The new schedule of the National Day Holiday from September 29 to October 5 has thrown many Chinese people's holiday plans into disarray.

Shandong-based newspaper Qilu Evening News reports that it is the first time that the National Day Holiday doesn't fall between October 1 and 7 since the golden week was launched in 1999.

A Jinan citizen surnamed Shi who planned to get married on October 6 had to postpone his wedding so that his relatives and friends could attend it.

Similarly, many people who wanted to travel during the holiday had to change their plans.

Although the State Council published the new holiday schedule at the end of last year, many Chinese people didn't notice the change in the National Day Holiday like they did the more obvious changes in the May Day Holiday and other traditional Chinese festival holidays.

After the adjustment, the National Day Holiday spanned a full week from Monday to Sunday.

"Thanks to the new arrangements, people need no longer work non-stop for more than a week after the National Day holiday is over. Hence the new approach is more scientific and people-friendly," said Sun Fengzhi, an expert from Shandong Normal University.

According to the new arrangements, people must work on September 27 and 28, which is Saturday and Sunday, before enjoying a seven-day break.

(CRI September 4, 2008)