September sort of sneaked up on me. It doesn't feel like autumn yet in Shanghai - my whole family managed to get a good sunburn at the swimming pool on Saturday (always nice to end the season a little crispy). But the weather has certainly broken and we're no longer having 35-40 degree days and you can actually tell that the temperature went down a few degrees at night. So autumn is on its way and I better get organized as Mooncake Season is upon us.
The Mid-Autumn Festival lands on September 22 this year and rather than one day off, the government is closing shop for 3 days (September 22-24). In its wacky way, to give 3 consecutive days, the government obliges folks to work September 19 (Sunday) and September 25 (Saturday) in order to compensate the 23rd and 24th. This really doesn't mean much to the traveler or visitor to China as hotels, tourist attractions, shops and restaurants will all be open for business as usual. It just means school kids and office workers get 3 days off but have to go to school or work on the weekend.
Digression aside, you can already start buying your mooncakes to celebrate 中秋节 (Zhongqiujie - literally Mid-Autumn Festival). There's the traditional giant one in my grocery store reminding everyone to order up. Time to pass around those little cakes to show appreciation for the moon and such.
October Holidays are also around the corner. October 1st is China's National Day (61 in 2010, happy anniversary!) and workers and students will be getting a whole 7 consecutive days for this one. (Compensated on the September 26 and October 9 of course.) This holiday may impact travelers a little more as fares do increase and hotels get crowded. Plan early.
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I hate the idiotic ‘Jiayou! you get 3 days vacation! All hail the beneficent Party! (oh yeah, you have to work on weekends, but its for the good of the country’)
Just give me the regular number of days off and stay away from my weekends…. That, and they don’t publicize the days that you have to work early enough to get vacation time. Bah.
Well, I guess I agree with you. It is actually 3 days but we’re kind of fooled into believe there’re 7 days off which is like a trick. I don’t like this publisized holiday length either.