National Day in Hong Kong (1 October): What it is, how it’s marked, and what to expect

Every year on 1 October, Hong Kong joins the rest of the country in marking the National Day of the People’s Republic of China, the anniversary of the PRC’s founding on 1 October 1949. In Hong Kong, the day is a statutory public holiday, and the city puts on a blend of official ceremonies, mega-events along Victoria Harbour, and community celebrations.

What National Day commemorates

National Day commemorates Mao Zedong’s proclamation of the PRC in Beijing’s Tiananmen on 1 October 1949, an event that closed one chapter of the Chinese Civil War and began another in modern Chinese statehood. The anniversary is observed across mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau each year.

How Hong Kong marks the day

Flag-raising and government reception
The Hong Kong SAR Government holds a morning flag-raising ceremony at Golden Bauhinia Square in Wan Chai, followed by an official reception attended by the Chief Executive and dignitaries. These are the city’s most formal observances of the day.

Fireworks over Victoria Harbour
After dark, the skyline becomes the stage. A large-scale National Day Fireworks Display is staged over Victoria Harbour, an enduring highlight that draws huge crowds on both shores. (In 2025, for example, the 23-minute show started at 8:00 pm.) While displays were suspended in some years due to public safety or the pandemic, they have returned as a centrepiece of the festivities.

Horse racing: the National Day Cup
Sha Tin Racecourse hosts a special National Day raceday, anchored by the Group 3 National Day Cup, now a 1,000-metre sprint down the straight. The meeting typically combines racing with cultural performances and special programmes.

City-wide promotions and cultural programming
Beyond headline events, expect museum offers, neighbourhood festivities, and tourism promotions tied to the “Golden Week” travel peak that follows National Day on the mainland. Authorities often coordinate transport and visitor-flow measures to manage the surge.

If you’re planning to go: practical tips

• Best public vantage points for fireworks: Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade and the Avenue of Stars; Tamar Park/Central Harbourfront; and the West Kowloon Art Park, each offers broad, unobstructed views across the bay (arrive very early). Official announcements confirm exact show times each year.

• Getting around: MTR is the safest bet on the night. Expect crowd-control measures and temporary traffic diversions near the waterfront. (Check the government and transport announcements on the day.) 

• Alternative experiences: Harbour cruises and hotel viewing parties sell out quickly; at Sha Tin, a full afternoon of racing culminates in the National Day Cup.

• Etiquette: The morning flag-raising is a formal occasion. If you attend, follow on-site guidance, stay behind cordons, and be mindful during the national anthem.

A recent timeline at a glance

• 2019: Major public events, including National Day fireworks, were cancelled amid safety concerns during the city’s protest movement.

• 2020–2022: Large-scale fireworks were paused in the pandemic years.

• 2024–2025: Fireworks revived, with government-coordinated, themed displays over Victoria Harbour; flag-raising and official receptions resumed at full scale.

Why it matters locally

For Hong Kong, National Day is both a day off and a civic touchpoint. The morning ceremonies underscore the city’s constitutional status as a Special Administrative Region of China, while the evening fireworks, races, and neighbourhood activities are the public-facing festivities that most residents and visitors experience. It’s one of the few times each year when the city’s famed skyline becomes part of an orchestrated, territory-wide celebration.

Credits: Cover picture by Eugene Lee