Chinese New Year 2025 in Chiang Mai, Thailand

Tradition of Celebrating Chinese New Year
The Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, is the most important holiday in the Chinese lunar calendar. Its origins date back to ancient times and are linked to the legend of the monster Nian, who, according to stories, would come out of its hiding place once a year to wreak havoc among people and animals. However, the locals discovered that the beast was afraid of noise, fire, and the color red, which gave rise to the tradition of fireworks, firecrackers, and decorating houses with red ornaments. The celebrations last for 15 days and include family gatherings, offerings to ancestors, lavish feasts, and symbolic rituals meant to bring good fortune and prosperity. Each year is assigned one of the twelve zodiac signs, which influences the symbolism of the celebrations and expectations for the coming months.
In Chiang Mai, a Thai city with a large Chinese community, the Chinese New Year is celebrated with great splendor. The Chinatown district comes to life with colorful decorations, street performances, and markets full of traditional Chinese food. The streets echo with drums accompanying lion and dragon dance performances – spectacles that relate to the legend of Nian and are symbolically meant to drive away evil spirits and bring prosperity. Many temples hold special ceremonies during which worshippers pray for prosperity in the coming year. The combination of Chinese traditions with local Thai culture makes the celebrations in Chiang Mai an unforgettable experience for both residents and tourists.
Chiang Mai Chinatown Festival 2025
Program Plan
January 29th 2025

08:30 AM – Parade opening the festival through the Chinese district of Chiang Mai (start: Tha Phae Gate – event stage on Wichayanon Street)
09:39 AM – Ceremony opening the festival (stage on Wichayanon Street)
10:30 AM – Chinese-Thai cultural performance by students of Rajabhat Chiang Mai University
04:00 PM – „Music World” concert by the music club
05:00 PM – Visual arts performance „Bond of love between the two countries” by the Ban Kru Dok Kaew school
05:30 PM – Thai-Chinese arts performance by the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences of Rajabhat Chiang Mai University
06:00 PM – Musical performance by Nong Kaitun Yanarin
06:40 PM – Performance by the „The Training Room” group
07:00 PM – Performance by Man Ting Fan from the Confucius Institute at Chiang Mai University
07:05 PM – Speech on Chinese-Thai relations
07:10 PM – Chinese costume competition
08:10 PM – Musical performance by the „Samansol Band”
09:00 PM – Mister China Town Chiang Mai 2025 competition


Chinese New Year in Chiang Mai:
Chiang Mai is a city with a large Chinese population, which is why the Chinese New Year is celebrated here with great pomp. The main festivities take place at Warorot Market, in the heart of the local Chinatown. The celebrations begin in the morning at Tha Phae Gate, where locals and tourists gather to admire the traditional dragon and lion dance. Then, cultural exhibitions and musical performances appear on the streets, giving the event a unique character. In the evening, Tha Phae Gate transforms into a stage for beauty contests, dances, and cultural performances that continue until the end of the celebrations.
The dragon plays an incredibly important role in the celebrations of the Chinese New Year, symbolizing strength, prosperity, and protection against evil spirits. In Thailand, the tradition of the dragon dance is particularly spectacular – long, colorful dragons move to the rhythm of the drums, led by teams of dancers performing intricate choreographed routines. Alongside the dragon and lion dance performances, the streets of Chiang Mai are also filled with food stalls where you can try classic Chinese delicacies such as dim sum dumplings, roast duck, and sweet rice cakes.
In the following pictures, you will also see a lady who prepares the best Mango Sticky Rice I’ve ever had in Thailand. It’s cheap, delicious, and the portion is really huge, so I highly recommend visiting her if you ever find yourself in Chiang Mai.
Due to my tour schedule, I could only join the celebrations in the evening, but even this short part of the day was enough to feel the special atmosphere of the holiday. The streets were full of people, lights, and sounds, and preparations for the next attractions were already underway on stage.

School Visual Arts Showcase:
During the celebrations of the Chinese New Year in Chiang Mai, there is no shortage of attractions such as children’s art performances. The young participants showcase beautiful, traditional costumes inspired by Chinese culture. In addition, they perform various dances and other skills such as singing and martial arts, impressing the audience with their talents. The entire event takes place in an environment filled with colorful decorations, lights, and a joyful atmosphere, attracting both locals and tourists.

Musical Performance:
After the children’s school performances, there was a short break, during which a young local couple of singers appeared on stage. First, they performed a song by Taiwanese singer Teresa Teng.
Teresa Teng was a Taiwanese singer, regarded as one of the most influential Asian artists. Often called the “Eternal Queen of Asian Pop,” she became a cultural icon, and her music gained popularity among Chinese-speaking communities around the world. Her emotional interpretations and linguistic versatility allowed her to transcend geographical and political boundaries. Over the course of her nearly 30-year career, she recorded more than 1,700 songs in multiple languages, including Mandarin, Japanese, English, and Italian, selling over 50 million albums. She is considered a pioneer of contemporary Chinese pop music, blending Eastern and Western styles. She was also an important cultural bridge between Taiwan, China, and Japan. In 1986, Time Magazine listed her among the seven greatest female singers in the world.
Next, they performed „Die with a Smile” by Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars, followed by the currently very popular song “APT” also by Bruno Mars.
At the end of the video, you will see a short snippet of a fan dance performance.

Competition: „Most Beautiful Chinese Costume„
After the musical performance, the participants of this year’s „Most Beautiful Chinese Costume” competition took to the stage. They were accompanied by last year’s winner, and the hosts showed her pictures from the previous year and spoke about her victory.
As always, the competition attracted participants in diverse, colorful costumes. It was clear that there was no shortage of creativity – from traditional, elegant attire to more contemporary interpretations of Chinese style. The judging panel included transvestites, who evaluated the costumes, paying attention to details and the originality of the presentations.

Traditional Chinese Fan Dance Performance:
The second-to-last highlight of the day was a traditional Chinese fan dance. Men and women dressed in elegant Chinese attire showcased their skills in this culturally significant art form. The fan dance has its roots in ancient Chinese traditions and was historically performed during imperial ceremonies and festive celebrations. The use of fans symbolizes grace, beauty, and fluidity, while the dance itself often tells a story through precise, flowing movements. With its elegance and synchronization, this dance form remains a cherished part of Chinese culture, appearing in both traditional and modern performances.

„Mister China Town Chiang Mai 2025”:
For the grand finale of the first day of celebrations, the competition to select „Mister Chinatown Chiang Mai” took place, where local Thai men showcased their charm and elegance in various Thai costumes. The participants in this competition had the opportunity to demonstrate their skills not only in fashion but also in confidence and charisma.
In the photo on the left, you can see this year’s winner of the „Mister China Town Chiang Mai 2025” competition.
Chiang Mai 2025: A Perfect Destination for Chinese New Year
Chiang Mai in 2025 proved to be the perfect place to celebrate the Chinese New Year. The city, with its rich cultural heritage and Chinese traditions, was alive with energy, and Chinatown became the heart of the holiday celebrations. The streets were filled with stalls offering delicious food, and the traditional dragon dances attracted crowds of tourists and locals who marveled at the spectacular performances. In the evening, Tha Phae Gate transformed into a stage for beauty contests, dances, and musical performances, all of which set the mood for the festivities.
Chiang Mai, blending tradition with modernity, offers unforgettable experiences for both culture enthusiasts and those wanting to experience the true Chinese atmosphere in the heart of Thailand. The Chinese New Year in 2025 was filled with joy, color, and energy, and Chinatown in Chiang Mai proved to be a place that enchants with its traditions and hospitality.