Taiwan: National Day / Double Ten day

Taiwan’s National Day, also known as Double Ten Day, is observed on October 10. The date commemorates the Wuchang Uprising of October 10, 1911, a pivotal event that helped bring about the end of China’s imperial rule and the founding of the Republic of China.

Across Taiwan, the occasion is marked with official ceremonies, flag displays, concerts, cultural performances, and festive gatherings. The day offers an opportunity to reflect on Taiwan’s history and democratic development while celebrating the people, culture, and shared spirit that shape life on the island.

Taiwan: National Day / Double Ten Day is observed on October 10. Its origins lie in the Wuchang Uprising, which began on October 10, 1911, and helped launch the Xinhai Revolution against China’s Qing dynasty. The revolution led to the establishment of the Republic of China (ROC), formally proclaimed on January 1, 1912. Because the uprising became the symbolic starting point of the republican movement, October 10 was selected as the ROC’s national day.

The observance developed during the early decades of the Republic of China and continued to represent the ideals associated with the 1911 revolution, including republican government, national renewal, and resistance to imperial rule. Taiwan was under Japanese rule from 1895 until 1945, so the holiday’s significance on the island became especially prominent after the ROC administration took control following World War II. After the ROC government relocated to Taiwan in 1949, October 10 remained its principal national celebration.

The name “Double Ten” comes from the date’s numerical form, 10/10. Public commemorations commonly include flag-raising ceremonies, official addresses, cultural performances, military displays, and other civic events. The central ceremony is generally held in Taipei, where government leaders reflect on the ROC’s history and discuss contemporary national priorities. Related celebrations may also take place in communities throughout Taiwan and among overseas Taiwanese and ROC-affiliated organizations.

For many people in Taiwan, the day carries both historical and civic meaning. It recalls the revolutionary events that ended Qing rule while also serving as an occasion to recognize Taiwan’s modern democratic institutions, social development, and collective identity. Although political interpretations of the ROC’s history and constitutional future differ, October 10 continues to be a major public observance and an important annual expression of Taiwan’s political heritage.