Bangkok China Town Chinese New Year Festival in Yaowarat District and Chinese New Year Celebrations at CentralWorld in Bangkok/ Ayutthaya / Ratchaburi / Suphan Buri in Central Thailand / Pattaya /Phuket and Hat Yai in Songkhla province in Southern Thailand / Nakhon Sawan and Chiang Mai in Northern Thailand / Nakhon Ratchasima in Northeastern Thailand

Bangkok China Town Chinese New Year Festival 2009
Yaowarat district of Bangkok
26-27 January, 2009

26 January 2009
16.30 hrs.
Arrival of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, Chairperson of the ceremony (as per the Royal Official Programme)

Start off the 'Year of the Ox' by paying homage to the statue of the Chinese Goddess Guan Yin brought all the way from China. Enjoy spectacular cultural performances from the various regions and provinces of China - 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.

Cultural Performances from the Regions and Provinces of China
In addition to cultural performances, the performers from the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in Southern China will be perform acrobatics and demonstrate the ancient art of Chinese mask-changing featured in Chinese operas, while the cast from Hainan Province will present folk plays, offering a glimpse of the island's culture. The performers from Shandong province will present a demonstration of Kung Fu fighting and martial arts and the performers from Anhui, located in the centre near the Yangtze River and the hometown of Bao Qingtian, the Justice of the Supreme Court of the province who is well-known for being loyal and honest, will present Chinese opera depicting an account of the life and virtues of Bao Qingtian.

Hailing from one of the coldest cities in the world, the cultural troupe from Harbin - capital of the Heilongjiang Autonomous Region, will present a musical performance featuring their folk musical instruments, while the performance by the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region reflects traditions and a way of life in the extreme climate of this mountainous region. A wonderful magic show presented by Jilin Province completes the list of captivating cultural performances rarely seen live outside of mainland China.

These will be equally matched by Thailand's own magnificent cultural performances presented by the Kalasin College of Dramatic Arts. For a change of pace, artists from GMM Grammy will be staging shows.

Bangkok: Chinese New Year Celebrations at Central World
At CentralWorld, Bangkok
26 January, 2009 from 13.00 hrs. onwards
Feast your eyes on magnificent performances presented by a troupe of more than 100 performers from the various regions and provinces of China.

27 January 2009
From 13.00 hrs. onwards
Cultural Exchange Ceremony between the People's Republic of China and the Kingdom of Thailand
Following an official cultural exchange ceremony between the People's Republic of China (PRC) and Kingdom of Thailand in which the Minister of Culture of the PRC and Thailand's Minister of Tourism and Sports will deliver an address and greet people in the two nations during a live broadcast, enjoy spectacular cultural performances from China.

For more information, please contact:
TAT Bangkok
Tel: +66 (0) 2250 5615, (0) 2250 5500 ext 2991-5

Samphanthawong District Office
Tel: +66 (0) 2234 3460, 0 22373345

TAT Call Center 1672
Email: www.tourismthailand.org