Macao Marks 77th Anniversary of the PRC: Flag-Raising at Golden Lotus Square as Security Forces Debut Chinese-Style Drill
MACAO — The Macao SAR Government held a flag-raising ceremony at Golden Lotus Square in the new port district at 8 a.m. on October 1 to mark the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai officiated, joined by representatives of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in Macao, the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Macao and the People's Liberation Army Macao Garrison, along with principal officials and community representatives. Local broadcaster TDM carried the ceremony live.
This year's ceremony featured a first: the colour party, formed by the Public Security Police special unit, and the guard of honour drawn from the police, fire services, customs and the police band marched in using Chinese-style drill for the first time. The Executive Council had earlier completed discussion of amendments to the salute and ceremonial regulations introducing the Chinese-style drill, which took effect on October 1. Members of a Macao youth flag team that had travelled to Beijing for related activities also attended, alongside residents who gathered early to watch.
A National Day reception followed at 9:30 a.m. at the Complex of Commerce and Trade Co-operation Platform for China and Portuguese-speaking Countries. In his remarks, Sam said Macao would build on national support and its positioning as a world tourism and leisure centre, a China–Portuguese-speaking countries platform and a base for exchange, press ahead with appropriate economic diversification, and advance the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin.
Festivities ran across the city on the first day of the holiday: the Sports Bureau staged its National Day fun run from Golden Lotus Square, the Post and Telecommunications Bureau offered commemorative postmarks, and the Grand Prix Museum, Macao Museum and Macao Science Center opened free of charge. The 34th Macao International Fireworks Display Contest lit up the waters off the Macau Tower that evening, with a carnival along the Science Center waterfront. Temporary pedestrian zones also operated in the Rua dos Ervanários area and the old town of Taipa from October 1 to 6.
Sources: Compiled from the Macao SAR Government's published National Day programme and Xinhua and People's Daily Overseas Edition reporting of October 1, 2026.
Source: 澳门特区政府
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 澳门金莲花广场，LN9267 摄，CC BY-SA 4.0（Wikimedia Commons）
