All Zhejiang students through grade 9 now have spring and autumn vacations

Zhejiang has become China's first province to roll out spring and autumn breaks for all primary and secondary students, following Shaoxing's implementation on Oct 9.

The spring and autumn breaks run in addition to the typical summer and winter vacations and are designed to give students opportunities for relaxation and experiential learning.

The policy is implemented jointly by over ten provincial departments, including education and development authorities, with schedules tailored to local conditions. For example, most cities have set the autumn break in November, often combined with weekends to form five-day holidays.

The initiative builds on Hangzhou's experience, which first implemented similar breaks in 2004. Education experts like Chu Zhaohui from the Chinese Academy of Educational Sciences emphasize that such breaks allow students to learn in diverse environments, fostering social development and well-rounded growth.

A recent survey conducted by the provincial education department revealed strong public support: 89.2 percent of parents are in favor of the breaks, while 95 percent of parents and 99 percent of teachers recognize their positive educational impact.

"The breaks help children recharge during long study periods and serve as a great opportunity for parent-child interaction and holistic education," said Xiang Jie, principal of Jiaxing Experimental Primary School.

To address the needs of working parents, schools are organizing supervised activities with resources from museums and science centers.

"Our whole family is excited; we've been looking forward to the autumn break since school started," said Shen Bin, a parent of a second-grader from Shaoxing. "We plan to take our child on educational trips to strengthen family bonds and broaden horizons."