National Day (People's Republic of China) in Hong Kong

By the Travel Wiki editorial team

What National Day Marks

National Day in Hong Kong falls on 1 October each year and commemorates the founding of the People's Republic of China, proclaimed in Beijing on 1 October 1949. The date is observed across mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau, and in Hong Kong it is a statutory public holiday.

In the Hong Kong context the day carries a dual character. It is a public day off, but it is also marked by civic ceremonies that underscore Hong Kong's constitutional status as a Special Administrative Region of China, alongside public festivities such as fireworks, horse racing and neighbourhood activities enjoyed by residents and visitors alike.

Origins in Hong Kong

National Day celebrations have been held in Hong Kong since 1997, the year sovereignty was handed over from Britain to China. The holiday is part of a "Golden Week" of days off, filled with numerous celebratory events.

The scale of the occasion has varied over time. In 2019, major public events including the National Day fireworks were cancelled amid safety concerns during the protest movement. From 2020 to 2022, large-scale fireworks were paused during the pandemic years. In 2024 and 2025, fireworks were revived with government-coordinated themed displays, and the flag-raising ceremony and official receptions resumed at full scale.

Official Observances

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.

The ceremony at Golden Bauhinia Square, outside the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, begins at 8:00 a.m. on 1 October and includes the national anthem, a fly-past, sea parades, marching bands, drill performances and drums. The flag-raising is a formal occasion: visitors are expected to follow on-site guidance, stay behind cordons, and observe decorum during the national anthem.

Fireworks Over Victoria Harbour

The National Day Fireworks Display over Victoria Harbour is a recurring centrepiece of the holiday, drawing crowds to both shores. The display is free to watch and typically runs for about 20 minutes, beginning at 9:00 p.m. on 1 October. In 2025 the show ran 23 minutes, starting at 8:00 p.m.

Fireworks are launched from nine points: three barges, from which shells rise as high as 250 metres, and six pontoons, reaching up to 100 metres. The programme has multiple themed acts featuring Chinese cultural elements and characters, building to a grand finale. Music is synchronised with the display through waterfront speakers and is also broadcast on radio (FM 97.6–98.9).

The display is visible from anywhere with a view of the sky over Victoria Harbour, on either the Kowloon or Island side. Popular free vantage points include:

Public spaces are extremely crowded, and walking is recommended over taxis or the MTR after the event. Paid options include harbour cruises, such as those departing from Central Pier No. 10 or Sai Wan Ho Pier; the Sky100 Observation Deck; and the Harbour City Ocean Terminal Rooftop Car Park, where charity tickets benefit Make A Wish Hong Kong. Harbour cruises and hotel viewing parties sell out quickly. Exact show times are confirmed by official announcements each year.

National Day Race Day

Sha Tin Racecourse hosts a National Day raceday on 1 October, running from noon to 6:00 p.m. with gates opening at 11:00 a.m. The feature race is the G3 National Day Cup, the first 1000-metre Group race of the season, with prize money of HK$4.2 million. Festivities begin at noon in the Parade Ring with cultural and entertainment performances. Admission varies, from around HK$10 for standing or non-reserved seating to around HK$50 for a table for two.

Drone Shows and Golden Week Programming

Drone shows have become part of the National Day Golden Week programme. These displays run about 15 minutes, with drones launched from the Wan Chai harbourfront; the best vantage point is Wan Chai Harbourfront, and the show may not be visible from the Kowloon side. They are free to watch.

In 2024, marking the 75th anniversary of the PRC's founding, an eve-of-National-Day event was held on 30 September at the West Kowloon Cultural District outdoor area: the "Celebration of National Day – The Next Generation Chorus Performance," featuring a drone show with 2,099 drones symbolising "2024" and "75." The number "75" was incorporated into various signature events that year.

Beyond the headline events, the holiday period brings museum offers, neighbourhood festivities, and tourism promotions tied to the mainland's Golden Week travel peak, with authorities coordinating transport and visitor-flow measures for the surge.

Government-Announced Offers

Each year the government announces a slate of National Day offers, typically for 1 October. These have included:

In 2024, the transport offers included free rides on all passenger tram routes and several ferry routes; a 25% Octopus discount on the MTR, Light Rail and MTR Bus; free designated daytime KMB, Long Win Bus and New Lantao Bus routes for children using Octopus; and free Citybus rides via electronic payment. Culture and leisure offers that year included free entry to fee-charging LCSD facilities, all LCSD museum exhibitions, and the Wetland Park, along with offers from the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority, Ocean Park, Ngong Ping 360 and Peak Tramways. Consumption offers included half-price movie tickets at all commercial cinemas, a 25% shopping discount at more than 10,000 public markets and hawker stalls, and catering offers at around 3,000 restaurants and merchants. The Hong Kong International Airport, shopping malls, department stores and Temple Street Night Market food kiosks also ran offers and reward activities during the National Day period.

Scale and Aims

In 2024, the 75th anniversary year, the Hong Kong SAR Government and community sectors organised more than 400 celebratory activities. That year was also the first National Day after district governance reforms and the enactment of Article 23 Basic Law legislation. The stated aims of the programme were to encourage public participation, share the joy of National Day, foster patriotism, and boost local consumption.

Regional Variations

National Day is celebrated across mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau on the same date, but the sources describe Hong Kong's observance specifically: a statutory public holiday combining an official flag-raising ceremony and reception with public festivities such as the Victoria Harbour fireworks, the Sha Tin raceday, drone shows and government-announced discounts. The holiday sits within the wider Golden Week period, which is tied to the mainland's travel peak and brings a surge of visitors to Hong Kong, prompting coordinated transport and crowd-control measures. Beyond these points, the sources do not detail how other parts of the country mark the day.

Practical Notes for Visitors

Fireworks vantage points such as Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade, the Avenue of Stars, Tamar Park and the Central Harbourfront, and West Kowloon Art Park fill up early, so arriving very early is advisable. The MTR is recommended on the night of the fireworks, though crowd-control measures and temporary traffic diversions near the waterfront should be expected. Because exact show times and the full slate of offers are confirmed by official announcements each year, visitors should check current government information before making plans.

Sources

  1. National Day Celebrations in Hong Kong
  2. news.gov.hk - National Day celebratory events set
  3. National Day in Hong Kong (1 October): What it is, how it’s ...