Bangkok’s Chinatown becomes lively on Chinese New Year

BANGKOK, Feb 16 (TNA) -- Yaowarat area or Bangkok’s Chinatown is crowded with people of the Chinese origin due to Chinese New Year celebrations. The Thai people of Chinese origin go out to celebrate the Chinese New Year. They wear red clothes and many of them visit Yaowarat where a large number of shops and restaurants with specialties are happily welcoming tourists. Members of the Tantisuwitkul family came from Bang Bon district to let their children experience Chinese New Year celebrations in Yaowarat. They said that their ancestors had come from China and settled in Yaowarat. They would wait for HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn who would open Chinese New Year celebrations there in the evening. Wongduean Wongsaeng-anant, a businesswoman in Yaowarat, said the atmosphere was livelier than last year as tourists were visiting the old quarter of Yaowarat. Most visitors said they came because this year’s celebrations in Yaowarat were bigger than such activities in other countries. A highlight there is another stage at Rachawong intersection in addition to the main stage. The National Tae Chew Association set up the additional stage to also celebrate its 80th anniversary. There will be a Chinese opera and magic and singing shows. The Tourism and Sports Ministry predicted that the number of visitors to Thailand during the Chinese New Year holidays would rise by 10% from the same period last year and most of them would be Chinese tourists. (TNA)