Chiang Mai – Chiang Mai Provincial Administration and the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Chiang Mai Office are currently preparing the Chiang Mai Flower Festival 2014 from 7 to 9 February.

Thawatchai Arunyik, Governor of TAT said, “Often known as the Rose of the North, Chiang Mai is a cultural and natural wonderland with ethnic diversity, a multitude of attractions and welcoming hospitality. The province lives up to its name with the annual Flower Festival that showcases beautiful and exotic flowers, which are in full bloom towards the end of the cool season in early February.”

To take place at Suan Buak Hat in Mueang district, the 38th Chiang Mai Flower Festival will turn the park into an open-air exhibition venue where local and international visitors can marvel at a magnificent tapestry of floral splendour that blankets the land. Elsewhere in the city, there can be found beautiful displays of various kinds of blooming flowers, including the Damask Rose, which is a variety found only in Chiang Mai.

One of the Festival’s highlights is the parade of elaborately-decorated floral floats at the opening ceremony, to be held on 8 February, 2014. The procession starts from Nawarat Bridge and going along Thapae Road, Kotchasarn Road and Changlor Road, before turning into Arak Road and concluding at Suan Buak Hat. The floral floats compete to find the most beautiful and creative display, and the best float for cultural preservation receives a trophy.

Other highlights include several kinds of plant and flowers competitions, Miss Flower and Miss Flower Blooming Beauty Contest, agricultural exhibitions, plant and flower sales, mini garden landscaping, local product fair and mini concerts. Activity times during the three-day event at Suan Buak Hat are from 09.00 to 24.00 hrs.

Chiang Mai offers a variety of cultural and natural attractions including Wiang Kum Kam, Doi Inthanon National Park, Doi Suthep-Doi Pui National Park, Ang Khang Royal Project, Ratchaphruek Garden, and Chiang Mai Zoo – where the famous panda Lin Hui is expected to give birth to her second cub this month, as well as the many temples; such as, Wat Chedi Luang and Wat Phra Sing.

For more information on Chiang Mai: www.tourismthailand.org/Where-to-Go/Chiang-Mai.

There are events and festivals taking place year-round in Chiang Mai. This month, the Bo Sang Umbrella Festival will take place from 17th-19th January at the Bo Sang Village, some 6 km from Chiang Mai town, followed by the Chiang Mai China Town Chinese New Year on 31st January in Chiang Mai town.

Chiang Mai is located 716 km north of Bangkok or 7 hours 44 minutes by car or 1 hour 10 minutes by air. Several airlines, including Thai Airways International, Bangkok Airways and Nok Air, are operating daily flights on the Bangkok-Chiang Mai route from Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang International Airports. The city also serves direct regional flights from Hong Kong, Singapore, China (Beijing and Shanghai) and Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur).