Chiang Mai Mayor Tassanai Buranupakorn and Chinese Consul-General in Chiang Mai, Zhu Weimin jointly presided over the opening ceremony of the festive event, which featured a procession almost one-kilometre long.
The festival celebrates the New Year and aims to preserve Thai-Chinese traditions as well as boost the tourism industry and stimulate the local economy.
During the festival, the public will enjoy a musical performance by the Chinese National Opera from Beijing, a 60-metre long Golden Dragon Dance, one of the longest dragon dance processions in Thailand, and Lion Dances from several Chinese provinces with a variety of cultural processions.
More than Bt100 million is expected to be spent during the two-day event.