Zhejiang becomes China's first province to implement spring, autumn school holidays

Students leave school for the start of their summer vacation in Jinhua, Zhejiang province, on June 30. [Photo/IC]

Zhejiang province has become the first province in China to fully implement spring and autumn holidays for primary and secondary schools, following Shaoxing's implementation on Oct 9.

The spring and autumn holidays are short breaks introduced during the spring and autumn semesters, distinct from the traditional summer and winter holidays.

According to Li Bin, director of the Basic Education Division of the Zhejiang Provincial Department of Education, the system allows local governments to tailor the breaks to regional and educational needs, ensuring adaptability and practicality.

Zhejiang has long been a pioneer in this initiative. As early as 2004, Hangzhou became the first city in China to pilot the spring and autumn holidays system. Over the years, the system has been refined and well-received by parents, providing valuable experience for the province-wide implementation.

Earlier this year, a national document encouraged regions with suitable conditions to explore the adoption of spring and autumn holidays. Zhejiang's efforts align with this guidance, supported by a survey conducted by the Department of Education during the summer holiday.

The survey, which polled 100,000 parents and 25,000 teachers of primary and secondary students, revealed that 89.2 percent of parents supported the breaks, while 95 percent of parents and 99 percent of teachers recognized their positive educational influence.