A member of China's top consultative body has called for a major restructuring of the country's public holidays.

Cai Jiming, a professor at Tsinghua University and a member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), has proposed the shortening of the National Day and Labor Day holidays from three days to one day. This would make way for four single-day holidays marking Tomb-sweeping Day, the dragon boat festival, the mid-autumn festival and New Year's Eve.

The three days for Spring Festival and one day for New Year's Day would remain.

"This means the country will retain its 10 public holidays and people will have more long weekends by linking the four new public holidays with their neighbouring weekends," Cai said.

Cai said many problems had been caused by the decision by the Chinese government to launch the "Golden Week" holiday scheme in 1999 to encourage people to spend more money. He cited the rising cost of the government's public management and deterioration in quality of the service sector as the principal side effects.

He also claimed people would have more chance to travel long distances by combining the long weekends with paid leave. However, the majority of Chinese people are not entitled to paid annual leave.

Cai has submitted his report to the National Bureau of Tourism for study.

Source: Xinhua