National Day of the People's Republic of China

Not to be confused with National Day of the Republic of China.

National Day of the People's Republic of China 中华人民共和国国庆节
Flower garden at Beihai Park in 2004. The signboards read 国庆 (guóqìng; 'national celebration')
Also called	China Day, China's birthday, PRC Day, 10-1
Observed by	People's Republic of China, including Hong Kong and Macau
Type	Historical, cultural, nationalist
Significance	The day of the proclamation of the People's Republic of China in 1949
Celebrations	Festivities, including fireworks and concerts (a grand military parade every 10 years)
Date	1 October
Next time	1 October 2025 (2025-10-01)
Frequency	Annual
First time	1 October 1949

National Day of the People's Republic of China
Chinese name
Simplified Chinese	国庆节
Traditional Chinese	國慶節
Literal meaning	national celebration holiday
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin guóqìng jié Gwoyeu Romatzyh gwochinq jye Wade–Giles kuo^2-chʻing^4 chieh^2 IPA [kwǒ.tɕʰîŋ tɕjě] Wu Suzhounese kueh chin tsih Yue: Cantonese Yale Romanization gwok-hing jit Jyutping gwok3-hing3 zit3 Southern Min Tâi-lô kok-khìng tsueh
Portuguese name
Portuguese	Dia Nacional da República Popular da China

National Day (Chinese: 国庆节; pinyin: guóqìng jié; lit. 'national celebration day'), officially the National Day of the People's Republic of China (中华人民共和国国庆节), is a public holiday in China celebrated annually on 1 October as the national day of the People's Republic of China, commemorating Mao Zedong's formal proclamation of the establishment of the People's Republic of China on 1 October 1949. The Chinese Communist Party victory in the Chinese Civil War resulted in the Kuomintang retreat to Taiwan and the Chinese Communist Revolution whereby the People's Republic of China replaced the Republic of China.^[1][2]

Although it is observed on 1 October, another six days are added to the official holiday, normally in lieu of the two weekend breaks around 1 October, making it a de facto public holiday comprising seven consecutive days also known as Golden Week with specifics regulated by the State Council.^[3] Festivities and concerts are usually held nationwide on this day, with a grand military parade and mass pageant event held on select years.^[A] The parade held on 1 October 2019 marked the 70th anniversary of the People's Republic of China.

History

Main article: Proclamation of the People's Republic of China

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) defeated the incumbent Kuomintang (KMT) nationalist government of the Republic of China in the Chinese Civil War that took place from 1927 to 1950 except for a brief alliance against Japan in the Second Sino-Japanese War. In its aftermath, the nationalist government withdrew to the island of Taiwan, previously a prefecture of the Qing Empire that was ceded to Japan under its colonial rule from 1895 to 1945.^[5]

The People's Republic of China was founded on 1 October 1949, with a ceremony celebrating the forming of the Central People's Government taking place in Tiananmen Square in its new national capital of Peking (previously Peiping) on the same day that year.^[6] The first public parade of the new People's Liberation Army took place there, following the address by the country's first Chairman Mao Zedong officially declaring the formal establishment of the Republic.^[7]

After the Founding Ceremony, Ma Xulun, the Minister of Education and Chairman of the Central Committee of the China Association for Promoting Democracy, believed that China should establish its own National Day. He drafted a proposal entitled "Suggesting October 1 as the National Day", which he intended to present to the forthcoming first session of the 1st National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.^[8]

On October 9, 1949, the meeting was held at the Qinzheng Hall in Zhongnanhai, where Ma Xulun, due to illness, had his proposal conveyed by Xu Guangping.^[9] The Secretary General of the Central People's Government, Lin Boqu, spoke in favor of the proposal, and Mao Zedong also expressed his support.^[10] Finally, the meeting unanimously adopted the proposal and made a resolution "Requesting the Government to designate October 1 as the National Day of the People's Republic of China to replace the old National Day of October 10", which was sent to the Central People's Government for adoption and implementation.^[11]

On December 2, 1949, the Fourth Session of the Central People's Government Committee (Chinese: 中央人民政府委员会) adopted the Resolution on the National Day of the People's Republic of China, which proclaimed that since 1950, October 1 of each year, the day on which the People's Republic of China was proclaimed, would be the National Day of the People's Republic of China.^[12][13]

On December 23, 1949, the Twelfth Political Affairs Conference of the State Council of the Central People's Government (Chinese: 中央人民政府政务院) passed the Measures for National Holidays on Annual and Memorial Days, stipulating that National Day should be a national holiday for all the people as the October 1 and October 2.^[14][15] On October 1, 1950, the first National Day celebrations were held in Tiananmen Square.^[16]

In September 1960, the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party and the State Council implemented the policy of "practicing economy and frugality to build up the country", and reformed the system of National Day ceremonies by implementing "one small celebration in five years and one big parade in ten years". In 1984, based on Deng Xiaoping's proposal, the Central Committee decided to hold a large National Day parade on the 35th anniversary of the National Day in that year. In 1999, the Central Committee decided to hold a military parade for the 50th anniversary of the People's Republic of China, and a large-scale military parade was held on October 1 of the same year in Tiananmen Square.^[17] In 2009, a large military parade was held on the 60th anniversary of the People's Republic of China on the National Day.^[18] In 2019, a grand celebration of the 70th anniversary of the People's Republic of China was held in Beijing on the National Day.^[19][20]

National celebrations

National Day marks the start of a Golden Week, a weeklong public holiday.^[21][22][23]

The day is celebrated throughout mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau with a variety of government-organized festivities, including fireworks and concerts, as well as sports events and cultural events. Public places, such as Tiananmen Square in Beijing, are decorated in a festive theme. Portraits of revered leaders, such as Mao Zedong, are publicly displayed.^[24] The holiday is also celebrated by many overseas Chinese.

Wreath-laying ceremony at the Monument to the People's Heroes

From 2004 to 2013, a national wreath-laying ceremony was held on National Day in Tiananmen Square following the flag raising ceremony on years with no parades. The ceremony was centered on the Monument to the People's Heroes, built in 1958 in remembrance of the millions of Chinese who perished during the long years of national struggle. Beginning in 2014, they have been held on a new holiday, Martyrs' Day, set on the eve of National Day, 30 September, and is presided by party and state leaders.^[25]

National flag-raising ceremony

For many years, a flag-raising ceremony has been held at Tiananmen Square in the morning of the day if no parade is scheduled on the day.^[26] The 6 a.m. National Day flag-raising ceremony is important in years without any anniversary parades. Held at the Tiananmen Square, since 2017 the Beijing Garrison Honor Guard Battalion's Color Guard Company is present for the ceremony with the National Marching Band of the PLA. Until 2016 the Beijing People's Armed Police units provided men for the ceremonial color guard unit. The ceremony is open to the public and tourists and is widely televised and streamed online for viewers at home and abroad. At the end of the ceremony, doves and colorful balloons are released.^[27][28]

National civil-military parade

Marshal Lin Biao surveying the soldiers during the 10th anniversary military parade in 1959.

Main article: Chinese National Day Parade

The special civil-military parade of the People's Liberation Army, People's Armed Police and the Militia together with representatives of the people of all walks of life including the Young Pioneers of China is held on special years in the morning of National Day itself. It has been televised on China Central Television since 1984 (and broadcast around the world from that year as well via satellite and cable television), is a key highlight of the national celebrations in Beijing.^[29] The parade was annual from 1950 to 1959 and terminated until 1984.^[30] There was a parade planned for 1989 but was cancelled following the June 4th crackdown. Parades were held again in 1999 and 2009.^[31][32][33]

The parade is overseen by the president of the People's Republic of China as well as other top leadership.^[33]

Gallery

• 
  National Day in 1950
• 
  National Day in 1950
• 
  Mao Zedong and Liu Shaoqi gestured to the crowd on National Day 1950
• 
  the 10th anniversary of the People's Republic of China in 1959
• 
  the 15th anniversary of the National Day of the People's Republic of China in 1964
• 
  Mao Zedong and Liu Shaoqi on the 15th Anniversary of the National Day of the People's Republic of China in 1964
• 
  the 50th anniversary of the People's Republic of China in 1999
• 
  2004 National Day celebration in Tiananmen Square, Beijing
• 
  Tiananmen Square, 2006 National Day of the PRC. The placard reads "Warmly celebrate the 57th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China". The portrait is that of Sun Yat-sen.^[34]
• 
  2008 National Day celebration in Macau
• 
  2012 National Day celebration in Hong Kong
• 
  Flower bed for celebrating the 70th National Day on Jianguomennei Street
• 
  A KJ-2000 and aerobatic J-10s for celebrating the 70th National Day

See also

• National Day
• History of the People's Republic of China
• 35th anniversary of the People's Republic of China
• 50th anniversary of the People's Republic of China
• 60th anniversary of the People's Republic of China
• 70th anniversary of the People's Republic of China

Notes

1. Since the founding of the people's republic to 2009, the country has held 14 National Day grand military parades in 1949–1959, 1984, 1999, and 2009.^[4]

References

1. "Flag-raising ceremony held for China's National Day celebration". Xinhua News Agency. 1 October 2009. Archived from the original on 4 October 2009. Retrieved 30 April 2011.
2. Westad, Odd (2003). Decisive Encounters: The Chinese Civil War, 1946–1950. Stanford University Press. p. 305. ISBN 978-0-8047-4484-3.
3. 国务院办公厅关于2019年部分节假日安排的通知 [Notice of the General Office of the State Council on Some Holiday Arrangements in 2019] (in Chinese). 4 December 2018. Archived from the original on 18 May 2019. Retrieved 29 September 2019.
4. 新中国历次大阅兵 [New China's previous grand military parades]. gov.cn (in Chinese). Xinhua News Agency. 21 August 2009. Archived from the original on 27 December 2009. Retrieved 26 September 2019.
5. Mass, K. History of Taiwan: Its Challenges, Separation from China, and More. Efalon Acies. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
6. "China National Day: October 1st, Golden Week". travelchinaguide.com. Archived from the original on 20 April 2016. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
7. "China says National Day parade 'won't disappoint' in scale or weapons". South China Morning Post. 24 September 2019. Retrieved 1 October 2022.
8. 马叙伦与中国民主促进会. 中国各民主党派主要创始人传记丛书 (in Chinese). 广东人民出版社. 2004. p. 136. ISBN 978-7-218-04417-0. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
9. 上海鲁迅纪念馆 (2009). 上海鲁迅研究 (in Chinese). 上海社会科学院出版社. p. 49. ISBN 978-7-80745-354-3. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
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15. China. Guo wu yuan (2001). 中华人民共和国国务院令, 1949.10-2001.4 (in Chinese). 中国民主法制出版社. p. 2570. ISBN 978-7-206-03703-0. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
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17. "1949-1999 -- Celebrate the 50th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China". Chineseposters.net. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
18. "People's Republic of China marks 60th anniversary". CNN.com. 1 October 2009. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
19. "China anniversary: Beijing celebrations mark 70 years of Communist rule". BBC Home. 30 September 2019. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
20. "China celebrates 70 years of People's Republic – in pictures". the Guardian. 1 October 2019. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
21. "China National Day holiday 2018". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 1 October 2022.
22. "Disappointing start to 'golden week' for Hong Kong retailers". South China Morning Post. 1 October 2020. Retrieved 1 October 2022.
23. "Golden Week 2022, 2023 and 2024". PublicHolidays.cn. Retrieved 1 October 2022.
24. "China celebrates with elaborate display of power and ideology". The Irish Times. 2 October 2009. Archived from the original on 17 October 2012. Retrieved 30 April 2011.
25. "First national Martyrs' Day remembers those who sacrificed for China". South China Morning Post. 30 September 2014. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
26. "National Day celebrated across China". Xinhua News Agency. 1 October 2009. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 30 April 2011.
27. 图文20世纪中国史 (in Chinese). 广东旅游出版社. 1999. p. 1691. ISBN 978-7-80521-977-6. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
28. 中国广播电视出版社 (2000). 中国广播电视年鉴 (in Chinese). 中国广播电视出版社. p. 319. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
29. "The history of the People's Republic of China – through 70 years of mass parades". 30 September 2019. Archived from the original on 1 October 2019. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
30. "The history of the People's Republic of China – through 70 years of mass parades". theconversation.com. Retrieved 1 October 2022.
31. "1960年至1983年为什么没有国庆阅兵". Archived from the original on 8 October 2019. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
32. Hung, Chang-tai (2007). "Mao's Parades: State Spectacles in China in the 1950s" (PDF). The China Quarterly. 190 (190): 411–431. doi:10.1017/S0305741007001269. JSTOR 20192777. S2CID 154319855. Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 August 2017. Retrieved 16 October 2019.
33. Hwang, Yih-Jye; Schneider, Florian (2011). "Performance, Meaning, and Ideology in the Making of Legitimacy: The Celebrations of the People's Republic of China's Sixty-Year Anniversary". China Review. 11 (1): 27–55. ISSN 1680-2012. JSTOR 23462196. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
34. Fu, Ying (16 July 2008). "China at 60: Nostalgia and progress". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 8 September 2013. Retrieved 30 April 2011.