Northern regions across China are introducing “snow breaks” this winter as part of broader efforts to stimulate domestic tourism and spending amid deflationary pressures.
Northeastern Jilin province is the latest to announce the initiative, with plans to give primary and secondary school pupils a short holiday from Wednesday to Sunday. The additional days off will not shorten the traditional winter and summer holidays, the local government said.
Government agencies, enterprises and public institutions have also been encouraged to grant parents leave during the break, Jilin’s education bureau announced on Friday.
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The new holiday is part of a wave of measures aimed at spurring consumption. Next year’s Spring Festival will be extended to nine days, making it the longest ever, according to a notice issued by the State Council in November.
In mid-November, Altay prefecture in the far-western Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region announced a five-day snow break, running from Monday to Friday – granting students up to nine consecutive days off when both weekends are included. The region’s capital, Urumqi, rolled out the same initiative.
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In Xinjiang, primary and secondary school pupils on snow breaks can enjoy discounted – and in some cases free – admission to ski resorts, along with cheaper transport between hotels and the slopes, according to a post by the local Department of Culture and Tourism on its official WeChat account.