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| National Day of the People's Republic of China | |
|---|---|
| Name | National Day of the People's Republic of China |
| Native name | 中华人民共和国国庆节 |
| Observed by | People's Republic of China |
| Date | October 1 |
| Frequency | Annual |
| Duration | 1 day (Golden Week: 7 days) |
National Day of the People's Republic of China National Day of the People's Republic of China is an annual public holiday observed on October 1 commemorating the proclamation of the People's Republic of China in 1949. The date marks the 1949 ceremony at Tiananmen Square where Mao Zedong announced the founding of the People's Republic before officials from the Chinese Communist Party, delegations from Soviet Union allies, and representatives of provinces such as Shaanxi and Hebei. The holiday is marked by state ceremonies, public festivities, and a week-long public holiday commonly called the Golden Week.
The founding ceremony on October 1, 1949, at Tiananmen Gate followed the end of the Chinese Civil War between the Chinese Communist Party and the Kuomintang. Preparations involved leaders including Zhou Enlai, Liu Shaoqi, and military organizers from the People's Liberation Army. Early celebrations incorporated displays inspired by Soviet-era May Day Parade practices and Soviet advisors in the early 1950s. During the Cultural Revolution, observances were transformed by factions aligned with Gang of Four rhetoric and mass rallies in Beijing. Following the death of Mao Zedong and the rise of Deng Xiaoping, National Day ceremonies were standardized in the reform era alongside economic initiatives such as the opening of Shenzhen and policies of Reform and Opening Up. The 50th anniversary in 1999 and the 60th anniversary in 2009 featured large-scale events involving leaders like Jiang Zemin and Hu Jintao, while the 70th anniversary in 2019 included a major parade overseen by Xi Jinping and coordination with agencies such as the Ministry of National Defense (PRC) and the Central Military Commission.
The holiday symbolizes the establishment of the People's Republic of China and the end of the Republic of China's rule on the mainland, referencing figures and entities like Chiang Kai-shek and the Kuomintang (KMT). Iconography used in ceremonies draws from symbols such as the National Emblem of the People's Republic of China, the Five-star Red Flag, and monuments like the Monument to the People's Heroes. State narratives tie the date to revolutionary leaders including Sun Yat-sen and to events such as the Long March. Cultural institutions like the National Museum of China curate exhibits linking the proclamation to historical episodes such as the May Fourth Movement and the Second Sino-Japanese War.
Official observances are organized by bodies including the State Council of the People's Republic of China, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, and municipal authorities of Beijing. Ceremonies in Tiananmen Square typically include a flag-raising by an honor guard drawn from the People's Liberation Army and color guards from units associated with the People's Armed Police. Protocol follows scripts approved by the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party and coordination with the Beijing Municipal Government. International leaders and delegations from entities such as the United Nations and foreign embassies occasionally attend high-profile anniversaries, and invitations have been extended to heads of state like those from Russia and Pakistan during milestone years.
Public participation involves attendance at flag-raising ceremonies at sites like the Tiananmen Square and local People's Parks, visits to cultural venues such as the National Centre for the Performing Arts (China) and the Great Hall of the People, and viewing of televised gala programs produced by China Central Television and cultural troupes including performers from the China National Opera House. Traditions include displaying the Five-star Red Flag on public buildings and private homes, lighting decorations in city centers like Shanghai's The Bund, and participating in tourism movements to destinations such as Guilin, Xi'an, and Harbin. Media coverage often references historical leaders like Zhou Enlai and celebrates achievements in infrastructure projects including the Beijing–Shanghai High-Speed Railway.
Major anniversaries frequently feature military parades reviewed from Tiananmen Gate by leaders of the Central Military Commission and attended by officials from the Ministry of National Defense (PRC). Parades showcase formations from the People's Liberation Army Ground Force, equipment produced by state-owned enterprises like Norinco and China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation, and strategic assets such as missile units historically linked to the Second Artillery Corps (now part of the Rocket Force). Aerial flypasts have included aircraft made by manufacturers like Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group and Xi'an Aircraft Industrial Corporation, while naval reviews have paraded vessels from the People's Liberation Army Navy including ships commissioned at yards like the Dalian Shipyard. Parade rehearsals are coordinated with agencies including the Ministry of Public Security and the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism.
The Golden Week holiday affects sectors such as travel, retail, and hospitality, benefiting enterprises like China Southern Airlines, Spring Airlines, and hospitality chains operating in destinations including Hangzhou and Sanya. Domestic tourism statistics from years with extended holiday travel show surges to sites such as the Forbidden City, Terracotta Army, and Zhangjiajie National Forest Park. Retail events and promotions by corporations like Alibaba and JD.com coincide with holiday consumption spikes. Government fiscal measures implemented by the Ministry of Finance (PRC) and planning by the National Development and Reform Commission influence transportation capacity at nodes such as Beijing Capital International Airport and high-speed rail hubs.
National Day observances have prompted contested responses in regions and contexts involving actors like Taiwan, Hong Kong, and ethnic areas including Xinjiang and Tibet Autonomous Region. In Hong Kong, demonstrations involving groups such as the Pro-Democracy Camp have intersected with police actions by the Hong Kong Police Force and regulations under the National Security Law (Hong Kong). International reactions during anniversaries have included statements from governments such as the United States Department of State and the European Union External Action Service, and commentary from human rights organizations like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch. Debates within academic institutions including Peking University and Tsinghua University have addressed civic memory and the holiday's role in narratives promoted by the Chinese Communist Party.
Category:Public holidays in the People's Republic of China