Activities are different from location to location. While most locations hold the Chinese New Year 2019 celebrations during 4-10 February, some locations celebrate the occasion as early as 26-27 January or later, from 10-12 February.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is holding the Chinese New Year 2019 celebrations in three main locations, Bangkok at Siam Square and on Yaowarat Road, Chiang Mai at Maya Lifestyle Shopping Centre, and Phuket at Central Phuket Floresta.
The TAT is also supporting independent festivities organised by large ethnic Thai-Chinese communities at several other locations across the country. These communities have a long-standing tradition of hosting New Year activities on a grand scale with each event expressing its own uniqueness. These include Chon Buri (Pattaya), Nakhon Sawan, Suphanburi, Ratchaburi, Ayutthaya, Phetchaburi, Nakhon Ratchasima, Udon Thani, Trang and Songkhla (Hat Yai).
Activities are different from location to location. While most locations hold the Chinese New Year 2019 celebrations during 4-10 February, some locations celebrate the occasion as early as 26-27 January or later, from 10-12 February.
Bangkok
Bangkok’s Yaowarat Road
5-6 February I Chalerm Phrakiat Gate
Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn will preside over the Bangkok Chinatown Festival 2019 in celebration of Chinese New Year. The two-day celebration presents cultural shows from China, dragon parades and lion dances, street stalls selling Chinese food, lantern decorations, an exhibition telling the story of Yaowarat’s Thai-Chinese community, and performances from well-known artists and pop stars.
Bangkok’s Siam Square
4-6 February I Siam Square 5-7
Representatives from the governments of China and Thailand will extend greetings in celebration of the auspicious Year of the Pig. Here, the two-day event features an array of cultural shows from China and Thailand, demonstrations of various Chinese art forms including paper cutting (Jianzhi) and calligraphy, a fair selling goods and auspicious food, and performances from well-known artists and pop stars.
Nakhon Sawan: 103rd Pak Nam Pho Chinese New Year
29 January to 9 February I Riverside beach at the beginning of the Chao Phraya River (Paknam Pho)
Enjoy spectacular processions, including the procession of Chao Pho-Chao Mae Paknam Pho and Chao Mae Kuan-im (Guan Yin), and take part in a range of good luck superstitious rituals plus lucky draws. Other highlights not to miss are acrobatic performances, dragon parades, lion dances, angel parades and cultural performances from China. New Year festive lighting and decoration plus a light-and-sound show add to performances by well-known artists and pop stars.
Chiang Mai
Thailand’s Chinese New Year Festival at Chiang Mai
5-6 February I Maya Lifestyle Shopping Centre
Enjoy cultural shows from China and Thailand, performances from well-known artists and pop stars, and a fair selling Chinese food, products and fashion items.
Chiang Mai China Town Chinese New Year
5-6 February I Kuang Men Road (Lao Zhou alley)
Enjoy a spectacular procession of dragon and lion dances, Chinese cultural and musical performances, Miss Chiang Mai China Town beauty pageant, China Town Kids talent contests, and a food and souvenir fair.
Udon Thani Chinese New Year 2019
5-7 February I Prajak Sillapakom Road, Udon Thani Municipality
Take part in a range of good luck superstitious rituals at Wat Sunthorn Pradit Chinese temple. Other activities include a spectacular procession of lion dances, China Town Kids talent contest, Miss Udon Thani China Town beauty pageant and street stalls selling Chinese food.
Nakhon Ratchasima: Korat Chinese New Year 2019
5-7 February I Chomphon Road (from Chompho Gate to Suanmak Night Bazaar)
With the Korat International Art and Culture Festival taking place from 4-7 February, there are added activities including local and international art and cultural shows, demonstrations of various Chinese art forms including traditional Chinese painting and calligraphy. Enjoy Chinese food eating challenge, China Town Kids talent contest, and a food fair from famous Chinese restaurants.
Ratchaburi China Town 2019
4-7 February I Raj Pracha Pattana Dam, Ratchaburi Municipality
Enjoy cultural performances, a light-and-sound show and a fireworks display, Mister and Miss China Town beauty pageant, Little Mister and Miss China Town Kids contest, spectacular Chinese New Year procession, and a charity cooking of auspicious Chinese noodle in a giant pan.
Ayutthaya: The 13th Ancient Capital Miracle Chinese New Year
6-11 February I Naresuan Road, Ayutthaya Municipality
Pay homage to the guardian spirits of Ayutthaya at 108 shrines. Enjoy shrine parade contest from 16 districts; lantern decoration contest; spectacular procession of lion dances, dragon dances and acrobats; Miss China Town and Little Miss China Town pageants plus cultural shows and performances by well-known bands and singers.
Phetchaburi Chinese New Year 2019
5-6 February I Surin Ruechai Road (18 Road), Mueang District
Pay homage to Chinese gods and the guardian spirits of Phetchaburi. Enjoy a charity cooking of auspicious Chinese noodle in a giant pan, lion and dragon dances, traditional Chinese dances and acrobats, as well as performances by youths and well-known bands and singers.
Suphanburi Chinese New Year 2019
5-7 February I Dragon Descendants Museum
Pay homage to the province’s guardian spirits at Suphanburi City Pillar Shrine. Enjoy ‘Dragon Descendants’ performances comprising lion dances, drum dances, dragon dances, martial art shows, thousand-hand Guan Yin dances and face-changing opera (bian lian) shows. Shop at a local fair.
Chon Buri
Pattaya Chinese New Year 2019
5 February I Central Pattaya Beach and Walking Street
Enjoy Thai-Chinese cultural performances, lion and dragon dances, exhibition on Chinese New Year and live concerts from famous bands and singers.
Ban Chak Ngaeo Community Chinese New Year
2-10 February I Chak Ngaeo Community
Enjoy Chinese New Year celebration in an old community including Chinese opera’s mask painting at an ancient opium den and opera house, traditional Chinese dances from a local school, lion dances, Chinese calligraphy and a local community fair.
Ko Si Chang Chinese New Year and Pay Homage to Chao Pho Khao Yai
26-27 January I Ko Si Chang
Pay homage to Chao Pho Khao Yai, the guardian spirit of Ko Si Chang, and other guardian spirits and Chinese gods for New Year blessings.
Chinese New Year 2019 at Dhamma Rasmi Maneerat Foundation – Nacha Sa Thai Chue Shrine
4-10 February I Dhamma Rasmi Maneerat Foundation – Nacha Sa Thai Chue Shrine
Pay homage to Nacha Sa Thai Chue God and take part in merit-making rituals.
Songkhla: Hat Yai Chinese New Year 2019
5-8 February I Sri Nakhon Foundation School, Hat Yai
Enjoy dragon parades with a 20-metre-long giant dragon and lion dances from Nakhon Sawan, cultural performances from China, China Town Kid talent contest, Miss Hatyai Chinese beauty pageant, and an authentic Chinese food fair. Chinese lantern decorations and handing of 999 auspicious fruits (Chinese peach) for good luck and prosperity.
Phuket
Thailand’s Chinese New Year Festival at Phuket
5-6 February I Central Phuket Floresta
Enjoy cultural shows from China and Thailand, performances from well-known artists and pop stars, and a fair selling Chinese food, products and fashion items.
20th Phuket’s Old Town Chinese New Year
10-12 February I Phuket’s Old Town Plaza
Enjoy a spectacular procession through Phuket’s Old Town, lantern decorations, cultural performances and a local Phuket food fair.
Trang Chinese New Year 2019
3-5 February I Trang Clock Tower Circle
Enjoy a wide variety of auspicious Chinese food and snack cooked by the who’s who of Trang, try a hand at do-it-yourself workshops and fruit carving. Take part in a special merit-making package tour.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
