On December 1st, the stars sparkled in the reflection of the Dragon Boat Pond as the night was closing in. The Chinese Language and Culture College of Huaqiao University (HQU) held Loy Krathong Festival (Thai Festival of Lights and Lanterns) as a cultural brand for Maritime Silk Road on HQU’s Dragon Boat Pond campus. The theme of the event is "the Belt and Road & World Youth".
Attending the Festival were Tang Cuiying, Inspector from Overseas Chinese Affairs Bureau of the United Front Work Department of CPC Central Committee, Wang Xiuyong, Vice President of HQU, and Wanlapa Jitsomboon, Vice Consul of Royal Thai Consulate General in Xiamen. The overseas students from the countries along the Belt and Road areas, together with HQU students and teachers of China’s mainland, totaling more than 500, participated in the festival to enjoy the night, experience the integration and collision of various cultures, and listen to the young voices from different places of the world.
As the happy rhythm of lights came out, Noppamas Queen Contests (the beauty contest of Loy Krathong Festival) marked the beginning of the Festival, which has attracted many contestants from China, Indonesia, Mongolia, Myanmar and other countries. After rounds of fierce competition, nine winners stood up, joined hand with each other to present a wonderful cultural feast for the audience.
Loy Krathong Festival is one of the key activities in the building of a cultural brand for Maritime Silk Road to which Chinese Language and Culture College attaches great importance in this year. Since 2005, the College has held the Festival for 12 times, all of which were based on the traditional Thai culture and integrated with the essence of many other fine civilizations. They have promoted the multicultural exchange and mutual learning of various civilizations effectively.
Photo of "Noppamas Queen Contests"
Performance of Thai Art
Distinguished Guests, Teachers, and Students Launching the Light