Double Ten Day
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Image:Double-tenth-symbol.jpg Double Tenth Day (Traditional Chinese: 雙十節; pinyin: Shuāng Shí Jié) is the national day of the Republic of China (ROC; now in Taiwan) and celebrates the start of the Wuchang Uprising of October 10, 1911 (1911-10-10), which led to the collapse of the Qing dynasty. It is therefore also known in Chinese as National Celebration Day (Traditional Chinese: 國慶日; pinyin: Guóqìng Rì).
In Taiwan, the day typically starts off with a military and public parade through the streets of Taipei and in front of the Presidential Office Building. Later in the day, the President of the Republic of China addresses the country and fireworks displays are held throughout the major cities of the island.
Outside of Taiwan, Double Tenth Day is also celebrated by many Overseas Chinese communities, such as parades in Chinatowns of San Francisco, California and Chicago, Illinois.
Before the sovereignty of Hong Kong was transferred to the PRC in 1997, many ROC supporters there would display patriotic and colorful flags (mainly the national flag of ROC) to celebrate Double Tenth Day. Since the transfer of sovereignty to the mainland, the anniversary of the Xinhai Revolution continues to be celebrated, but not under the "Double Tenth Day" name. Much larger festivities now occur on October 1, the National Day of the PRC.
