China Calendar for Year 2011

China Internet Information Center

July 2012

Holidays and Observances:

1: 91st anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China.

1: Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Establishment Day.

2: International Sports Journalists' Day

5: Erlang Mountain Singsong Gathering, a social activity held on the 17th day of the 5th lunar month by Han and Hui Chinese in Minxian County, Gansu Province.

11: World Population Day. It was first inaugurated by the United Nations in 1990 to mark the date of July 11, 1987 when the world's population hit 5 billion. Since 1996, every World Population Day has had a special theme defined by the UNFPA.

14-17: Danu Festival, the most important holiday of the Yao ethnic minority, celebrated from the 26th to 29th of the 5th lunar month. Danu means, "not to forget history." The festival is held in honor of the birth of the goddess Mituoluo who, according to legend, gave birth to the Yao people.

Notes:

1. In the traditional calendar, the new moon indicates the first day of a lunar month; the full moon marks the 15th day.

2. Dates in red are official holidays. To give workers longer holidays during the year, the Saturday and Sunday immediately preceding or following the extended holiday are official workdays. In 2012, there are six official working Saturdays and Sundays respectively on January 21 (Saturday), January 29 (Sunday), March 31 (Saturday), April 1 (Sunday), April 28 (Saturday) and September 29 (Saturday).

3. The 24 Seasonal Division Points:

	Order & Name of Seasonal Division Point	Sun's Position at Ecliptic	Gregorian Calendar Date
Spring	1.Beginning of Spring 2.Rain Water 3.Waking of Insects 4.Vernal Equinox 5.Pure Brightness 6.Grain Rain	315° 330° 345° 0° 15° 30°	4 or 5 February 18 or 19 February 5 or 6 March 20 or 21 March 4 or 5 April 20 or 21 April
Summer	7.Beginning of Summer 8.Grain Budding 9.Grain in Ear 10.Summer Solstice 11.Slight Heat 12.Great Heat	45° 60° 75° 90° 105° 120°	5 or 6 May 21 or 22 May 5 or 6 June 21 or 22 June 7 or 8 July 22 or 23 July
Autumn	13.Beginning of Autumn 14.Limit of Heat 15.White Dew 16.Autumnal Equinox 17.Cold Dew 18.Frost's Descent	135° 150° 165° 180° 195° 210°	7 or 8 August 23 or 24 August 7 or 8 September 22 or 23 September 8 or 9 October 23 or 24 October
Winter	19.Beginning of Winter 20.Slight Snow 21.Great Snow 22.Winter Solstice 23.Slight Cold 24.Great Cold	225° 240° 255° 270° 285° 300°	7 or 8 November 22 or 23 November 7 or 8 December 21 or 22 December 5 or 6 January 20 or 21 January