“Festive 2020” Send off the year in style with an array of festive promotions at Bangkok Marriott Marquis Queen’s Park

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6 November 2019, 05:31

Bangkok, Thailand, 16 October 2019 – Festive fun beckons as the year draws to an end. Bangkok Marriott Marquis Queen’s Park gears up for Christmas and New Year 2020 celebrations with Festive 2020 that kicks off with Christmas lighting and decoration at the Lobby Lounge, food and drink promotions at all F&B outlets and private parties throughout the festive season from December to New Year of 2020. A wide selection of premium festive hampers is available from November 25, 2019 – January 31, 2020 to fulfill every festive wishes and whims.

Bangkok Marriott Marquis Queen’s Park, Bangkok’s largest luxury hotel, rings in the new year with Festive 2020 to make Christmas and New Year celebration throughout the hotel the moment to cherish forever. The festive celebration starts with the lighting of 6-meters tall Christmas tree, coupled with Christmas carols, at the Lobby Lounge on December 2, 2019 between 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM. And the twinkling Christmas light will remain bright throughout the festive season.

Patrons can also enjoy Festive Afternoon Tea, where Silver Jubilee & Watte series 100% pure Ceylon teas and coffees are offered alongside the cutest sweet and savory nibbles and live piano at the Lobby Lounge from December 1, 2019 to January 1, 2020 between 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM. Prices are THB 999++ for two persons and THB 1,490++ with 2 glasses of extra sparkling wine.

Every weekend throughout December, indulge in Festive Free-Flow Weekends at the Lobby Lounge with free flow of white, red, rose and sparkling wines, accompanied by live music and entertainment, Friday and Saturday from 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM between December 6 – 25, 2019 at THB 989++ per person.

For a sumptuous Christmas feast, Akira Back Restaurant and Bar on the 37th floor that specializes in innovative and creative dishes, offers Festive Fusion at Akira Back for you to celebrate with families and friends. Finely created dishes with premium quality ingredients include Gillardeau Oyster from France to enjoy with ponzu, chojang and tomato salsa (THB 920++) and Pan Seared Andaman Sea-bass with black bean sauce, spicy tofu and asparagus (THB 650++). Delectable dishes also include Claypot Rice with fresh winter black truffle, shio kombu and tamanishiki rice (THB 680++), Roast Whole Lamb Rack served with baby potatoes, cauliflower, grain mustard (THB 1,900++) and Grilled Baby Back Ribs served with Spicy Korean glaze, sesame seed and baby corn (THB 1,100++). Meat lovers don’t miss Prime Porterhouse that comes with coffee crust and black garlic bordelaise (THB 3,600++). Members of Club Marriott get 15% discount. The festive Christmas dinner is served between December 20 – 29, 2019, 6:00 PM – 11:00 PM.

For a buffet-style feast, Christmas Eve Dinner Family Feast can be had at Goji Kitchen + Bar, international buffet outlet that celebrates diverse culinary cultures with theatrical open kitchen. Highlights include five types of oysters from the seas around the globe, Boston lobster, Alaskan king crab, BBQ river prawns, salt crusted baked salmon, prime rib, lamb rack as well as Christmas menus such as Honey Glazed Ham, Roasted Turkey and sweet treats that include Christmas pudding, yule log, ginger bread and more to be enjoyed with Christmas sangria. Festive entertainment includes Christmas, Santa Clause’s appearance and gift giving and complimentary magnet photo booth. The Christmas Eve Family Feast is served on December 24, 2019 from 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM at THB 2,337++ per person with optional free flow drink package at THB 1,288++ or THB 2,500++ champagne package. Members of Club Marriott get 15% discount.

Goji Kitchen + Bar also serves Christmas Fun Day Brunch, which will feature the same menus as the Christmas Eve Family Feast, on December 25, 2019 between 12:00 PM to 2:30 PM at THB 2,337++ per person with optional free flow drink package at THB 1,288++ or THB 2,500++ champagne package. Members of Club Marriott get 15% discount.

Bid farewell to 2019 with the countdown event, The Final Feast of the Decade, at Goji Kitchen + Bar. The feast, which includes sumptuous dinner buffet with five types of oysters, caviar, Boston lobster, prime rib and many more along with finely selected champagnes, is on December 31, 2019 from 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM. Price per person is THB 2,888++ with optional free flow drink package at THB 1,288++ or THB 2,500++ champagne package. Members of Club Marriott get 15% discount.

Fusion food lovers can enjoy the New Year’s Eve celebration, Elevated Celebrations at Akira Back Restaurant and Bar, with innovative Asian dishes at Akira Back. Kicks off the dinner with Foie Gras Potato Salad tossed with black garlic dressing, winter black truffle and micro roquette, followed by Crispy Egg served with house-cured smoked salmon, crème fraiche and caviar. Warm up the belly with Iberico Miso Black Cod, which is an Iberico ham broth with assorted vegetables and basil oil. Meat lovers delight in A5 Satsuma Gyu 4% Miracle Striploin served with daikon and leek kimchi, grilled garlic, kizami wasabi. End the meal with the sweet notes of Pina Colada Panna Cotta that comes with Malibu coconut sorbet and pineapple confit as you ease into the night with live music that is set to perform throughout the evening. The festive dinner is served on December 31, 2019 at 6:00 PM – 6:45 PM and 8:30 PM – 9:15 PM. Price per person is THB 3,900++ with optional THB 4,500++ free flow champagne package. A la carte menus are available for children under 12 years old. Members of Club Marriott get 15% discount.

Ring in 2020 in style at ABar, exclusive cocktail bar on the 37th floor and ABar Rooftop, an alfresco rooftop bar. The End of a Decade Party on December 31, 2019 includes mesmerizing party decoration, live music and free flow dinks from 10:00 PM onwards. Early bird tickets are available in advance from THB 2,500 NET per person.

Welcome the New Year with New Year’s Resolution Brunch, scrumptious international brunch that entices with fresh seafood, five types of oysters, Alaskan crab, grilled river prawn, salt crusted baked salmon, prime rib and many more as well as an array of desserts at Goji Kitchen + Bar on January 1, 2020. The brunch is served between 11:45 AM to 2:30 PM at THB 2,128++ per person. Members of Club Marriott get 15% discount.

During the season of celebration and giving, the hotel offers Festive Hamper filled with seasonal classic delicacies such as roasted turkey with all the trimmings, prime rib of beef and a broad choice of classic Christmas desserts such as yule log cake, Christmas stollen, plum pudding and much more. The hampers are available from Hamper House, Lobby Level, from November 25, 2019 to January 31, 2020 daily between 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM.

If you’re looking for a space for private events, the hotel also offer Year End Private Parties promotions to indulge your festive whim at ABar on the 37th floor, inclusive of special packages and deals. We’re here to create your ultimate New Year party.

Celebrate Christmas and New Year to start 2020 with happiness at all outlets of Bangkok Marriott Marquis Queen’s Park. For more information and reservation, please contact +66 (0) 2 059 5999, email [email protected] or visit www.bangkokmarriottmarquisqueenspark.com

UOB VISA INFINITE treats VIP clients with an exclusive experience

By

Khaosod English

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6 November 2019, 05:24

UOB (Thai) treats UOB VISA INFINITE cardholders to an exclusive privilege of high-end custom-made suit making for gentlemen with the exceptional sartorial excellence of Dolce&Gabbana.

The sensational collaboration, led by Ms. Suporntip Pongsachamnankit, Head of Credit Card Business UOB (Thai), Mr. Manathes Annawat Senior Deputy Director of The Emporium and The Emquartier and Dolce&Gabbana, allowed VIP clients to experience the bespoke suit making experience by talented Italian tailors jetted exclusively to this event. Guests were able to choose colours, buttons and fabrics from a selection of more than a hundred or let the design team of Dolce&Gabbana create meticulous suits that meet the guests’ personal style. The event saw celebrities such as Kraipitch Theeratwong, Titipong Lorprasert, Thanawat Jiratseth, Akkararat Wannarat and fashion editor Kampol Likitkanchanakul in attendance at Dolce&Gabbana at The Emquartier.

Ms. Suporntip Pongsachamnankit, Head of Credit Card Business UOB (Thai), enthused that, “UOB (Thai) and UOB Visa Infinite are determined to offer more than just financial services but also exclusive experiences that money cannot buy. We invited UOB VISA INFINITE cardholders to experience the exceptional art of bespoke suit making with world-renowned brand like Dolce&Gabbana In this campaign, UOB Visa Infinite offers double points for purchase from 100,000 baht to 200,000, plus 10,000-baht gift voucher to spend at the Dolce&Gabbana Boutique.”

This is another exclusive experience carefully crafted by UOB for UOB Visa Infinite cardholders to cater to their upscale lifestyle and unique sophistication.

Copyright Troll Demands 50,000 Baht From 15-Year-Old Cartoon Krathong Maker

By

Tappanai Boonbandit, Staff Reporter

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5 November 2019, 18:07

"Orn" showing her krathongs to the media on Nov. 4, 2019.

NAKHON RATCHASIMA — A local copyright holder of Japanese cartoon character franchise said Tuesday it was not behind an alleged attempt to extort a 15-year-old girl of 50,000 baht for copyright infringement.

T.A.C. Consumer PCL, who holds a copyright for San-X products in Thailand, denies involvement with the sting operation in Korat, in which a man identified himself as a copyright agent and threatened the girl’s family to pay a damage fee of up to 50,000, or face prison terms. The news has sparked widespread anger on social media, where some business owners said they were also victims of a similar scheme.

The girl said the man ordered 136 krathongs, or traditional floats for the upcoming river festival, decorated with cartoon characters from her on Friday. But once the first batch of delivery was made, the customer identified himself as a copyright agent and called the police, according to her father, Thawatchai Polhaeng.

Once she was brought to the police station, Thawatchai said, the self-identified agent demanded a payment of 50,000 baht for copyright infringement or face criminal charges that could land her in jail. He said they eventually settled for a sum of 5,000 baht.

“This isn’t right. Though she might be guilty, but the agent should look at her intentions,” Thawatchai said. “She was just trying to raise some funds for her schooling. The agent should not rip off a kid like this.”

But in a statement today, T.A.C. Consumer PCL said it was not responsible for sending any complaint.

Korat City police chief Col. Kachen Setaputta confirmed police involvement in Friday’s sting operation, but maintained that they were merely following the law.

“The police carried out their duties according to the law. They have to arrest the girl, otherwise they might be guilty of neglecting their duties,” Kachen said.

The girl, who only identified herself to the media as “Orn,” said she intended to sell bread krathongs to help out her family with her tuition fees.

She normally produced flower-patterned krathongs and sold them on Facebook, but the customer who tricked her ordered them to be particularly adorned with copyrighted characters like Angry Birds, Garfield, and Japanese cartoon bear Rilakkuma.

“I didn’t intend to violate copyright law. I was just following the customer’s orders, which I didn’t know was wrong to do,” she said. “They wanted to trick me and extort me for hefty fines. After I went back home, I was crying all night because I never faced any charges like this before.”

But after her plight sparked a fury on social media, several other vendors said they were subject to the same ploy, which experts nicknamed “copyright trolling.”

In the scam, opportunists claiming to represent copyright holders would threaten to bring copyright infringement charges against unsuspecting business owners unless they agree to pay up “settlement fees.”

A popular Facebook page said it has received four accounts of such victims since Orn’s stroke made headlines– all of which occurred in Nakhon Ratchasima. One victim told the page, called Thailand’s Most Wanted, she has to pay 30,000 baht to avoid criminal charges after she made similar krathong with Rilakkuma face.

Legal experts say while these claims would most likely be dismissed by the court – since the complaints were not made by legitimate copyright holders – the vast majority of victims tend to pay up anyway to avoid criminal investigations.

Sri Lanka’s Seafood Megahit ‘Ministry of Crab’ to Open Bangkok Branch

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Asaree Thaitrakulpanich, Staff Reporter

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5 November 2019, 15:00

BANGKOK — Crack open a crab weighing two kilograms like an islander king this December when one of Sri Lankan’s most esteemed restaurants, Ministry of Crab, crosses the Andaman Sea to Thai shores.

Known for their mud crabs, tiger prawns, and other seafood delectables, Ministry of Crab is a Sri Lankan restaurant that’s been listed on Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants from 2015 to 2019, and ranked 35th in the 2019 edition as the top restaurant in Sri Lanka.

“Ministry of Crab is a true haven for crustacean fans, celebrating the Sri Lankan crab in everything from the dishes to the crab-claw plants that serve as the restaurant’s only décor,” the ranking page reads.

Bangkok restaurant organizers say like the Colombo branch, Bangkok’s branch will also feature 2 kilogram mud crabs (“Crabzillas”) and 600 gram tiger prawns (“Prawnzillas”).

Ministry of Crab’s Bangkok branch will open on Dec. 1 from 6:30pm to 11:30pm. Then from Dec. 11 onwards, they will also be open for lunch from 11:30am to 2:30pm.

Ministry of Crab was founded in 2011 by Dharshan Munidasa and cricketers Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara, with branches in Colombo, Shanghai, Manila, Mumbai, the Maldives, and most recently, Bangkok.

Court Affirms Jail Time for Mayor Who Strips Reporter

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Teeranai Charuvastra, News Chief

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5 November 2019, 15:00

Premsak Piayura poses in a photo for his Dec. 2013 mayoral election campaign. Photo: Dr. Premsak Piayura / Facebook

KHON KAEN — An appeal court in the northeast on Tuesday upheld a two-month jail term for a former mayor who forced a reporter to strip in retaliation for a news story he didn’t like.

Affirming the verdict by the lower court, the judge found Premsak Piayura guilty of indecency and illegal detention for the incident in July 2016, when he ordered a Daily News reporter to strip to his underwear for reporting about the politician’s engagement to a teenage schoolgirl.

Premsak initially contested the charges, but later entered a guilty plea after the lower court found him guilty in June 2018 and sentenced him to two months in jail.

However, the appeal court today ruled there was no ground for clemency as his confession came after the guilt was already established. Premsak was subsequently given a two-month unsuspended jail term.

The bizarre legal fight started when Daily News published a story in July 2016 about a rumor that Premsak had gotten engaged to a local schoolgirl, paying a dowry of 400,000 baht and a car. Premsak was 51 at the time.

After the news was published, Premsak summoned five reporters to his office where he allegedly locked them in a room and berated them for insulting him with the coverage. The reporters were from Daily News, Matichon Group, Channel 3, Nation TV and a local TV station called KKC.

The mayor eventually released four of the reporters, but held back Daily News reporter Korsith Kongchom. Premsak then ordered his aide to strip the man naked to his underwear as punishment, prosecutors said. The aide, Buathong Lokan, was also given a two-month jail term today..

The military government later stripped Premsak of his mayoral office in 2017.

Both Buathong and Premsak were granted bail today while they contest the case in the Supreme Court.

Binge on 250-Brand Booze Bazaar in the Bangkok Breeze

By

Tappanai Boonbandit, Staff Reporter

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5 November 2019, 12:34

BANGKOK — Merrily mull over 250 varieties of beers while airing yourself with the rare cool breeze at an outdoor beer festival this Friday.

This year’s “Thailand Brew Fest” will feature a long list of local and international beer and cider brands from 19 countries.

The list will include almost every type of beer from the niche Ballast Point, Oskar Blues, and Köstritzer, to domestic craft brewer Full Moon, and even mass brands like Leo and Tsingtao.

Some, like the smooth and fruity Coronado 23rd Anniversary Double IPA, will make their first appearance to Thai drinkers at the festival.

To wash down that malty bitterness, there will be food stalls with barbecues, tacos, grilled wursts, and even yum Thai spicy salads. For serious beer sommeliers, take your tap servings to the next level with nitro-style draft beer dispensers which will be on sale at the festival.

Local synth-pop icon Polycat, alternative pop band Playground, and breakup song purveyor Portrait will fill the night with some good music.

Tickets are available online via Ticketmelon from 499 baht (with one drink) for one-day entry and 799 baht (with three drinks) for two-day entry.

“Thailand Brew Fest” will be held from Nov. 8 to 9 at The Link Asoke-Makkasan on Phetchaburi Road. The venue is reachable from MRT Phetchaburi or ARL Makkasan.

‘IU’ to Hold Christmas Eve Concert in Bangkok

By

Asaree Thaitrakulpanich, Staff Reporter

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5 November 2019, 11:59

IU in a promotional photo for her Love Poem extended play.

BANGKOK — Ring in Christmas eve with the sweet vocals of Kpop star IU at her December concert.

IU’s Bangkok stop on her Love, Poem tour will be on Dec. 24 at the Thunderdome at Impact Muang Thong Thani, starting at 8:30pm.

Her Love, Poem tour began Saturday in Kwangju, South Korea, and will go to other cities in South Korea, then Taipei, before landing in Southeast Asia.

Tickets will go on sale Nov. 30 at 10am, and will cost from 2,000 to 6,000 baht. You may want to hurry – tickets of K-pop idols in Thailand go fast. All tickets are seated, will include a free poster.

Lee Ji-eun, stage name IU, is a South Korean singer-songwriter and actress active since 2008. Initially known as Korea’s “little sister” for her wholesome, girl next door image, IU’s music and songwriting evolved as she became her own producer and lyricist.

A solo artist, IU’s hits often top the charts in the K-pop industry dominated by boy and girl bands. Her four albums and nine extended plays include hits such as “Nagging,” “Good Day,” “You and I,” “Twenty-Three,” “Palette,” “Bbibbi,” and so on.

Xi Says He Has ‘High Degree of Trust’ in Hong Kong’s Lam

By

Xinhua News Agency

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5 November 2019, 09:04

Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Chief Executive of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Carrie Lam, who is here for the second China International Import Expo (CIIE), in Shanghai, east China, Nov. 4, 2019. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)

SHANGHAI (Xinhua) — President Xi Jinping on Monday met with Chief Executive of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Carrie Lam, who is in Shanghai for the second China International Import Expo.

After hearing Lam’s report on the recent situation in Hong Kong, Xi said the disturbances in Hong Kong have lasted five months. Lam has led the SAR government to fully discharge its duties, strive to stabilize the situation and improve the social atmosphere, and has done a lot of hard work, he said.

Xi voiced the central government’s high degree of trust in Lam and full acknowledgement of the work of her and her governance team.

Ending violence and chaos and restoring order remain the most important task for Hong Kong at present, he noted.

138501381 15719681263531n 2 — Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Chief Executive of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Carrie Lam, who is here for the second China International Import Expo (CIIE), in Shanghai, east China, Nov. 4, 2019. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)

Xi demanded unswerving efforts to stop and punish violent activities in accordance with the law to safeguard the well-being of the general public in Hong Kong.

Meanwhile, effective efforts should be made in work including having dialogue with all sectors of the society and improving people’s livelihood, Xi said.

Xi expressed his hope that people from all walks of life in Hong Kong fully and faithfully implement the principle of “one country, two systems” and the HKSAR Basic Law, and make concerted efforts to safeguard Hong Kong’s prosperity and stability.

Chile Protests Resume, Demonstrations Crimp Economic Growth

By

Associated Press

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5 November 2019, 09:02

Men dressed as clowns, one dressed as the the movie character “The Joker” flying a Mapuche indigenous flag, are sprayed by a police water cannon during an anti-government protest in Santiago, Chile, Monday, Nov. 4, 2019. Chile has been facing weeks of unrest, triggered by a relatively minor increase in subway fares. The protests have shaken a nation noted for economic stability over the past decades, which has seen steadily declining poverty despite persistent high rates of inequality. (AP Photo/Esteban Felix)

SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) — Thousands of Chileans took to the streets again Monday to demand better social services, some clashing with police, as protesters demanded an end to economic inequality even as the government announced that weeks of demonstrations are hurting the country’s economic growth.

The latest protest came after a short break in the weekslong wave of demonstrations in which 20 people have died in clashes amid looting and arson that forced the cancellation of two upcoming major international summits in what is considered one of Latin America’s wealthiest countries.

Most Chileans starting last week were on a long holiday weekend and Monday’s protest was relatively small compared to earlier demonstrations. But the thousands who turned out showed that protest movement did not appear to be fizzling.

Most demonstrators supporting the leaderless national movement marched peacefully, but some groups threw rocks and firebombs at riot police officers — who responded with volleys of tear gas and water cannon blasts to try to disperse the crowds. The government said that at least six police officers were injured, including two who were attacked and set on fire with Molotov cocktails.

The demonstrations began last month after the government announced a hike in subway fares and transformed into a leaderless national movement with broader demands over education, health services and economic inequality. Santiago’s subway system has said that it has suffered nearly $400 million in damages, while businesses in Chile are estimated to have lost more than $1.4 billion in damages to arson, looting and lost sales.

Before the marchers gathered, Finance Minister Ignacio Briones warned that negative economic impacts from the protests in the country that is the planet’s leading copper producer forced officials to lower their 2019 economic growth prediction to between 2% and 2.2% from 2.6%.

His announcement was met with disdain by protesters who said they have not shared in Chile’s economic prosperity.

Marcos Díaz, a 51-year-old teacher protesting in the capital of Santiago, said big corporations have been the biggest beneficiaries.

“Through all these years of democracy, we’ve been living with a minimum wage that puts 60 percent of the workers below the poverty line,” he said. “Growth is a fallacy invented by this model to hide the inequality of this country.”

Accountant Veronica Gonzalez said even though she believes people are losing money from the protests, they’ll get it back later and that “this fight has to go on anyway.”

Protesters have slammed what they label a “neoliberal” economic model that on the surface makes Chile seem like a Latin American economic success story — masking a widely criticized pension system and hybrid public and private health and educations systems that give better benefits to the rich, who can afford to pay more.

Many protesters are demanding a new constitution to replace the 1980 charter written under Gen. Augusto Pinochet’s 1973-1990 military dictatorship. It allows many social services and natural resources, including water, to be wholly or partially privatized.

800 — Police officers run to get assistance after being hit with a gasoline bomb thrown by protesters during an anti-government protest in Santiago, Chile, Monday, Nov. 4, 2019. (AP Photo/Esteban Felix)

From afar, Chile has been viewed a regional success story under democratically elected presidents on the left and right. A free-market consensus has driven growth up, poverty down and won Chile the Latin America’s highest score on the United Nations Human Development Index, a blend of life expectancy, education and national income per capita.

And in 2010, Chile became the second Latin member of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, after Mexico.

But a 2017 UN report found that the richest 1% of Chile’s population earns 33 percent of the nation’s wealth. That helps make Chile the most unequal country in the OECD, slightly worse than Mexico.

President Sebastián Piñera is a billionaire and one of the country’s richest men. Piñera has replaced the heads of several ministries with generally younger officials seen as more centrist and accessible and introduced a series of economic reforms, including increases in the minimum wage and lowest state pensions. But he has struggled to contain the protests and is facing calls to resign.

“The challenge for the movement is too keep the pressure on Piñera. As the government and the opposition are now negotiating reforms and Congress is advancing some of those reforms, there are high chances of the movement splitting into the more radical and the moderate wings,” said Patricio Navia, a political scientist at New York University.

“The radical wing wants Piñera to resign and the more moderate groups want to cash in and get some reforms passed that will have a positive impact on the lives of people, especially increases in pensions and the minimum wage,” he said.

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Associated Press writers Luis Andres Henao in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Marcos Sepulveda in Santiago, Chile, contributed to this report.

TikTok, Web Novels, Chinese Internet Cultures Go Viral in Thailand

By

Xinhua News Agency

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5 November 2019, 09:02

A screenshot of Chinese-made "TikTok" application.

BANGKOK (Xinhua) — New icons of Chinese Internet-culture such as TikTok, fantasy novels and online dramas are gaining traction in Thailand, bringing fresh elements to the promotion of Chinese culture in the Southeast Asian country.

Teaching Chinese in a high school in northeastern province of Kalasin, Zuo Liugang has found his way to win popularity among Chinese learners from around Thailand.

As a teacher of Confucius Institute at Mahasarakham University, he has been working in a high school in Nongkrusi county, Kalasin Province since June of 2018. However, on the platform of TikTok, a leading video-sharing app, he managed to become a Chinese teacher with influence beyond Kalasin.

“I’ve got over 10,000 followers on TikTok and most of them are Thai students who are learning Chinese,” said 25-year-old Zuo, who has become a Internet celebrity by posting videos of Chinese-teaching lessons on TikTok.

Zuo said that although he works in a small county in a relatively remote province, TikTok has provided him with an influential platform to introduce Chinese language and culture to more people, no matter where they are.

In addition to platforms like TikTok, Chinese online dramas and novels also gave Thai fans reading and watching frenzies.

Local online reading platforms have opened new columns for Chinese web novels. Selling and renting of those books have become a thriving business for many book stores, libraries and social network sites.

In renowned chained stores named “Asian Books” in Bangkok, capital of Thailand, a number of Chinese web novels featuring Wuxia (martial heroes), Xianxia (immortal heroes) and Xuanhuan (fantasy featuring adventures and wars) have been translated into Thai and have topped the best-seller list in the area of Chinese books for a long time.

Nidawan Asavataweechok, a singer also known as Nid in a reality television series The Voice Thailand, said that she has been a big fan of Chinese culture for years. “That’s why I chose Chinese as my major in university, and performed Chinese songs in the contest.”

She told Xinhua that many Chinese web novels and dramas, with tightly coiled plots and cerebral conceits, are very popular in Thailand, especially among young generation.

In 2019, a Chinese web series named The Untamed, telling adventures of two investigators who travel around to solve a series of murders, has become a real hit in Thailand.

“Its beautiful scenery, vivid CGI, intriguing plots, and good acting make it very attractive to young people in Thailand. When the cast of The Untamed visited here in September, it became the hottest topic on social networks,” Nid said, adding that many of her friends followed the series like crazy.

Nid told Xinhua that she also created her account on TikTok recently. “I update videos of singing Chinese songs, introducing Chinese foods and sharing my understanding of Chinese culture on TikTok,” she said. “I hope I can be a promoter of Chinese culture here, a bridge of friendship between the two peoples.”

Story by Mao Pengfei, Wang Jin

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