By Linda Khoo Hui Li
(This is the final part of a three-part series regarding the festivities and preparations on the run-up to the Chinese New Year celebration during this weekend in Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia. The series focuses on Bangkok, Thailand)
BANGKOK, Feb 10 (Bernama) — A sea of red washes over Yaowarat Road, Bangkok’s vibrant Chinatown. Glowing lanterns illuminate the night sky, while banners emblazoned with auspicious greetings transform the cityscape into a dazzling spectacle, welcoming the Year of the Dragon.
At the Chalermphrakiat Gate at Odeon Circle near Yaowarat Road, lanterns, festive adornments, and the illuminated ‘Tunnel of the Golden Dragon’ with the theme “Celebrating the Golden Year” add another layer of wonder to the celebrations.
This year, Bangkok’s Chinatown prepares to usher in the Lunar New Year with a roar, ready to embrace a future filled with hope and prosperity.
Throngs of excited locals and tourists descended upon Chinatown as dusk settled, eager to experience the vibrant and lively festivities of the Chinese New Year.
Many proudly embraced the cultural spirit, adorned in vibrant cheongsams (qipaos) and elegant changshans, adding another layer of festivity to the already bustling celebration.
Vendors lined the streets, offering Chinese New Year decorations alongside traditional Chinese costumes and mandatory red shirts. The air, thick with anticipation, resonated with the joyous sounds of laughter and music, enveloping everyone in the spirited ambiance of the New Year celebrations.
“The vibrant decorations, infectious energy, and warm hospitality at Bangkok’s Chinatown this Chinese New Year have left me truly impressed and delighted. The celebration offers a delightful taste of the Lunar New Year close to home,” Guo Yuhang, a tourist from Kunming, China, told Bernama.
Guo, who is visiting Bangkok to celebrate Chinese New Year with family, added that amidst the lively dragon dances and vibrant lantern displays, the Lunar New Year celebration blends tradition with modern flair, promising a festive fusion of joy and cultural richness.
“Besides Chinatown, the shopping malls across the city are adorned with Chinese New Year decorations and are hosting special celebrations, adding to the lively festive atmosphere that fills the city as it welcomes the Year of the Dragon.
“Cultural performances including special shows from China were held at shopping malls offer visiting tourists and locals a holistic and auspicious experience,” she said.
Despite not being a national holiday, the festival holds immense significance for Thailand’s sizable Chinese community, estimated at over 8 million. This community forms the oldest and most significant ethnic Chinese community in Southeast Asia.
For Thai-Chinese, Vilasinee Pokuladit the Lunar New Year celebration holds a special place in her heart.
“I always look forward to our family’s annual Chinese New Year gathering and receiving red packets (ang pao). It is the one time of the year when the whole family gathers to cook and eat together, filling the house with laughter and the aroma of delicious traditional dishes.
“I always get excited to receive red packets, believing they bring good luck. This beautiful way to connect with our heritage allows me to shower them with good wishes for the year ahead. While I am working, I hand over red packets to the elders. I want to keep this tradition alive,” she said.
Despite no public holiday for Chinese New Year, members of the Chinese community here will take at least a day off work to celebrate with their loved ones.
On the eve of Chinese New Year, families gather to pray and pay respect to their ancestors, followed by a reunion lunch or dinner together at home.
Besides Bangkok, this year, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is also providing support to mark Chinese New Year 2024 in five unique locations with large Thai-Chinese communities, namely Nakhon Sawan, Chiang Mai, Songkhla, Suphan Buri, and Ratchaburi, adding to the rich tapestry of cultural festivities across Thailand.
Thailand has been the gateway for Chinese tourists to celebrate the auspicious day. Fueled by revitalized tourism industry measures, including visa-free entry, Thailand anticipates a surge in Chinese visitors this Chinese New Year, with millions set to arrive for the festive celebrations.
Secretary to the Minister of Tourism and Sports Kitti Chaodee said Thailand is known for hosting one of the biggest Chinese New Year celebrations outside of China is projected expects to welcome 995,000 visitors and generate 28.39 billion baht in revenue during the Chinese New Year week (February 7 to 15).
“Given the favourable factor of tourist visa exemption, Chinese arrivals are expected to reach 177,000 visitors and generate 6.2 billion baht in revenue. Domestic travel is expected to stand at two million trips with 6 billion baht spending,” he said.
— BERNAMA
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