9 Key Dates to Remember to Win Over Your Chinese Customers
Posting festive messages on WeChat during traditional Chinese holidays can help B2B companies build connections that go beyond business transactions and demonstrate their respect for Chinese culture.
As we approach the Chinese New Year, the most important holiday in China—we’re sharing 9 key dates to add to your editorial calendar to impress your Chinese clients in 2025.
In addition to following the lunar calendar, public holidays in China are also influenced by the unique “compensatory workdays” system. This policy allows for several long holiday periods of more than three days throughout the year by reorganizing workdays. Employees must work on the weekend before or after public holidays to compensate for these extended days off.
Thus, in 2025, there will be 8 days off for the Chinese New Year, 5 days for Labor Day, and 8 days for National Day combined with the Mid-Autumn Festival.
Your Editorial Calendar for the Chinese New Year
For B2B companies, it is common to share a festive greeting image or a short video to wish their subscribers well and inform them about business operations during the holidays.
Red is the lucky color in China. You’ll notice that, aside from the Dragon Boat Festival (Duanwu), other festivals are almost always decorated in red. When designing visuals, it’s important to take the appropriate theme color into account.
Finally, to illustrate these concepts, we’ve included several examples of post images.
January 1 – New Year's Day
China celebrates the New Year (Yuándàn), marking the beginning of the year according to the Gregorian calendar.
Although this holiday does not have the same cultural significance as the Chinese New Year, it is a day off when people rest, reflect on the past year, and make resolutions. Companies often use this time to strengthen their business relationships and set new goals.
January 29 – Chinese New Year
The Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, is the most important and widely observed celebration in China. It marks the beginning of a new year according to the Chinese lunar calendar and holds deep cultural and symbolic significance.
During this time, families gather, honor their ancestors, exchange wishes for prosperity and happiness, and enjoy traditional meals. Red decorations, firecrackers, fireworks, and red envelopes filled with money (hongbao) are all iconic elements of this holiday. The Chinese New Year symbolizes renewal, good fortune, and success, offering a special time to turn the page and welcome the coming year with optimism and hope.
The year 2025 will be the Year of the Snake, which symbolizes wisdom, wealth, and vitality. Be sure to use a design featuring a snake. For Chinese New Year, you can also send a direct message to your client to wish them a happy new year.
Chinese New Year falls on January 29, and the Chinese New Year holiday lasts 8 days in 2025, but many companies particularly those in logistics and manufacturing may close for up to 10 days.
February 5 – Return to work
February 5, 2025, marks Kāigōng, the return to work. Although it is not a traditional holiday, this day symbolizes a new beginning for businesses.
In some regions, companies give their employees red envelopes containing lucky money to wish them a happy New Year.
February 12 – Lantern Festival
The Lantern Festival, on February 12, 2025, brings the Chinese New Year celebrations to a close. It features parades of colorful lanterns, lion dances, and the tradition of eating tangyuan (glutinous rice balls), which symbolize family unity.
Business operations generally continue as usual, but posting a warm and festive message can show your understanding of Chinese culture.
May 1 – Labor Day
Labor Day, celebrated on May 1, 2025, is an important day to honor the contributions of workers.
The 5-day vacation period is ideal for travel and family gatherings.
May 31 – Dragon Boat Festival
Celebrating on May 31, 2025, the Dragon Boat Festival honors the poet Qu Yuan. Businesses close for up to 3 days, depending on their “compensatory workdays” policy.
Traditions include dragon boat races and eating zongzi (glutinous rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo leaves).
October 1 – National Day
National Day, on October 1, 2025, celebrates the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949.
In 2025, this holiday coincides with the Mid-Autumn Festival (October 6), offering 8 consecutive days off.
October 6 – Mid-Autumn Festival
The Mid-Autumn Festival is a time for family reunions and moon gazing. People share moon cakes, which symbolize unity and wholeness.
You can highlight the themes of harmony and reunion in your posts to appeal to your Chinese partners.
December 25 – Christmas
Although Christmas is not a traditional holiday in China, it is growing in popularity, particularly in urban areas and among young people. Stores and streets are often decorated with lights and Christmas trees.
We suggest that you inform your Chinese clients that your operations may be temporarily suspended due to holidays in Europe.
Fully Incorporate Chinese Holidays to Ensure the Success of Your B2B Strategy
Understanding and respecting Chinese holidays is essential for successful business operations in China. These events have cultural and practical implications for production, logistics, and communication.
By creating an editorial calendar and following best practices, B2B companies can strengthen their relationships, ensure smooth operations, and demonstrate their cultural competence.
Contact us if you'd like to boost your presence in China in 2025!