2027 National Day of China

National Day on October 1 marks the founding of the People's Republic of China, proclaimed by Mao Zedong from the Tiananmen gate in 1949, and opens the week-long 'Golden Week' holiday that runs through October 7. At dawn a flag-raising ceremony in Tiananmen Square draws tens of thousands of spectators, the square is decorated with giant flower displays, and in milestone years — most recently the 70th anniversary in 2019 — a large military parade is held. Cities stage fireworks and light shows, and shops run holiday promotions. The break triggers one of the world's largest travel surges, with hundreds of millions of domestic trips and packed tourist sites, so train tickets, which go on sale about two weeks ahead, and hotels sell out quickly; expressway tolls are waived for passenger cars during the holiday. Many foreign visitors avoid the crowds by travelling just before or after. This countdown ticks to midnight Beijing time on October 1.