Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu has announced a wide range of events and offers for National Day on October 1, 2025. Celebrating the 76th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, the festivities will include a drone show and fireworks display over Victoria Harbour, free tram and ferry rides, and discounted tickets at major attractions and cinemas across the city. You can also look forward to over 1,000 shopping and dining promotions, along with giveaways at museums, parks, and leisure venues.
Drone show, fireworks and flag-raising ceremony
This year’s celebrations will begin with a Flag Raising Ceremony and National Day Reception at the Golden Bauhinia Square in Wan Chai.
In the evening, a 15-minute drone show will light up the Wan Chai waterfront ahead of the fireworks, with 1,200 drones creating formations such as the national flag, a landmark junk boat, the Shandong aircraft carrier, and symbols of the National Games. The exact timing will depend on weather conditions.
At 8pm, the 2025 National Day Fireworks Display will light up Victoria Harbour with the theme “Victoria Harbour Fireworks Shine Across the Motherland”. The 23-minute spectacle will feature over 30,000 shells across eight segments, from tributes to aerospace achievements and Nezha, a guardian deity in Chinese folklore, to the finale “Forging Ahead on the Road to Rejuvenation”, filling the sky with gold, silver and red. Secure your spot early at the best places to watch the fireworks for free!
Free rides on trams, ferries and buses
On October 1, all tram rides will be free. Children using Octopus cards can ride most KMB, Long Win Bus, Citybus and New Lantao Bus daytime services for free.
Star Ferry rides between Central and Tsim Sha Tsui, as well as New World First Ferry’s “North Point – Hung Hom” and “North Point – Kowloon City” routes, will be free.
Fortune Ferry will also distribute 2,000 complimentary vouchers for the “Central–Hung Hom” and “North Point–Kwun Tong–Kai Tak” routes, while passengers celebrating birthdays on the day can ride selected services for free.
MTR lucky draw for free tickets
The MTR will give away 76,000 free single journey e-tickets through a one-day lucky draw on the “MTR Mobile” app. These include 60,000 local journeys, 10,000 cross-boundary tickets to Lo Wu or Lok Ma Chau, and 6,000 Airport Express rides. The draw will be open from 9am to 6pm on October 1, with winners redeeming their tickets within a specified period.
Entertainment and attractions
Cinemas across Hong Kong will once again offer 50% off movie tickets on October 1, expected to attract over 190,000 fans.
The LCSD will open all leisure facilities and fee-charging sports venues for free, while museums including the Science Museum, Space Museum and Hong Kong Museum of Art will waive admission.
Hong Kong Wetland Park will also be free to enter. Ocean Park will offer 15% off admission from October 1–5 , and Ngong Ping 360 will run 24% off discounts on children’s tickets.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club will host a National Day Race Day at Sha Tin Racecourse with free entry, festive performances, and themed food. The public can also enjoy free admission to the Happy Valley Racecourse Public Enclosure.
Shopping and dining offers
More than 100 shopping centres, department stores and the Hong Kong International Airport will roll out special promotions, from double reward points to buy-one-get-one dining offers. Over 1,000 restaurants and eateries will also offer special deals and packages. Further details are available on the official website.
Header Image Credit: Hong Kong Tourism Board,, National Day76 website
