Sino-Thai trade and cultural ties span the centuries. In times past, sea-farers, marine merchants and traders sailed up the kingdom’s rivers with vessels laden with merchandise and precious goods including Chinese tea, silk and fine porcelain. As trade between the two countries flourished, permanent settlements of peoples of various ethnic Chinese origin were soon established. While the early settlers quickly adapted to their new way of life and adopted Thai ways, they also continued to maintain strong cultural ties and practiced the customs and traditions diligently observed by their forefathers. Of these, the celebration of the Chinese New Year remains the most important of annual festivals on the Chinese lunar calendar observed in the various regions of Thailand.

“Chinese New Year in China Town in Thailand” will take place from 23 January to 4 February 2009. Festive celebrations are typically staged in areas where there is a significant Thai-Chinese community such as the Yaowarat district in Bangkok and in the provinces of Ayutthaya, Ratchaburi and Suphan Buri in Central Thailand; in Chon Buri/Pattaya on the Eastern Seaboard; Phuket and Songkhla (Hat Yai district) in the South, Nakhon Ratchasima in the Northeast, Nakhon Sawan and Chiang Mai in the North.

During the event, there will be seven amazing performances from seven regions and provinces of China, namely, the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in Southern China, Hainan Province bordering the South China Sea, Shandong Province, Anhui Province, Heilongjiang Autonomous Region, the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and Jilin Province, with the installation of the “Kuan Im Goddess” being presented as an additional highlight. HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn will preside over the opening ceremony at Yaowarat — Bangkok’s China Town — on 26 January, 2009.

With the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) receiving the full support of the public and private sector and the active involvement of the Chinese Embassy, airlines, and other related organizations, the Chinese New Year festivities being held in Bangkok’s Chinatown and the following key provinces, namely, Phuket, Nakhon Sawan, Songkhla (Hat Yai district), Chon Buri (Pattaya district), Chiang Mai, and Nakhon Ratchasima are being hosted on a grand scale.

While a variety of contemporary elements have been incorporated through the passage of time, Chinese New Year celebrations throughout Thailand are a reminder of the rich cultural and artistic legacy and wealth of history preserved in these ‘living museums’.

The 2009 Chinese New Year Festival is being jointly organized by TAT, the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, the Embassy Of The People’s Republic Of China in Thailand in Bangkok on behalf of the Central People's Government of the People's Republic of China, Bangkok’s Samphantawong district, Samphantawong community and Thai-Chinese associations throughout Thailand.

CENTRAL THAILAND
	BANGKOK CHINA TOWN CHINESE NEW YEAR FESTIVAL 2009 Yaowarat district of Bangkok 26-27 January 2009
	BANGKOK: CHINESE NEW YEAR CELEBRATIONS AT CENTRAL WORLD At CentralWorld, Bangkok 26 January 2009 from 13.00 hrs. onwards
	AYUTTHAYA CHINESE NEW YEAR FESTIVAL 2009 District of Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Ayutthaya province 27-31 January 2009 Along Naresuan Road from Talat Chao Prom market to the Chao Ai Chao Yee Shrine
	RATCHABURI CHINA TOWN CHINESE NEW YEAR FESTIVAL 2009 23- 31 January 2009 Along the main city streets in the Ratchaburi provincial centre
	SUPHAN BURI CHINESE NEW YEAR FESTIVAL 2009 At the Suphan Buri City Pillar Shrine in Suphan Buri 25 January - 8 February 2009
EASTERN SEABOARD
	PATTAYA CHINESE NEW YEAR FESTIVAL 2009 At the Central Festival Shopping Center by Pattaya Beach and South Pattaya Port (Bali Hai Pier) in Pattaya 24, 26-27 January 2009
SOUTHERN THAILAND
	PHUKET CHINESE NEW YEAR - 10TH OLD PHUKET FESTIVAL 31 January - 2 February, 2009/ 18.00 - 23.00 hrs. At Queen's Park, Along Thalang Road, Krabi Road, and Soi Rommani
	SONGKHLA: HAT YAI CHINESE NEW YEAR 2009 At the Hat Yai Municipality Public Park and Sanehanusorn Road, Hat Yai city centre 26-28 January 2009
NORTHERN THAILAND
	NAKHON SAWAN – PAK NAM PHO – CHINESE NEW YEAR FESTIVAL 2009 Downtown, Amphoe Mueang (provincial centre), Nakhon Sawan 19-30 January, 2009
	CHIANG MAI CHINESE NEW YEAR 2009 Along Kuang Meru Road., China Town in Chiang Mai 26-27 January 2009
NORTHEASTERN THAILAND
	NAKHON RATCHASIMA CHINESE NEW YEAR FESTIVAL 2009 Thao Suranari Monument, Nakhon Ratchasima provincial centre (Amphoe Mueang) 26-27 January, 2009

	NEWS ROOM GUIDE TO CHINA TOWN
	CHINESE NEW YEAR FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS Fire-crackers. Lion Dance. Procession of the Golden Dragon.
	YAWARAT FOOD STREET
	YAOWARAT DELIGHT — RESTAURANT LISTINGS