Three hundred million people 28 and younger will get a half-day break on May 4, which is Youth Day, the China Youth Daily reported today.

Regulations have long said that young people above 14 could have half a day off, but it never gave an age limit. In most cases, only high school and some university students enjoyed this holiday before the weeklong May Day holiday was introduced.

The May 4 Youth Day was set up to commemorate the student movement on May 4, 1919. The 1919 movement marked an upsurge of Chinese nationalism, and a re-evaluation of Chinese cultural institutions, such as Confucianism.

China altered its holiday schedule last year. The May Day holiday was cut to one day from three, while the Tomb-sweeping Festival, Dragon Boat Festival and Mid-Autumn Festival became national vacations to underscore traditional values.

Complaints about overcrowding and damage to historic sites during the weeklong golden week breaks, which were adopted in 1999 to boost domestic consumption, have prompted debates to cut them short.

(Shanghai Daily April 22, 2008)