Chinese New Year prepared in Thailand

BANGKOK, February 12 (TNA) - People and shops in Thailand have prepared themselves for the Chinese New Year Festival 2018, which starts late this week until early next week. Like those in Bangkok and other provinces where there are Thais of Chinese origin, shops in the central Ang Thong Province have prepared Chinese snacks and materials for sale during the upcoming Chinese Festival, including Chinese sticky rice cakes steamed in baskets and sweet stuffed dough pyramid steamed in banana leaves. In the northern Chiang Rai Province, Thais of Chinese origin, even those living on highlands, including Doi Mae Salong, have begun decorating their houses and buildings with red lanterns and blessing plates, while also shopping for materials and food to be used for worshiping their ancestors during the Chinese New Year Festival. In Songkhla Province in the troubled Thai Far South, Thais of Chinese origin have also begun shopping for materials and food to be used during the Chinese New Year amid tight security measures, mainly through road checkpoints set up at focal and sensitive areas. (TNA)