Hong Kong, China - Jan 1, 2026 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
1. Honor guard escorting Chinese national flag, flag of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) to flagpoles
2. Various of flag-raising ceremony in progress, Chinese national anthem being played, spectators

Macao, China - Jan 1, 2026 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
3. Various of honor guard escorting Chinese national flag, Macao SAR flag to flagpoles
4. Various of flag-raising ceremony in progress, spectators, student saluting
5. Golden Lotus sculpture
6. Chinese national flag, Macao SAR flag

China's Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions (SARs) held solemn flag-raising ceremonies on Thursday morning to mark the start of the new year.

At 08:00, as the national anthem resounded, the Chinese national flag and the Hong Kong SAR flag were slowly and majestically hoisted at Hong Kong's Golden Bauhinia Square.

The ceremony drew attendees from all walks of life, who gathered to express their heartfelt wishes for Hong Kong and the motherland in the year ahead.

In Macao, honor guard from the Macao SAR Public Security Police Force escorted the national flag and the Macao SAR flag into the Golden Lotus Square.

As the national anthem was played, both flags were raised slowly and solemnly, fluttering proudly in the morning breeze.