The China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) will be closed from April 5, 2019 to April 7, 2019 for the Qingming festival. All official deadlines falling on the above dates will be automatically extended to April 8, 2019.
The Qingming festival, also known as the Tomb-Sweeping Day, is a traditional Chinese festival observed by the Chinese for over 2500 years. It became a public holiday in mainland China in 2008. During Qingming, Chinese families visit the tombs of their ancestors to clean the gravesites, pray to their ancestors, and make ritual offerings. Offerings would typically include traditional food dishes, and the burning of joss sticks and joss paper. The holiday recognizes the traditional reverence of one’s ancestors in Chinese culture.