Golden Weeks may go

State media reported that Beijing is considering scrapping China's two main Golden Week holidays in May and October. These extended breaks, devised in 1999 to spur consumer spending and enable breadwinners to return home for family time, shut down offices for a week and filled transport systems to bursting nationwide. The State Council has reportedly asked railway, aviation, tourism and other government agencies, including the National Development and Reform Commission, to prepare for the change ahead of a final decision, which will depend to some degree on public reaction to the idea. The week-long spring holiday for Chinese New Year is unlikely to be affected, reports said.