China celebrates her 65^th anniversary

October 1st, 2014 marks the 65^th anniversary of PRC founding. On that day, lots of large-scaled activities are held nationwide. Besides, the seven-day holiday from Oct. 1^st to 7^th is the so-called "Golden Week”, during which more and more Chinese people prefer to traveling around the country.

Origin

October 1^st, 1949 was the memorial day for the founding of the People’s Republic of China. The grand ceremony held at Tian’anmen Square on October 1^st, 1949 was to celebrate the forming of the Central People's Government of the brand new country. Ever since 1950, every October 1^st has been grandly celebrated by Chinese people.

Customs

Military Review & Parade at Tian'anmen are held on the National Holiday. The most representative and influential ones include the military reviews on the founding ceremony, the 5th anniversary, 10th anniversary, 35th anniversary, 50th anniversary and 60th anniversary. Those impressive military reviews have attracted people from both home and abroad to watch. Following the military reviews are usually huge parades by common people to express their patriotic feelings. The Military Review & Parade is now held in a small scale every 5 years and in a large scale every 10 years.

Other activities like flag-raising ceremonies, dance and song shows, firework displays and painting and calligraphy exhibitions are also held to celebrate the National Day. If one loves shopping, National Day is a great time, for many shopping malls offer big discounts during the holiday.

Holiday

The legal holiday for National Day is 7 days in mainland China from Oct.1^st to 7^th, which is the well-known “Golden Week”. This is the longest public holiday in China besides the Spring Festival. Falling in the autumn generally with clear weather and comfortable temperature, the holiday is a popular period for travel.