Big Dragon, little dragon

SUPHAN BURI celebrates its Chinese heritage this weekend with a festival that promotes the central province’s new tourist destination Moo Ban Mangkorn Sawan.
Under construction for the past four years and costing more than Bt200 million, Lijiang Village as it is also known, is located on a 40-rai plot that also houses the Dragon Descendant Museum, a gigantic dragon-shaped building that was officially unveiled in 2008.
The village is inspired by the old town of Lijiang, a prefecture-level city in China’s Yunnan province, whose architecture is noteworthy for the blending of elements from several cultures that have come together over many centuries. It’s been on the Unesco World Heritage list in 1997.
The village was conceived by former prime minister and local power brower Banharn Silpa-archa to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Sino-Thailand relations and promote further tourism exchange, says Suphan Buri Governor Supat Srisoontornpinit.
“During his 1996 trip to China, he had the chance to visit to Lijiang Village and he appreciated it very much,” Supat says.
Suphan Buri is home to more than 800,000 people of 10 nationalities and 40 per cent are of Chinese origin, with Teochew, Hainan and Fujian ethnic backgrounds.
“The city-pillar shrine is in Chinese style and houses a Mahayana Buddhist bas relief of Bodhisattra Avalokitesvara, which may also be referred to simply as Guanyin. We have other 12 Chinese gods around the shrine. Right now, we are working on constructing the 12 Chinese zodiac signs,” says Supat.
The village shines the spotlight on Chinese art and culture through such restaurants such as Rong Tiem, an oldfashioned tea house where visitors can enjoy dim sum, roasted duck and moo dang (roasted red pork). The Nai Thao noodle shop, which was founded in 1958, sell what’s said to be the best khao moo dang in Suphan Buri, along with yong tau foo, a Chinese soup dish with Hakka origins and nam khang sai (shaved ice) and cocoa ice cream.
Other shops, which bear names like Sampeng, Yaowaraj and Rajawongse, sell Chinese products and there’s also a traditional rong nuad massage house and a 4D Theatre.
“After worshipping at the city pillar shrine, tourists can take a walk around the village, have a meal, go shopping and enjoy a movie at the 4D theatre, which is the only one of its kind in Thailand outside Bangkok,” says the governor.
Visitors who want to stimulate their brain cells can make a stop at the Confucius Institute, which serves as a centre for Chinese cuisine, art and traditional music performances. You’ll be encouraged to don Chinese costumes and pose for photos.
“Annual recordings of tourist visitors to the museum stand at about 500,000. After the official opening of the village, that’s expected to increase. The annual income from tourism in Suphan Buri is obviously better. In 2007, it was Bt600 million and has gone up every year. It’s now Bt2.5 billion,” Supat says.
The festival will be divided into three zones, with the “Amazing Village” taking
 centre stage as one of three distinctive areas. Cardboard cut-outs of several singers including rising luk thung talent Pornpimol “Paowalee” Fueangfung and Napat “Gun the Star” Injaiuea are being strategically placed around the site with the province’s tourist attractions in the background for photo opportunities. Tourists are invited to share their photos on the Suphanburi Festival fan page to win a possible prize.
Another zone, “Amazing Fun”, will offer games such as lifting the bottle, shooting balloons, bowling and sao noi tok nam (girls and water).
And the third zone is “Amazing Music”, which will feature performances by GMM Grammy artists.
Tomorrow, the focus is on luk thung songs by Paowalee, Supanat “Aof” Chalermchaichareonkij, Suratikan “Earn” Pakcharoen, Orathai “Tai” Dabkham, Pongsathorn “Phai” Srichan and Cham Chamrum.
Pop and rock reigns supreme on Saturday with sets from Christina Aguilar, New-Jew, Saranyu “Ice” Winaipanit, So Cool, Paradox and Zeal.
Actresses Fonthip “Pooklook” Watcharatrakul and Wannarot “View” Sonthichai will also entertain.
“We will provide security and traffic control through 100 policemen as well as 50 volunteers. Parking will be available at the Shell petrol station in front of the city pillar shrine, the PTT petrol station to the west of the city shrine, and Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat in the east. There will be police at all the tourist attractions to ensure the safety of visitors,” says Suphan Buri deputy commander Pol Col Chairat Tippayajan.
And Suphan Buri isn’t done yet with its cultural projects. Coming up next is Khao Mangkorn Yok, a reproduction of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, the snow-covered and fog-encased mountain resembling a jade dragon lying in the clouds, which can be seen to the south Lijiang Old Town. It will be constructed behind the village and serve as a centre for Chinese martial arts.
“Tourists can also climb to the top of our highest viewpoint, a four-storey tower that overlooks Chaloem Phatthara Rachini Park. Lovely young ladies can try to find a suitor by throwing luk juang, at the tourists,” Supat says with a smile.
 HONOURING
OUR ANCESTORS
- The Suphan Buri Festival takes place from 4pm to 10.30pm tomorrow and Saturday at the Dragon Descendant Museum.
- For more information, call the TAT in Suphan Buri at (035) 536 030, (035) 535 789 or (035) 536 189.