About the Thai Festival: Highlights
- Thai Festival in Chaoyang Park (South Entrance of Chaoyang Park and the areas around the
Firework Square) between 1 and 3 July 2005 (starting from 09.30 am. to 08.30 p.m) is, for the first time, co-organized by the Royal Thai Embassy in Beijing on behalf of the Royal Thai Government and the People’s Government of Beijing Municipality, with the Beijing Chaoyang Association of International Cultural Exchange, as the Festival’s main event organizer and coordinator.
- Thai Festival in Chaoyang Park is one of the important activities to commemorate the 30th Anniversary of the Establishment of Thailand-China Diplomatic Relations (1 July 1975), with the view that this Thai Festival will act not only as a gateway to Thailand, that visitors will get to know more about Thailand in all aspects such as tourism; culture; Thai food, fruit, products and handicrafts; Thai ways of life, but also acts as a friendship bridge that connects peoples of Thailand and China to a new height of closer ties and cooperation as well as better understanding.
- The Thai Festival in Chaoyang Park, with the theme of “Amazing Thailand-Thai Fascination Festival (Tai Mei Hao-Tai Guo Feng Qing Jie” exhibits all major important aspects of Thailand, namely: Thai fascinating tourism (Tai Mei Li), Thai delicious food and fruits (Tai Mei Wei), Thai handicrafts (Tai Mei Guan), Thai graceful culture and performances (Tai Mei Miao) and Thai world-acclaimed products (Tai Mei Ming).
- At the Thai Festival in Chaoyang Park, visitors are welcome to enjoy the authentic taste of Thai food, catered by dozens of Thai restaurants in Beijing, taste free samples of about 3 tons of imported fresh Thai tropical fruits, choose special discounted tour packages to Thailand from more than 15 Chinese certified tour operators, purchase at cost prices varieties of Thai products as well as handicrafts from Thai companies in China as well as from Thailand and, last but not least, enjoy the amazing Thai traditional and modern performances by professional troupe from Thailand as well as by the Chinese song and dance troupe, arranged by the People’s Government of Beijing Municipality.
- On the same occasion at the Chaoyang Park, a Sino-Thai Friendship Bell Pavilion, built near the White Sail Square, West Entrance of Chaoyang Park, as gift from the Royal Thai Government to the Chinese people on the occasion of the 30th Anniversary of the Establishment of Thailand-China Diplomatic Relations, will be open to the Beijing and Chinese public on 1 July 2005. The Sino-Thai Friendship Pavilion, with the height of 9 meters as well as 9 metres in diameter, reflects the traditional design of Thai architecture as well as depicts a harmonious combination of Thai and Chinese beliefs, arts and crafts such as the engraved 8-lotus designs, surrounded by Chinese dragon and Thai Phraya Nakkha (Sacred Snake King), the engraved Chinese peony and Thai Pudtan flower, representing happiness and longevity, etc. Certainly, the Sino-Thai Friendship Bell Pavilion will acts not only as an additional part of the beautiful landscape of Chaoyang Park, where Beijingers can take a peaceful rest and enjoy, but also as a permanent reminder of family-like and long-lasting friendship between Thailand and China and their peoples.
- During the 3-day event of the Thai Festival in Chaoyang Park, especially at the opening ceremony on the 1 July 2005, numerous of Thai gifts, souvenirs and prizes will be given out to lucky visitors, such as five 7-day package tours to Thailand, sponsored by Thai International Airways, free tickets to the Formula One racing in Shanghai, sponsored by the Red Bull Company, Co., Ltd., vouchers for free dining, sponsored by the participating Thai restaurants in Beijing, etc.
- The opening ceremony of the Thai Festival (between 16.00-16.30 hrs.) and the Handing Over Ceremony of the Sino-Thai Friendship Bell Pavilion in Chaoyang Park on 1 July 2005, will be presided over by the Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra as well as Beijing leaders and Chinese dignitaries. The Thai Festival expects to welcome about 50,000 to 70,000 visitors throughout its 3-day event.

--------------------------