National Day

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On October 1, 1949, the People’s Republic of China was established. In front of a crowd of around 300,000 people and soldiers gathered in Tiananmen Square, Mao Zedong raised the first Communist flag of China. The next day, October 1, was declared a public national holiday: Chinese National Day.

Today, National Day is celebrated and commemorated over the course of a week—China’s second “Golden Week,” in which people have an extended amount of time off and contribute to economic growth—which, in this case, helps encourage travel and tourism. This means that National Day Golden Week begins on October 1 and ends on October 7, with revelers given time off from work to travel, relax, and shop.

National Day Golden Week is also host to a number of activities and celebrations in China, with some of the largest events taking place in Beijing—including a military review and parade held every five years (with a larger parade taking place every 10 years) and sunrise flag-raising ceremony in Tiananmen Square. In addition, most places are decorated with patriotic colors and flags.

During the holiday, government officials in China also bring flowers to the Monument to the People’s Heroes in the southern part of Tiananmen Square, a monument dedicated to martyrs who died during the revolution and liberation of China in the 19th and 20th centuries. At night, the China National Day Evening Gala is held in Tiananmen Square, which includes music and dance performances, fireworks, and light shows—with similar celebrations being held throughout the country.

How to prepare:

In honor of National Day, our offices will be closed from [insert date] to [insert date]. Please make sure to turn your out of office message on before leaving for the holiday.

How we’re celebrating National Day 

Our offices will be closed for National Day Golden Week—but please join us for a celebration before the closure:

• [Insert event]