A proposed plan to scrap the week-long break during the May Day holiday in exchange for more traditional festivals has run into stiff opposition as the public consultation on holiday reforms ends today.
Twenty-two media outlets yesterday jointly sent a petition to the Legislative Affairs Office of the State Council, urging it to add three traditional festivals to the calendar without cutting the 'golden week' holiday to one day.
Signed by influential newspapers such as the Huaxi Metropolis News and the Yangzi Evening News, the letter said the 'golden week' arrangements for May Day, Lunar New Year and National Day were still important to people who needed the week-long break for family reunions or rest.
The National Development and Reform Commission released a draft last Friday proposing to shorten the May Day 'golden week' and introduce public holidays for three traditional festivals - Ching Ming Festival, Dragon Boat Festival and Mid-Autumn Festival.
The draft was published on all official and popular portal websites along with a questionnaire for people to submit their opinions.
On Monday, Xinhua reported that almost 70 per cent of participants in its online survey supported the draft.
But the polling results reported by other newspapers and portals were much less positive.