China’s Mianyang City Pilots 2.5-Day Weekend Policy to Boost Domestic Consumption
Mianyang, a major city in Sichuan Province, has unveiled a pioneering policy to revitalize local economies through strategic leisure-time adjustments. The municipal commerce bureau released its 2025 Action Plan for Consumption Revival on May 24, featuring an innovative approach to workplace flexibility aimed at stimulating tourism and discretionary spending.
The plan emphasizes enforcing paid leave entitlements while encouraging employers to adopt flexible scheduling frameworks. A standout proposal introduces 4.5-day workweeks, with pilot regions exploring a “2.5-day weekend” model combining Friday afternoons with weekends. This initiative particularly advocates for shared parental leave systems to better align work-life balance with modern family needs.
Public reactions have skewed heavily positive on social media, with trending hashtags like #WeekendGoals reflecting widespread enthusiasm. Many netizens argue such policies could alleviate China’s chronic holiday overcrowding. “This isn’t just about extra leisure time—it’s smart economics,” commented one Weibo user. “Shorter, staggered breaks reduce pressure on infrastructure while keeping cash registers ringing year-round.”
Tourism analysts see the policy as a calibrated response to systemic industry challenges. “China’s current ‘golden week’ model creates unsustainable demand spikes,” explained Li Wei, a Chengdu-based hospitality consultant. “Distributed mini-vacations could unlock $28 billion in annual incremental spending on regional tourism, homestays, and experiential services.”
The proposal arrives as Chinese cities vie to cultivate post-pandemic “leisure economies.” Early adopters of similar policies, like Zhejiang Province’s trial in 2020, reported 15-20% increases in weekend hotel bookings and dining revenue. However, implementation hurdles remain—particularly for manufacturers and SMEs. “Flexibility is easier for tech firms than assembly lines,” acknowledged a commerce bureau representative, noting the plan remains voluntary.
Illustration: Mianyang’s flexible work initiative sparks conversations in local businesses (Source: AICNBC)
While skeptics question scalability, the policy signals a broader shift. As Zhang Hong, an economist at Renmin University, observes: “This isn’t just about weekends—it’s about rebalancing China’s growth model. Every extra leisure hour represents potential expenditure in education, healthcare, and cultural services.” With consumer confidence indices showing tentative rebounds, Mianyang’s experiment may offer clues for national policymakers battling economic headwinds.
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