This year, Saturday, February 10, 2024 marks the Chinese New Year of the Dragon (also known as Lunar New Year or Spring festival), which is celebrated throughout Chiang Mai. Finally the official Chinese New Year celebrations can take place and if you head over to China Town you can see the streets decorated beautifully with road side stalls selling lanterns, new clothes and auspicious trinkets in all shapes and sizes.
What is Chinese New Year
The New Year celebration is centred around removing the bad and the old, and welcoming the new and the good. It’s a time to worship ancestors, exorcise evil spirits and pray for good harvest. Today it’s celebrated also by Chinese communities outside the country and Thailand has the largest Chinese community outside of China so Thailand take their celebrations seriously!
The New Year is based on the Chinese lunar calendar and represented by 12 animals and 5 elements in a 12 year cycle. A specific animal is assigned each year and one of the elements of metal, water, wood, fire and earth. People take Chinese astrology very seriously and more so at this time of year when astrologers set up stalls around the streets of China Town to predict your fortune for the new year.
Many Celebrations
The celebrations normally run from Chinese New Years Eve to the 15th day and 3 important activities feature in the build up to the big event. Shopping day, before New Year’s Eve when people shop for gifts, food and offerings. Praying day, when prayers and offerings are made to their golds and ancestors for wealth and prosperity in the New Year. Adults will give small red pockets called Ang-Pao as gifts of money to their children or employees wishing good wealth and health. The act of giving someone an Ang-Pao is a blessing but for the kids it’s all about the money! Be sure never to let your kids open an Ang-Pao right there and then though; it’s seen as very rude and disrespectful.
Then comes, New Year’s Day or is commonly known as Going out day when families come together to celebrate and enjoy the festivities, with food being a heavily featured part of this day! People will dress in colourful clothes mainly red and gold which are seen as the colours of good fortune and friends and family will exchange oranges which are believed to bring luck and prosperity.
Where To Participate
Many of the hotels and Chinese restaurants will have Chinese New Year feasts and banquets available and large shopping malls are once again competing for the most elaborate decorations, Chiang Mai really takes this matter seriously. Overnight malls are transformed into a sea of red lanterns and paper dragons and many offer workshops centered around family time and Chinese New Year activities where kids can make their own Chinese New Year animals and try their hand at Chinese calligraphy.
Chinatown in Chiang Mai
But if you really want to experience Chinese New Year there is only one place to go……..China Town.
Behind the lively Night Bazaar in Chiang Mai, you’ll find Kad Luang, also known as Warorot or Ton Lam Yai markets. Locals lovingly call it ‘Warorot market.’ It’s a bustling hub of food, clothes, flowers, and more. Close to the Night Bazaar, it’s a great spot to shop and eat until you’re satisfied. Explore the shopping centers for the best deals, especially on the top floors. What makes it unique is its diverse mix of cultures and tribes, not just Chinese.
These markets, bordering the Ping River, have been around for over a century, thriving during the Chiang Mai-Bangkok river trade. Popular among locals, they’ve stood the test of time. Along the riverside street, there’s a daily flower market adding color and fragrance. During the two-day Chinese New Year celebrations, the street turns into a pedestrian haven, adorned with iconic red lanterns. Here, you’ll find two famous Chinese shrines: Guan Yu, just behind Warorot, and Pung Tao Gong, across from the riverside park. This vibrant area is a must-visit during the Chinese New Year festivities.
Get ready for the traditional Chinese New Year Parade on the morning of February 10th. Starting at Tha Pae Gate around 8:30 am, the parade features dragon and lion dancers, artists, and festive floats, culminating at Guan Yu Shrine around 10 am. City officials will kick off the ‘official’ celebration, including cultural exhibitions and musical performances. In the evening at Guan Yu Shrine and Tha Pae Gate, enjoy Chinese cultural events like dance performances and beauty pageants—a lively fusion of tradition and celebration bringing the spirit of the Chinese New Year to life in Chiang Mai.
Schedule of Events
9th February
At 6 pm, enjoy a captivating array of stage performances, setting the stage for the evening’s festivities. The excitement continues from 7 pm onward with the much-anticipated annual beauty contest.
10th February
There will be the opening ceremony and parade from 7:30 am to 9 am, showcasing the vibrancy of our community. At 9:30 am, be enchanted by a mesmerizing dragon dance. As night falls, immerse yourself in a delightful blend of stage performances, an enchanting dragon show, and a dazzling fashion display from 7 to 10 pm.
11th February
From 4 to 6 pm, savor the experience of a Traditional Chinese cooking show and competition, where culinary skills take center stage. The evening continues from 7 to 10 pm with a continuation of captivating stage shows, ensuring a culturally enriching experience for all.
Wherever you may go to celebrate Chinese New year we wish you a very happy Gong Xi Fa Cai
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Editors Note: For families with babies and small children: Fire crackers are often used to announce the arrival of the lion dance, whilst this is safe it can be quite boisterous and alarming.
