What is National Day in China? (2024)

Chinese National Day and the week-long holiday surrounding it is a big deal in China. Let's take a look at what Chinese National Day is and what you can expect if you are in China.

When is National Day in China and why is it celebrated?

The official National Day is October 1, and the holiday is observed from October 1-7. National Day marks the founding of the People's Republic of China (PRC) on October 1, 1949.

What is “Golden Week”?

Golden Week is a national holiday for which people have seven or eight days off in a row. Usually, this term is used in reference to the National Day period of October 1-7, though it can also be used for the weeklong Chinese New Year celebration as well.

Like many other Chinese holidays, the National Day Golden Week comes with makeup workdays which will be on September 29^th and October 12^th 2024 this year.

Make-up days in China are additional workdays introduced during economic challenges, allowing for extended holidays. Workers compensate by working on weekends before or after the holidays. This aims to stimulate spending and growth, though opinions on the practice vary.

How do people celebrate National Day in China?

People often travel back to their hometowns or go on family trips for the holiday. Popular activities include flag-raising ceremonies, fireworks, performances, and parades.

Where should I go during the Chinese National Day Golden Week?

We recommend either going abroad or staying at home. The National Day week is a very popular time to travel; tourist sites will be packed, modes of transportation will be crowded, and tickets will be expensive.

If you must travel, book all your tickets and hotels in advance, and try to avoid travelling on the first and the last days of the holiday.

If you stay home, be prepared to cook. Many restaurants and shops will close for Golden Week.

How early should I plan my travels for Chinese National Day?

As early as possible! Train tickets become available about 40 days before the day of travel, so you and everyone else may need to engage in “grabbing tickets” or qiǎng piào 抢票.

This is the process during which masses of people flood the ticket booths and online ticket platforms trying to get a ticket on their preferred train. Obviously, sleepers and seats are the first to go, so latecomers may only have the option to book a standing ticket (if there are any tickets left at all).

Chinese National Day Vocabulary

(In other contexts, this means “11”)

You might also enjoy reading about these other Chinese holidays.

What is the Laba Festival in China?

Qingming Festival in China

What is the Chinese Longtaitou Festival?

About the Author

Eden has been learning Chinese since 2008. She fell in love with the language, food, and culture and never looked back! Eden lived in China for six years, including in Harbin, Beijing, and Dali.