It’s different from the Chinese Lunar New Year Golden Week which happens every January or February.
Both implemented by the Chinese government in 1999, the week-long holidays were aimed at expanding domestic tourism.
Employees get three days of paid holidays, and the surrounding weekends are kept free so workers have seven days off in total, allowing people to make long-distance trips to see family.
About 28 million Chinese are thought to have traveled during Golden Week in 1999, compared with 120 million in 2007.
This year, half a billion are expected to travel, and many have been going overseas, making it a golden time for tour operators at home and abroad.