National Day

Name : National Day
Date : October 1st
At three o'clock on October 1st, 1949, 300, 000 people held a ceremony at Tian'anmen Square to celebrate the founding of People's Central Government of PRC. Chairman Mao Zedong gravely declared the founding of People's Central Government and of PRC and personally hoisted the first five-star flag. He read out the Announcement of People's Central Government of PRC, "People's Central Government of PRC is the only legal government to stand for all people of PRC. Our government is willing to establish diplomatic relationship with any foreign government that agrees to abide by the principles of equality, mutual benefit, mutual respect for territorial integrity, and so on." Then parade and folk procession were performed. Zhu De-Commander in chief-inspected marine, land and air force and announced Order of Chinese People's Liberation Army Headquarter, ordering the army to promptly clear all remaining armed forces of Kuomintang reactionaries and to liberate all land that hasn't been liberated yet. On the same day, Beijing Xinhua broadcasting station conducted at Tian'anmen Square a live broadcast of the founding ceremony of PRC. That was the 1st large-scale live broadcast in the broadcasting history of Chinese people, other broadcasting stations all over China broadcasting synchronously.
On the first meeting of the national committee's first session of Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, some representative said the founding of PRC should have a day for celebration. So I hope this session will decide October 1st as national holiday."Mao Zedong replied, "We have to propose to the government for it to decide." December 3'd, 1949, the fourth session of People's Central Government committee passed Decision on National Holiday of PRC, stipulating that October 1st would be national holiday every year and this day was also affirmed to be the day of announcing the founding of PRC. From 1950, October 1st every year has been a highly celebrated holiday for people of all nationalities in China. National holiday of PRC started from October 1st, 1949, and celebrations every year were given much political meaning. Before 1970, as major part of celebration, state banquet, military parade, fireworks and parade were held every year. There were grand meetings at Tian'anmen Square as well as in all provinces, regions and counties. In each meeting leaders of all levels made speech and workers, farmers and representatives of suggestion, who was then the national leader, the Chinese government decided to resume military parade and held a large-scale military parade ceremony at Tian'anmen Square that year, the 35th anniversary of the founding of PRC. At the end of August 2004, the Chinese government made new arrangements as to how to celebrate national holiday. That was the third time that government asked to celebrate economically after the founding of New China. In that year, the major arrangements of national holiday in Beijing included reception banquet, large-scale theatrical evening in celebration of the 55th anniversary of PRC, park-tour activities, theme activities about education of patriotism and revolutionary traditions for youths, and so on.
On October 1st, 2009, the 60th anniversary of the founding of the PRC, a grand ceremony, a solemn military review and a mass parade were held at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing. Since 2000, national holiday lasts seven days. Beside, economy is getting better and better, so people have larger room for choice in ways of relaxation and entertainment. More and more people choose to go on tours. They even go abroad to Southeastern Asia, Europe, North America, Japan, and so on for holidays. National holiday, Spring Festival and May Day holiday combine to create a situation where the three major "golden weeks for tourism" of the year co-exist and co-develop. They also give a push to the new "holiday economy" of tourism, transportation, telecom industry, gift industry, catering trade, and other industries that develop with the three major holidays.
(Adapted from Chinese Festivals by Wei Liming)