Happy Lunar New Year and Year of the Goat! Make it different this year and come celebrate one of the most festive cultural events of the year in Thailand!
Due to the big influence of Chinese immigrants in every corner of the world, the Chinese New Year is celebrated worldwide including New York, London, Paris, Sydney, Tokyo, and even in Thailand where the Chinese community is one of the largest.
This festival has been celebrated for thousands of years based on the Chinese Lunar Calendar, and in Thailand, the Chinese had settled in Thailand hundreds of years before Bangkok was even established. The biggest Chinese community is in Chinatown (Yaowarat). Over the years, the Chinese New Year festivities have taken on a distinctly Thai hue and have been incorporated into Thailand’s annual cycle of festivals. These events spread out from Chinatown to other major roads throughout Bangkok and are even attended by the Thai Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn who comes every year and takes a special part.
This year, as part of the “2015 Discover Thainess” campaign, The Tourism Authority of Thailand is inviting local and international travellers to join the festivities planned for the Chinese Lunar New Year in Thailand, with the biggest event taking place in Bangkok’s Chinatown on Yaowarat Road, with cultural displays and fun performances plus the Royal Princess will be in attendance. The following are the best places to visit for a very festive and memorable experience of the Chinese New Year in Thailand.
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Bangkok’s Yaowarat Road (19-20 February): Revellers will enjoy the exquisite cultural performances from China, dragon parades and lion dances, street stalls selling Chinese food, lantern decorations, and an exhibition telling the story of Yaowarat’s Thai-Chinese community.
Trang (17-21 February): Thai people of Chinese descent in Trang will showcase its famous local dishes, including the ever-popular grilled pork. The celebration, to be held at the Clock Tower Plaza in Mueang Trang, will also present folk performances indigenous to Trang, cultural dances from China and the Little Miss Ang-Pao contest.
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Ratchaburi (18-22 February): The Ratchaburi Chinatown 2015 will feature spectacular cultural performances, contests to crown Mr. and Miss Chinatown and exciting multimedia shows. These will all take place around the Ratchaburi National Museum.
Pattaya (18-22 February): Guests will be stunned with the spectacular lion and dragon dances acrobatically performed atop a high wooden pole, Modern Chinese cultural performances will make use of multimedia but there will also be magic shows and a Miss Pattaya China Girl talent. Events will take place at Wat Bueng Bowon Sathit and Lan Pho Naklua.
Phuket (26-28 February): This is held at Phuket’s Old Town Plaza, and visitors are invited to take part in a grand procession to honour His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, a parade to showcase Thailand’s readiness to be a part of the ASEAN Economic Community and a sacred ceremony to pay homage to Guan Yin or the Goddess of Mercy. Enjoy cultural performances from China, Ramwong Thai circle dance and youth music shows.
Hat Yai (18-22 February): The Hat Yai Chinese New Year Festival 2015 will take place at the Sri Nakhon Foundation School with spectacular dragon parades and lion dances as well as the China Kid 2015 and Miss Chinese 2015 contests. There will also be a fireworks display and cultural performances. Don’t miss the chance to enjoy the beautiful decorations of lanterns, another highlight of Hat Yai’s Lunar New Year.
Chiang Mai (19-20 February): Enjoy a spectacular procession of dragon and lion dances, Chinese cultural and musical performances, at the city’s Trok Lao Zhou.
Ayutthaya (20-25 February): The Ancient Capital Miracle Chinese New Year will take place at the Chao Phrom Market with cultural performances from China as well as a Thai country music concert. Also to be enjoyed will be a Miss China Contest, singing and talent shows and a lantern decorating competition. Make time to pay homage to the guardian spirits of Ayutthaya at 108 shrines across the province.
Nakhon Ratchasima (18-20 February): Local and international visitors will get the chance to celebrate the Chinese New Year and take home memories of a meaningful and memorable experience. The Monument of Thao Suranaree (Yamo) and Mueang Thong Garden will be decorated and divided into six zones in accordance with the teachings of the ancient Chinese philosopher-educator Kong Qiu (Confucius). Visitors will enjoy dragon parades and lion dances as well as experience a range of cultural performances.
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You can see that the festivities will take place up and down the kingdom of Thailand. No matter where you are, you can celebrate the Chinese New Year in Thailand. Our useful tips for you is to bring your camera with lots of memory because you will be so busy taking a lot of pictures. And if you be a part of the event, you can also buy candles and incenses to light as an offering in the Chinese temples. We hope your experience of the Chinese New Year in Thailand will be an unforgettable one and you will have a wonderful time!
