What is National Day?
The People’s Republic of China was founded on October 1, 1949, with a ceremony at Tiananmen Square, where Chairman Mao declared the founding of the Republic and waved the first five-star PRC Flag before 300,000 cheering onlookers. The National Day Holiday is celebrated throughout Mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau with a variety of government organized festivities, including fireworks (of course), military parades, banquets, and concerts. Public areas like Tiananmen Square are decorated with flags and flowers. Portraits of revered leaders, such as Sun Yat-Sen, Zhou Enlai, and Mao Zedong are displayed and honored. National pride is especially running high this year in wake of the 2008 Beijing Olympics. If you’re in China during the first week of October, stay put – you’ll be glad you did. If you must travel – try to get out of the country! That way, at least you’ll only be fighting crowds on your departure and return.