National Day
A public holiday celebrating the founding of the People's Republic of China
๐ History & Origins
National Day is a statutory holiday established by a country to commemorate the nation itself. China's National Day falls on October 1st each year, marking the founding of the Central People's Government of the People's Republic of China in 1949. On October 1, 1949, a grand founding ceremony was held at Tiananmen Square in Beijing, where Chairman Mao Zedong solemnly declared the establishment of the Central People's Government of the People's Republic of China. In December 1949, the Central People's Government Committee passed the "Resolution on the National Day of the People's Republic of China," designating October 1st of each year as National Day and recognizing this date as the day the PRC was officially established. Since then, October 1st has become a day of grand celebration for all of China's ethnic groups. During the National Day holiday, celebrations are held across the country. A grand flag-raising ceremony takes place at Tiananmen Square, and military parades are held on milestone anniversaries (every 5th and 10th year). Cities and towns are decorated with lanterns and colorful banners, creating a festive and joyous atmosphere everywhere.
๐ Traditional Customs
What to do
- โฆWatching the flag-raising ceremony
- โฆAttending National Day celebrations
- โฆDisplaying the national flag
- โฆWatching the military parade (on milestone anniversaries)
- โฆTraveling and vacationing
- โฆFamily gatherings
What to eat
โ๏ธ Travel Impact
National Day is a 7-day holiday (commonly called "Golden Week") and is one of the biggest travel peaks of the entire year, rivaling Chinese New Year. Every scenic spot across the country is packed with visitors, transport is extremely congested, and hotel prices surge 2โ3 times. Train tickets, flight tickets, and attraction passes are nearly impossible to get. Highways are toll-free but severely congested. This is one of the worst times to visit China โ foreign tourists are strongly advised to avoid it.
These dates fall on weekends but are designated as workdays. Public transit runs on weekday schedules.
๐ก Tips to Avoid Pitfalls
Book all transport and accommodation at least 2 months in advance
Avoid all popular scenic spots โ visitor numbers are 5โ10 times normal levels
Consider traveling abroad or simply skipping this period entirely
Expect all costs to be 100%โ200% higher than usual
Scenic spots enforce strict visitor limits โ online reservations are mandatory
Highways are toll-free but extremely congested
๐ Recommended Experiences
Tiananmen Square, Beijing
Watch the flag-raising ceremony (arrive before dawn and queue)
Xinjiang
Autumn Populus euphratica forests (relatively fewer tourists)
Tibet
Autumn highland scenery (Tibet Travel Permit required in advance)
Inner Mongolia
Autumn grassland landscapes