Chinese National Day, know colloquially as ‘Shíyī’ – ‘Ten-one’ since it falls on the first of October, celebrates the founding of the People’s Republic of China on October 1st 1949.

On that day Mao Zedong stood atop the Gate of Heavenly Peace (Tiananmen) waving a red flag and announced the new Republic, broadcasting a message of victory after decades of war. .

Shi Yi is officially marked with parades, political rallies and a flag-raising ceremony on Tiananmen Square which attracts about a quarter of a million people. Individuals, families and employers might mark the day with displays of lights, posters and fireworks. Red flags sell in massive numbers.

For the past several years a huge portrait of Sun Yatsen (see 20th Century History) as well as slogan-boardings, a huge fountain and mockups of famous sights have occupied Tiananmen Square on Chinese National Day, attracting thousands of visitors.

Chinese National Day also begins one of China’s two ‘Golden Weeks’ – week long national holidays where virtually all workers get time off to travel or visit family. Unlike in other countries where holidays are seen as penalising business, Shi Yi spurs huge internal spending and boost the economy.

Golden Weeks are thus one of the happiest times of year for a factory worker, but awful for the tourist. About 60 million people flock onto the transport system, prices for everything rocket, and hotel rooms are tough to book even months in advance.