Whether in China’s urban centres or its remote rural areas, Christmas is not typically celebrated with the fanfare seen in the West. On the mainland, December 25 is not even a public holiday, with the lion’s share of enthusiasm reserved for the traditional Lunar New Year period beginning in January or February.
Zhang Li, who lives in a pastoral section of the Inner Mongolia autonomous region in the country’s north, was no exception. But this year things have changed, thanks in part to a new government policy – her daughter has a “snow break” from her middle school coinciding with the Christmas season, and her boss has suggested she also take the time off.
From December 24 to 26, as well as the following weekend, all school students under grade nine in Hulunbuir will have a five-day break. A recent government directive encouraged the city’s youth to go outdoors and take part in the city’s ice and snow tourism festival.
Advertisement
“My department head said that regardless of whether we have kids or not, as long as there’s nothing urgent at hand, everyone can take these days off,” said Zhang, who works at a local government office.
As one of the hardest-working nations in the world, Chinese people are now being urged to take more leisure time. The call to relax carries another purpose – longer breaks are an incentive for the country’s consumers to spend more.
Advertisement
While some countries are floating plans to cut public holidays amid fiscal pressure and concerns over productivity, China – whose work weeks are among the world’s longest – is examining the benefits of more time off.
