Chinese New Year festival

BANGKOK Tourism Authority of Thailand highlights 12 venues for Chinese New Year celebration nationwide, this month.
The nation’s biggest Chinese New Year celebrations will take place in Bangkok’s Chinatown on Yaowarat Road, with cultural displays and performances, but festivities take place in most towns throughout the kingdom, wherever there are Chinese communities.
Celebration dates vary depending on community activities, but New Year’s Day falls on 19 February, when residents welcome the Year of the Goat.
TAT governor Thawatchai Arunyik said: “Over the years festivities have taken on a distinctly Thai hue and have been incorporated into Thailand’s annual festival calendar. So as part of the “2015 Discover Thainess” campaign, TAT would like to invite local and international tourists to experience the Sino-Thai fun in one of the year’s best-loved celebrations.”
inside no 4The 12 highlighted venues
Nakhon Sawan (12 to 23 February): Enjoy a spectacular procession of Chao Pho-Chao Mae Paknam Pho and Chao Mae Kuan-im (Guan Yin) as well as acrobatic performances, dragon parades, lion dances, angel parades and cultural performances from China. The event will take place on the banks of the Chao Phraya River in the area of Paknam Pho Market.
Trang (17 to 21 February): Thai people of Chinese descent in Trang will showcase their famous local dishes, including the ever-popular grilled pork. The celebration, to be held at the Clock Tower Plaza in Mueang Trang. There will also be folk performances indigenous to Trang, cultural dances from China and the Little Miss Ang-Pao contest.
Phetchaburi (18 to 19 February): In Mueang Phetchaburi, visitors will be able to enjoy spectacular processions of dragon and lion dances and pay homage to a pantheon of 22 Chinese gods. Other highlights include a Miss China Mueang Phet pageant, and a Mr and Miss Chinatown contest. There will also be cultural performances staged by students from various schools and a family fun fair.
inside no 4.2Chiang Mai (18 to 20 February): Enjoy a spectacular procession of dragon and lion dances, Chinese cultural and musical performances, at the city’s Trok Lao Zhou.
Nakhon Ratchasima (18 to 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.
Ratchaburi (18 to 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 to 22 February): Enjoy 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.
Hat Yai (18 to 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.
Bangkok’s Yaowarat Road (19 to 20 February): Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn will preside over the Bangkok Chinatown Festival 2015 in celebration of Chinese New Year. Enjoy 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.
inside no 4.1Suphanburi (19 to 21 February): The Suphanburi Chinese New Year Festival of “7 Years Miraculous Dragon” will take place at the Dragon Descendants Museum. Highlights include multimedia shows and Chinese cultural performances.
Ayutthaya (20 to 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.
Phuket (26 to 28 February): Phuket’s Old Town Plaza is the venue for a grand procession to honour His Majesty the 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.