CHINESE NEW YEAR IN BANGKOK
As usual, it will be in Chinatown Chinatown and more particularly in and around Yaowarat Road that most of the festivities will take place especially on January 25th and 26th.
Wat Mangkon (also known as Wat Leng Noei Yi will be the temple with the most people and animation for the occasion with in particular food stalls. In addition, it is practical because it is now served by the metro (see MRT metro map in Bangkok ) The big Chinese door next to Wat Tramit will be the other epicenter of the events.
The opening ceremony on Yaowarat Road on January 25 will be chaired by Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn as well as senior officials from the Thai Minister of Tourism and Sports, TAT, and the Chinese Minister of Culture and Tourism .
I did not manage to get the schedules of the parades and lion dances. Based on the 2019 program, it should take place around noon on January 5 but no certainty. In the evening, there should be cultural shows, masked theater, folk dances, concerts from 7 p.m. until midnight (see program for Chinese New Year in Bangkok last year ) .
Note that the Tourist Authority of Thailand (TAT) will have a stand to distribute the commemorative coin of its 60th anniversary. The face of the coin is the image of the Wat Traimit Golden Buddha. The front is marked with the “zodiac sign of the Year of the Rat” painted by Mr. Han Meilin, Chinese national artist, as well as the inscription in Chinese wishing everyone a happy, prosperous and safe year. Because 2020 will be the year of the Rat.
Otherwise at Siam Square , there will be cultural performances (Beijing handicapped dance troupe, dance and musical) Jiangxi troupe, Shanxi acrobatic troupe, Henan Kung Fu troupe, Jilin dance troupe and dance dance troupe Inner Mongolia) at 5 p.m. on January 24 and from 24 to 26 inclusive, Chinese-style decorations with a lucky tunnel, altar with Chinese gods, cooking demonstrations, Chinese cultural shows, Chinese calligraphy workshops and Xiangqi (Chinese chess ) as well as Thai pop concerts.
Other notable events include an exhibition of signs of the zodiac by Chinese national artist Han Meilin, from January 21 to 27, 2020, at the Fashion Hall of Siam Paragon, and from January 20 to February 9, 2020 in China. Cultural Center in Bangkok.
CHINESE NEW YEAR IN CHIANG MAI
Despite two emails and a call to the Tourist Office of the city again this morning, impossible to more information than the dates (which I already had), from 24th to 26th January 2020, and the general content of the festival without any time schedule. So there too, I will rely on the programs from previous years, I think it should be quite similar for the 2020 edition of the Chinese New Year in Chiang Mai .
The epicenter of the festivities will be near the Warorot market. While the end of Chiang Moi Road and Wichayanon Road will host a lot of street food stalls.
There will a stage hosting speeches, traditional Chinese shows, children’s and miss contests. It is also in this area that will take place each evening one or more evening dragon parades around 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. (if it is like in 2018 and 2019). Not to be missed, this is probably the most spectacular moment of the festival.
There will also be Chinese cultural shows and miss and children’s contests every night on the stage starting from around 7 p.m.
To give you a little overview, here is what it looked like in 2018 knowing that a priori, there will not be the morning parade this year (but again nothing sure).
There will also be events organized by shopping centers including the MAYA Lifestyle Shopping Mall but it will be much more interesting and traditional at the Warorot Market.
CHINESE NEW YEAR IN PHUKET
The big Chinese New Year festival in the old town of Phuket is organized almost a week after the actual Chinese New Year date. It will take place this year from January 31 to February 2, 2020. I don’t have any details either, but I hope to get them in a few days.
CHINESE NEW YEAR IN OTHER CITIES IN THAILAND
Suphanburi 2 hours drive from Bangkok should host a huge Chinese New Year festival on January 25 and 26 around the Dragon Descendants Museum.
In Pattaya , there will be cultural performances and lion and dragon dances on the Pattaya Central Beach stage. Walking Street should also host some shows.
Nakhon Sawan is also famous for its Chinese New Year organized at Pak Nam Pho on the banks of the river. There will be processions including those of Chao Pho-Chao, Mae Paknam Pho and Chao Mae Kuan-im (Guan Yin) and a series of superstitious rituals and sweepstakes. Also on the program are acrobatic shows, parades of dragons and lion dances, parades of angels and cultural shows from China.
In Udon Thani , the festivities will be mainly concentrated on Prajak Sillapakom Road. There will be a series of superstitious rituals of good fortune at the Chinese temple Wat Sunthorn Pradit but it is a whole part of the city which will come alive. Other activities include a spectacular parade of lion dances, the China Town Kids talent contest, the Miss Udon Thani China Town beauty contest, and street stalls selling Chinese food.
In Korat au, being the name of Nakhon Ratchasima, the heart of the festivities will be Chomphon Road (from Chompho gate to the Suanmak night bazaar).
In Ratchaburi , it will be at the Raj Pracha Pattana dam.
In Ayutthaya , the festivities should mainly take place on Naresuan Road.
In Trang , it will be the circle of the Trang clock tower which will host the festival.
In Koh Samui , it seems that the biggest celebrations will take place in Nathon. At the Hainan Temple, in town and at the port . There will also be celebrations at the Chinese temple of Maenam and at the great Guan Yu Shrine but I do not have the details or the schedules.
And of course, wherever you are, go see the Chinese temples.
Do not forget to regularly check the events in Thailand page for the dates of upcoming festivals in the country.
