shade, water, and seasonal produce matter most.
Open guide - Solar term
Start of Autumn
立秋The thirteenth solar term, usually August 7–8
Start of Autumn begins the traditional autumn season even though many places remain very hot.
Open guide - Lunar calendar
Qixi Festival
七夕Seventh day of the seventh lunar month
The story of the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl is closely associated with Qixi. Traditional celebrations also involve wishes for skill in needlework.
Open guide - Solar term
End of Heat
处暑The fourteenth solar term, usually August 22–23
End of Heat describes summer heat beginning to withdraw as evenings become more comfortable.
Open guide - Lunar calendar
Zhongyuan Festival
中元节Fifteenth day of the seventh lunar month
Zhongyuan is associated with remembrance, offerings, and stories about the spirit world. Practices differ greatly by community and family.
Open guide - Solar term
White Dew
白露The fifteenth solar term, usually September 7–8
White Dew evokes the cool mornings when moisture gathers visibly on leaves and grass.
Open guide - Solar term
Autumn Equinox
秋分The sixteenth solar term, usually September 22–23
At the Autumn Equinox, day and night are close to equal before longer nights take over.
Open guide - Lunar calendar
Mid-Autumn Festival
中秋节Fifteenth day of the eighth lunar month
Reunion, moon-viewing, and mooncakes are central to many Mid-Autumn celebrations. The round moon is a familiar image of togetherness.
Open guide - Gregorian calendar
National Day
国庆节October 1 every year
National Day marks the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949. The mainland holiday period often brings busy transport and popular attractions.
Open guide - Solar term
Cold Dew
寒露The seventeenth solar term, usually October 8
Cold Dew follows White Dew as autumn air becomes sharper and morning moisture turns noticeably cold.
Open guide - Lunar calendar
Double Ninth Festival
重阳节Ninth day of the ninth lunar month
Autumn outings, chrysanthemums, and respect for older people are associated with Double Ninth. Its name refers to the two nines in its lunar date.
Open guide - Solar term
Frost's Descent
霜降The eighteenth solar term, usually October 23
Frost's Descent marks the approach of the first frost and the end of the growing season in colder areas.
Open guide - Solar term
Start of Winter
立冬The nineteenth solar term, usually November 7
Start of Winter opens the traditional winter season and turns attention toward storing warmth and food.
Open guide - Solar term
Minor Snow
小雪The twentieth solar term, usually November 22
Minor Snow signals that colder weather and the possibility of snow are spreading across northern regions.
Open guide - Solar term
Major Snow
大雪The twenty-first solar term, usually December 6–7
Major Snow points to the heavier winter conditions expected in the traditional calendar's northern heartland.
Open guide - Solar term
Winter Solstice
冬至The winter solstice solar term, usually December 21 or 22
Dongzhi marks the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere. Family meals and seasonal foods give this astronomical turning point a place in everyday life.
Open guide
Why do the dates move?
Lunar dates
Spring Festival and Mid-Autumn follow the traditional Chinese lunisolar calendar. Their lunar month and day stay the same, but their Gregorian dates shift. Leap months help keep the calendar aligned with the seasons.
Solar terms & fixed dates
The green cards are the 24 solar terms, calculated from the sun's position and usually falling on nearly the same Gregorian dates each year. Qingming is the one term that is also observed as a public holiday.
Public holidays
Days off and make-up working days in mainland China are announced separately each year. Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, and overseas communities have their own holiday arrangements.
Date references
Calendar coverage: 2026–2028. Festival and solar-term dates checked against the Hong Kong Observatory. Annual leave arrangements are not included.
FAQ
Why do some festival dates change every year?
Many traditional festivals use the Chinese lunisolar calendar, so their Gregorian dates move. The 24 solar terms follow the solar year and usually stay close to the same time each month.
Are all the dates on this calendar public holidays?
No. A date can mark a cultural observance or a solar term without being a day off. The official public-holiday break and adjusted workdays are published separately each year.
What is the difference between a festival and a solar term?
A festival is an occasion connected with traditions, stories, food, or gatherings. A solar term marks a seasonal point in the sun’s annual cycle and may have regional customs around it.
Are the dates shown in China time?
Yes. The calendar uses China Standard Time (UTC+8) when matching the current date with a festival or solar term.
Do people everywhere celebrate a festival in the same way?
No. Food, stories, and customs can vary by region, family, age group, and community. The descriptions are useful starting points rather than rules for every household.