National Day

🎆 🇨🇳 China • October 1, 2026

Days off: 3 days • Total days: 7 days • Falls on Thursday

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National Day — holiday, China (October 1, 2026)

National Day Description

National Day on 1 October marks the PRC's 1949 founding with civic pride and unity. Tian'anmen and local squares host flag-raisings, flowers, patriotic song, and documentaries. Citizens tour historic sites or mountains under red street decor. State ceremony meets mass leisure, reflecting shared history without replacing quieter lunar traditions.

📜 History & Origins

National Day commemorates the proclamation of the People's Republic of China by Mao Zedong on October 1, 1949, at Tiananmen Square, following the victory of the Chinese Communist Party in the Chinese Civil War. Officially designated on December 2, 1949, it has been celebrated every year since 1950, with grand military parades reserved for major decennial anniversaries — the 50th in 1999, the 60th in 2009, and the 70th in 2019. Each October 1 marks the next anniversary of the founding (the calendar year minus 1949), so the 73rd National Day fell on October 1, 2022, the 76th in 2025, and the 77th in 2026. The week-long Golden Week break dates from the 50th anniversary in 1999.

🎉 How It's Celebrated

Beijing's Tiananmen Square hosts a flag-raising ceremony at sunrise, attended by thousands. Giant floral displays and topiary sculptures line major cities. The Golden Week holiday sees massive domestic tourism — trains, flights, and hotels are booked months in advance. State television broadcasts special galas and patriotic documentaries. Red national flags adorn streets, shops, and private homes.

🍽️ Traditional Foods

Golden Week feasts feature hairy crab from Yangcheng Lake, harvest-season fruits, and banquet dishes served at family reunions. Street food vendors at tourist sites sell candied hawthorn skewers (tanghulu) and steamed buns.

China National Day — Frequently Asked Questions

Which National Day is 2026 for the People’s Republic of China?

October 1, 2026 marks the 77th National Day of the People’s Republic of China. Anniversaries are counted from the PRC’s founding on October 1, 1949, so the anniversary number equals the calendar year minus 1949 — the 76th National Day fell in 2025, the 77th in 2026, and the 78th in 2027.

When was the 73rd National Day of the People’s Republic of China?

The 73rd National Day was celebrated on October 1, 2022 (2022 − 1949 = 73), with the customary Golden Week break from October 1 to 7. No military parade was held that year; the grandest parades are reserved for major decennial anniversaries, most recently the 70th in 2019.

Why is China’s National Day on October 1?

On October 1, 1949, Mao Zedong proclaimed the founding of the People’s Republic of China at Tiananmen in Beijing, and on December 2, 1949 the Central People’s Government officially designated October 1 as National Day. It has been celebrated every year since 1950, with the 7-day Golden Week format introduced for the 50th anniversary in 1999.

How long is the National Day holiday?

The statutory break is 3 paid days (October 1–3), which the State Council combines with adjusted weekend days into a 7-day Golden Week — October 1 (Thursday) through October 7 (Wednesday) in 2026, with makeup working days announced around the break. When Mid-Autumn Festival falls adjacent to the break, as in 2025, the two merge into a single 8-day holiday.

National Day Golden Week vs Spring Festival Golden Week — what is the difference?

These are China’s only two week-long Golden Weeks. The Spring Festival (Chinese New Year) break follows the lunar calendar and centres on family reunion and New Year rituals, while the National Day break is fixed to October 1 and marks the PRC’s founding with flag-raising ceremonies and patriotic events. Both rank among the world’s largest annual travel peaks.

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