Lesser-Known Trivia about China's National Day

China celebrates National Day on October 1 every year. The date was officially set in December 1949, and 2026 will mark the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. The National Day holiday generally lasts seven days, making it one of the longest public holidays in the country.

Most people are familiar with these basic facts. Here are some lesser-known fun facts about National Day.

The tradition of National Day flower displays stretches back nearly 40 years

The custom of laying themed flower beds in Tiananmen Square began in 1986, with a history approaching four decades. What were originally simple flower ribbons have evolved into giant flower baskets over ten meters tall today. Design drafts for the annual themed installations are collected and revised months in advance. More than just a stunning visual spectacle, these flower displays carry precious collective holiday memories for generations.

Rail passenger volumes reach hundreds of millions during the Golden Week

The seven-day National Day holiday witnesses one of the year’s biggest travel surges across national railways, civil aviation and highways. Taking rail transport as an example, the daily passenger throughput often exceeds 20 million, and the total number of travellers over the holiday is counted in hundreds of millions.

These cities remain top travel picks year after year

The ranking of China’s most popular tourist destinations barely changes each National Day: Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Hangzhou, Xi’an and Chongqing consistently top the list. Travellers are advised to make thoughtful travel plans and choose off-peak hours for trips.

National Day box office revenue can exceed 10 billion yuan in just seven days

The National Day viewing window is a crucial release period for China’s film industry. In recent years, plenty of high-quality domestic films have chosen to premiere during this holiday. Total nationwide box office takings over seven days regularly hit several billion yuan and even approach the 10-billion-yuan threshold. Several blockbuster movies are lined up for the 2026 National Day season, and watching films has become a regular holiday activity for numerous families.

Motorway toll exemptions save travellers billions of yuan each National Day 

Toll fees on all national expressways are waived for small passenger vehicles with seven seats or fewer during the holiday. Calculations show the total waived highway tolls across the seven-day break amount to tens of billions of yuan every year.

How will you spend your National Day holiday? Wish you all a pleasant holiday!