The Chiang Mai Flower Festival features the Grand Golden Pavilion and the Dream Garden as eye-catching highlights

By Liu Jiawen, reporting

Since its opening last year (2011) in December, the Chiang Mai Flower Expo has attracted many visitors, with the exhibition period running until March 14 of this year. The event is held at the 80-hectare Royal Rajapruek Park (Royal Rajapruek Park), with a total of 30 countries participating. The exhibition period coincides with the 84th birthday of the King of Thailand, the 80th birthday of the Queen, and the 60th birthday of the Prince, making the celebration of these three important royal occasions a highlight of this year's flower expo. Throughout the exhibition area, photos of the three royal family members can often be seen, and there is also a Royal Products Zone showcasing the results of organic crop farming in remote areas guided by the royal family.

The Grand Golden Pavilion (The Royal Pavilion) is one of the must-see pavilions at the Chiang Mai Flower Expo. Its exterior imitates the office hall of early Chiang Mai kings and is built in the Lanna architectural style. Inside, it displays many photos of the Thai King’s participation in teak development activities. This year’s flower expo also introduced the Dream Garden (Imagination Light Garden) exhibition area for the first time. At night, you can admire various butterflies, flowers, and leaves made from millions of small bulbs and fluorescent tubes, emitting a mesmerizing glow, making you feel as if you are in a virtual garden. If you’re tired from walking, you might want to take a ride on the 40-meter-tall Giant Flora Wheel to overlook the beautiful scenery of the entire park. Each ride lasts about 15 minutes.

The Chiang Mai Flower Expo is open daily from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM, and extended to 10:00 PM on holidays. Tickets are sold on-site. Due to the large area of the park, shuttle bus services are available at the venue, with a total of 12 stops for getting on and off, for which additional tickets are required. Visitors can also take advantage of free shuttle buses provided from Chiang Mai Railway Station and the City Hall, which take passengers directly to the flower expo site. For more information, visit the official website of the Chiang Mai Flower Expo: www.royalflora2011.com.