Fluorescent beauty dances and the Thousand-Hand Guanyin face-changing show—Thailand also celebrates Chinese New Year in style

▲Taiwan celebrates the new year in high spirits, and Thailand’s Chinatowns also host festive events. (Photo / Provided by Tourism Authority of Thailand)

Travel Centre / Comprehensive Report

While Taiwan greets the new year with enthusiasm, Thailand, with its culture closely linked to Chinese traditions, also features many festive activities, mostly from mid- to late February. Don’t miss them if you’re on holiday then. Here are the top Chinese New Year celebrations in Thailand:

Bangkok Chinatown Chinese New Year Art & Culture Festival
Dates: February 19–20, 2015
The Chinese New Year celebration on Yaowarat Road in Bangkok is the most important festival for the local Chinese community. As one of the city’s main neighborhoods with a large Chinese population, visitors can experience the wide variety of goods on display in shopping centers and savor authentic, delicious Chinese cuisine. During the New Year festivities, there are also numerous performances showcasing both Thai and Chinese cultures, as everyone celebrates the new year joyfully—locals dress up in festive red clothing. Moreover, the entire stretch of Yaowarat Road offers plenty of local Chinese food and goods for visitors to explore and shop.

Suphan Buri Chinese New Year Religious Festival
Dates: February 19–21, 2015
The celebration will take place in front of the Museum of the Dragon Descendants in Suphan Buri. The New Year festival program includes Chinese cultural performances and thrilling highlights such as fluorescent beauty dances, drum light shows, the Thousand-Hand Guanyin, face-changing acts, Chinese opera, acrobatic performances, and traditional Chinese folk dances. In the evening, a spectacular fireworks display will cap off the festivities.

Nakhon Sawan Chinese New Year Religious Festival
Dates: February 12–23, 2015
Nakhon Sawan’s Chinese New Year celebration features an 11-day grand festival held at Chao Poh Pak Nam Pho. Highlights include special stunt performances like climbing over 10-meter-high poles to retrieve cash prizes hung at the top. Locals will pay homage to the highly revered deities Chao Phor and Chao Mae Pak Nam Pho. Visitors are also invited to join blessing and merit-making activities at the Lan Boom Thepachao Chinese Temple.

Phuket Chinese New Year Religious Festival
Dates: February 26–28, 2015
During this period, there will be numerous exciting celebrations, including vibrant cultural, folk, traditional, and lifestyle performances that showcase the colorful life of Phuket. Visitors can also enjoy rare Portuguese-style stage performances and participate in worship activities for the highly revered Chinese Goddess of Mercy (Guanyin) and other deities.