Skip to main content
HolidayList
🎉 festival

Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Establishment

Wednesday, July 1, 2026

— days to go

Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Establishment Day, observed on July 1, commemorates the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China and the handover of sovereignty over Hong Kong from the United Kingdom to China on July 1, 1997. This historic event, known as the 'Handover,' ended 156 years of British colonial rule that began after the First Opium War with the Treaty of Nanjing in 1842. The handover was the culmination of negotiations between the United Kingdom and the People's Republic of China under the Sino-British Joint Declaration signed in 1984, which established the 'One Country, Two Systems' framework. This principle guarantees that Hong Kong would maintain its capitalist economic system, legal framework, and way of life for 50 years after the handover. July 1 is a public holiday in Hong Kong, marking both the establishment day and the anniversary of the return of sovereignty to China.

History

Hong Kong Island was ceded to Britain in 1842 after the First Opium War. The Kowloon Peninsula was added in 1860, and the New Territories were leased for 99 years in 1898. In the 1980s, negotiations between British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping led to the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration, which agreed on Hong Kong's return to China. At midnight on June 30, 1997, a handover ceremony at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre marked the transfer of sovereignty. Prince Charles represented the British monarchy, and Chinese President Jiang Zemin represented China. The handover was watched by an estimated one billion television viewers worldwide. The first Chief Executive, Tung Chee-hwa, was sworn in on July 1, 1997, establishing the Hong Kong SAR government.

How It's Celebrated

Hong Kong SAR Establishment Day is a public holiday marked by official flag-raising ceremonies, including the main ceremony at the Golden Bauhinia Square outside the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, attended by government officials and dignitaries. The Chief Executive delivers an address reviewing the year's achievements and outlining future priorities. The day features fireworks displays over Victoria Harbour in the evening, open-air concerts, cultural performances, and family activities in parks across Hong Kong. Many businesses and shopping centers offer special promotions and sales. District councils organize community events including sports competitions and festive banquets. The celebration reflects both Hong Kong's unique identity and its place within China.

Other Years

2021 Thu
01 Jul
2022 Fri
01 Jul
2023 Sat
01 Jul
2024 Mon
7/1
2025 Tue
7/1
2027 Thu
7/1
2028 Sat
7/1
2029 Sun
01 Jul

Countries

🇭🇰 HK

You Might Also Like

View all →
📅 holiday Apr 5

Ching Ming Festival

Ching Ming Festival is one of China’s largest events based off of the lunar calendar. Ching Ming officially starts 104 days after the winter solstice. The festival usually begins on April 4th or 5th, but activities may start as early as 10 days prior. In English, Ching Ming is often referred to as Tomb Sweeping Day or Pure Brightness because of the holiday’s events. The primary role of the Ching Ming Festival is to pay respect to ancestors. While many Chinese holidays are oriented around ancestor worship, Ching Ming is the largest. Filial piety is a central aspect of traditional Chinese culture, so it should come as no surprise that this is one of the most widely celebrated holidays in the Middle Kingdom. Nearly every ethnic group in China celebrates Ching Ming in one way or another. Ching Ming is also a celebration of spring because of the incoming planting season in most of China. According to Chinese stories and folklore, the Ching Ming Festival got its start sometime between 700 and 500 BCE. Legend states that a man named Jie Zitui, a loyal servant of a Chinese lord, helped his lord survive through exile. In order to prevent his lord from starving to death, Jie cut meat from his own leg and fed it to his lord. Surviving this ordeal, the lord returned to power 19 years later. By this time, the lord had forgotten about Jie’s service. Sometime later, the lord remembered Jie and felt regretful about forgetting. The lord intended to reward Jie, but by the time he found him, Jie had passed away. To honor the life and death of Jie, the lord established Ching Ming as a holiday to commemorate the dead. During the Ching Ming Festival, there are various customs and traditions that people take part in. One of the most enjoyed festival activities is kite flying. During the day, people fly kites of various colors to celebrate spring. People also celebrate the holiday with kites in the evening, but small lanterns are attached. When hundreds of kites are in the air, the Chinese sky looks like it is filled with many stars. The kites are symbolic of good fortune, but according to legend, they are also said to be able to cure and prevent diseases. In accordance with the Ching Ming Festival’s tradition of ancestor worship, an activity known as tomb sweeping is an important part of the festival day or the 10 days leading up to it. The purpose of this activity is to clean and beautify the graves or urns of ancestors. Weeds will removed from grave plots and fresh dirt will be brought to the surface. In many cases, people will also offer their ancestors their favorite food and wine as tribute. Incense and flowers may also be brought as a show of respect. There are many varieties of flowers that can be used during this holiday, but peach blossom and chrysanthemum flowers are among the most popular. In cities, the process of honoring the dead is not as elaborate due to the practice of cremation in place of traditional burials. In all cases, good prayers are said for ancestors and deceased relatives. After paying respects to ancestors, many Chinese take part in a spring outing, or taqing (踏青), to enjoy the warm weather and company of friends. The first spring outing occurred during the Tang Dynasty and it has become a time of celebration ever since. In order to get exercise and experience nature, many Chinese people will go on a trip to a city center or natural area. Popular activities include seeing gardens, walking through parks with family members, hiking through natural areas, and participating in sports. The spring outing is meant to promote happiness and good health habits after commemorating ancestors. As with most great festivals, Ching Ming offers a wide selection of special cuisine to celebrate happiness. One of the favorite dishes of Ching Ming is sazi (撒子). Sazi is fried wheat or rice flour that has been bound with eggs, onion, sesame, or other ingredients. The exact recipe for sazi depends on region and the chef. This is a salty or savory food that is enjoyed throughout China. Snails that have been seasoned with onion and salt are also a favorite dish during the Ching Ming Festival. To specifically celebrate the spring outing and warm months, Chinese people also enjoy qingtuan (青团), or green dumplings. These dumplings resemble green apples and are made of rice powder, green vegetable juice, and sweetened bean paste. Qingtuan have a sweet taste and are green. Some Chinese chefs also create their own unique variations of this dish.

CN MO HK
📅 holiday Apr 6

Easter Monday

Easter is regarded as the most important holy day by Christians, and in Réunion it is celebrated with a holiday on Easter Monday. The date of the holiday changes each year based on the centuries-old calculations that determine the Christian Ecclesiastical Calendar, such that the date of Easter Sunday can be anytime between 22 March and 25 April. Réunion, as an overseas department of France, celebrates mostly the same holidays as does mainland France, including Easter Monday. Also, the majority of the population is Christian and would want to observe Easter anyway. Réunion is a major destination for tourists, including during Easter Week, and the locals are quick to be festive this time of year too. Easter egg painting and egg hunts, midnight masses, large family feasts, and plenty of boisterous parties mark the season. Many take the opportunity around Eastertime to hike up to the rim of the island’s active volcano, Piton de la Fournaise. Others go mountain biking, visit the beach, go whale or dolphin watching, or see the abundant and diverse sea life at the Réunion Aquarium.

RE SK CZ +93
📅 holiday Apr 3

Good Friday

Easter is regarded as the most important of holy days by Christians, and in Tonga it is celebrated with two holidays on Good Friday and Easter Monday. The date of the holiday changes each year based on the centuries-old calculations that determine the Christian Ecclesiastical Calendar, such that the date of Easter Sunday can be anytime between 22 March and 25 April. Easter is a festive, but somewhat low-key time of year in Tonga. People are off work and out of school for a while, and they are glad to catch up with family and friends. The large majority of the population in Tonga follows Christianity, though there is a very diverse mix of denominations. Many will attend a special church service and program for Palm Sunday, Good Friday, late on Holy Saturday, or early on Easter Sunday. Most people use Easter Monday as a time to relax and prepare to get back into their ordinary routine next day. It isn’t surprising that Tonga’s sunny, sandy beaches and crystal-blue waters are crowded on Easter Weekend. But less obvious activities many engage in include picnics and sports.

TO SB TC +98
📅 holiday May 1

Labour Day

Labour Day is a major public holiday in Macau, as well as mainland China. The holiday is also called May Day or Workers Day. In 2027, Labour Day falls on Saturday 1 May. The holiday will be on Monday 1 May in 2028. Labour Day on 1 May is an off-work day for those in Macau and mainland China, and it’s a huge tourist day in Macau. As many as 500,000 or more visitors flood into Macau every Labour Day, especially for the years when the holiday creates a long weekend. The gambling industry is the main cause of the tourist surge, as Macau is a gaming centre in the region. The casinos are packed, hotels are sold out, and the streets are crowded with tourists. In addition to being a day of recreation, Labour Day traditionally seeks to draw attention to the contributions and rights of workers to the economy.

MO LA MC +116