Chinese to change national holiday schedule

China’s government has approved a plan to change the country’s national holiday schedule to cope with overwhelming travel congestion and restore tradition, state media has reported.

China’s Cabinet, the State Council, approved a draft plan in principle yesterday and will announce the final version soon, the official Xinhua News Agency said.

No date was given, but state media has said the changes could start next year.

Most Chinese cannot take a break from work when they want to, and often travel only during the government-mandated holidays.

This has led to congested public transport, overbooked hotels and damage to historic and natural sites as many of China’s 1.3 billion people take to the roads, rails and skies at the same times.