October 1, 2025, marks the 76th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, coinciding with the Mid-Autumn Festival. Across the country, a blend of solemn ceremonies, cultural feasts, and joyful gatherings unfolded, weaving a tapestry of national pride and familial warmth.
The morning of October 1 witnessed a grand flag-raising ceremony at Tiananmen Square in Beijing. As the first ray of sunlight pierced the horizon, the national flag rose slowly to the stirring strains of the national anthem, drawing thousands of citizens and tourists who raised their phones to capture the moment and chanted "Long live the motherland" . The square, adorned with vibrant flower arrangements, became a sea of "Chinese red" with national flags fluttering everywhere .
Hong Kong and Macao joined the celebrations with distinctive events. Hong Kong's Victoria Harbour lit up on the evening of October 1 with the "Sparkling China" fireworks show, featuring over 30,000 fireworks and a drone performance that wowed spectators . A day earlier, the "Hong Kong Huafu Carnival" at West Kowloon Cultural District showcased giant costume-themed lanterns, merging traditional Hanfu culture with lantern art . In Macao, a "Happy Run for National Day" kicked off the morning, followed by the 33rd Macao International Fireworks Competition on October 1 and 6 . The Science Museum hosted the "Endless Exploration" exhibition, displaying lunar samples from Chang'e-5 and 6, as well as models of the J-20 fighter jet and Shandong aircraft carrier .
Mainland cities also embraced the festive spirit. Tianjin launched a National Day-themed night lighting show along the Haihe River on September 30 . Yunnan's Mile City rolled out over 10 cultural and tourism events, including calligraphy exhibitions, AI robot parties, and Axi ethnic dance performances . Tibet announced a series of activities such as e-sports anime weeks and Himalayan music festivals .
The 8-day combined holiday (October 1-8) sparked a travel boom, with an estimated 2.36 billion cross-regional trips nationwide, hitting a daily average of 295 million . Hong Kong expected 1.54 million mainland visitors, an 11% year-on-year increase, while Macao's popular hotels were nearly fully booked . Railway authorities moved over 70 million train tickets for the holiday period .
Adding to the occasion, China National Space Administration released a photo on October 1 showing the Tianwen-2 probe, adorned with a five-star red flag, flying alongside Earth—symbolizing the nation's strides in space exploration .
Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee noted that the celebrations reflected the city's synergy with the motherland. "We're building a more prosperous life together," he said . For ordinary citizens, the dual festivals offered a chance to honor the nation's journey while savoring family reunions, embodying the harmony between national glory and personal happiness.
Uw bericht moet tussen de 20-3.000 tekens bevatten!
