8 day working weeks, Panda Eyes and 'Golden Weeks'
It's Friday but I still have three more working days ahead of me before I break for May holidays. I never really understand how people calculate holidays in China. In Australia it was very simple. If the holiday fell on a Saturday or Sunday, we'd often get the Monday off. Here in China, they only have about three sets of longish public holidays and in the week leading up to it and the tail end of the holiday, everyone works the weekend so it usually ends up in a 6-8 day working week on either side. It defies logic.
Wikipedia says this:
"In the People's Republic of China, International Workers' Day marks the start of one of the country's three so-called "Golden Weeks". Three days off work are given, and the surrounding weekends are re-arranged so that workers in Chinese workplaces always have seven continuous days of holiday starting on the first of May and ending on the seventh. This holiday, known as "Wu Yi" (五一, literally "5.1") also includes Youth Day on May 4, and is the peak period for Chinese citizens to travel around China and abroad. Also on this day, a huge parade goes through Tian'anmen Square (天安门). It is the largest national parade of the whole year, always televised on CCTV. Most of the parade consists of military demonstrations like air shows and marching soldiers, and many who are selected to join the parade see it as a privilege and take pride in it. The government mandates the "Golden Weeks" holidays more for the purpose of rejuvenating the country's tourist business than its political purpose."
So anyway this week for me started on Monday, and it will finish next Monday. I fly out of Beijing Monday, 30 April and get back to Australia on 1 May. I'm taking an extra week off though and spending time in Australia for a much needed escape. I have a shocking case of Garfield Eyes / Panda Eyes and sorely need the rest.
China sees 150 million travelling for May holiday
BEIJING (Reuters) - A record 150 million people are expected to take to the road, rail and air during the week-long May Day holiday period, state media on Wednesday quoted officials as saying.
Despite rising complaints that China's three "golden week" vacations each year generate little but crowds, litter and pollution and that their pump-priming effect is waning, the government has no plans to ditch the holidays, the China Daily said.
"With per capita gross domestic product estimated to keep growing, there is huge potential for tourism development during the Golden Week holidays," it quoted the deputy head of the National Tourism Administration, Zhang Ziqin, as saying.
Some officials have previously urged the holidays be scrapped.
This would be a mistake, said Wang Kecheng of the National Bureau of Statistics.
"The system has contributed a lot to boosting domestic consumption and demand, which makes its existence necessary," he was quoted as saying.
This May, more people are expected to travel overseas over May Day and use their cars, the newspaper added, without elaborating.
Six years ago China started week-long holidays centered on National Day in October, Labour Day in May and the traditional Chinese New Year in January or February as a way of boosting domestic spending.
But Chinese people, who have taken with gusto to the idea of vacationing since economic reforms started putting more money in people's pockets, have become frustrated with the government-enforced Golden Weeks.
Tourists have dubbed Golden Week vacations "Golden Porridge," a play on words referring to the hot and sticky swarm of people flooding tourist spots and public transport.
Last year I had to work through the entire May Holidays because of Mr Laser Pointer so this year I'm crossing fingers, eyes and toes that escape will be possible.
Wikipedia says this:
"In the People's Republic of China, International Workers' Day marks the start of one of the country's three so-called "Golden Weeks". Three days off work are given, and the surrounding weekends are re-arranged so that workers in Chinese workplaces always have seven continuous days of holiday starting on the first of May and ending on the seventh. This holiday, known as "Wu Yi" (五一, literally "5.1") also includes Youth Day on May 4, and is the peak period for Chinese citizens to travel around China and abroad. Also on this day, a huge parade goes through Tian'anmen Square (天安门). It is the largest national parade of the whole year, always televised on CCTV. Most of the parade consists of military demonstrations like air shows and marching soldiers, and many who are selected to join the parade see it as a privilege and take pride in it. The government mandates the "Golden Weeks" holidays more for the purpose of rejuvenating the country's tourist business than its political purpose."
So anyway this week for me started on Monday, and it will finish next Monday. I fly out of Beijing Monday, 30 April and get back to Australia on 1 May. I'm taking an extra week off though and spending time in Australia for a much needed escape. I have a shocking case of Garfield Eyes / Panda Eyes and sorely need the rest.
China sees 150 million travelling for May holiday
BEIJING (Reuters) - A record 150 million people are expected to take to the road, rail and air during the week-long May Day holiday period, state media on Wednesday quoted officials as saying.
Despite rising complaints that China's three "golden week" vacations each year generate little but crowds, litter and pollution and that their pump-priming effect is waning, the government has no plans to ditch the holidays, the China Daily said.
"With per capita gross domestic product estimated to keep growing, there is huge potential for tourism development during the Golden Week holidays," it quoted the deputy head of the National Tourism Administration, Zhang Ziqin, as saying.
Some officials have previously urged the holidays be scrapped.
This would be a mistake, said Wang Kecheng of the National Bureau of Statistics.
"The system has contributed a lot to boosting domestic consumption and demand, which makes its existence necessary," he was quoted as saying.
This May, more people are expected to travel overseas over May Day and use their cars, the newspaper added, without elaborating.
Six years ago China started week-long holidays centered on National Day in October, Labour Day in May and the traditional Chinese New Year in January or February as a way of boosting domestic spending.
But Chinese people, who have taken with gusto to the idea of vacationing since economic reforms started putting more money in people's pockets, have become frustrated with the government-enforced Golden Weeks.
Tourists have dubbed Golden Week vacations "Golden Porridge," a play on words referring to the hot and sticky swarm of people flooding tourist spots and public transport.
Last year I had to work through the entire May Holidays because of Mr Laser Pointer so this year I'm crossing fingers, eyes and toes that escape will be possible.