Foundation Of PRC: China Celebrates 68th National Day, Mid-Autumn Festival

The October 1, 2017 event marks the beginning of a week-long holiday of celebrations.

Chinese on Sunday, October 1, 2017 celebrated 68 years of the foundation of the People’s Republic of China in 1949 when the Communist Party of China, CPC, defeated Kuomintang forces after a long civil war. Some 115,000 people from across the country gathered at Tian'anmen Square in the Chinese capital, Beijing early on Sunday morning to watch the raising of the national flag. This was followed by the release of 10,000 peace doves into the sky.

In the background was a 17-metre giant display in the shape of a floral basket containing flowers and fruits, symbolizing China’s growing prosperity. Watching the national flag raising ceremony at Tian'anmen Square has been a way of celebrating China’s National Day in Beijing. Meanwhile, Chinese will only resume work on October 9, 2017 after the Mid-Autumn Festival on October 4. It is the country’s second biggest festival after the Chinese New Year. Celebrated in the middle of Autumn, the day is also known as Moon Cake Festival. It is a period for sharing little Chinese “moon” cakes when the moon is at its roundest and brightest.

Earlier on September 30, 2017, Chinese President Xi Jinping and other senior leaders paid tribute and laid floral baskets at the Monument to the People's Heroes at Tian'anmen Square. He was joined by representatives of all walks of life to mark the fourth Martyrs’ Day on the eve of t...