Bangkok, 10 October, 2015 – The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has joined forces with the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Kingdom of Thailand, and the Ministry of Culture, the People’s Republic of China, to organise a special “15,000 miles from Altai to Suvarnabhumi” Thai-Sino culture and tourism friendship caravan to mark the 40th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between Thailand and China and to commemorate the 60th birthday anniversary of Her Royal Highness Maha Chakri Sirindhorn.
Mr. Yuthasak Supasorn, Governor of TAT said, “This special friendship caravan is also organised with an objective of strengthening the tourism cooperation between Thailand and China, boost awareness and promote the positive image of Thailand’s Discover Thainess Year in 2015, as well as to celebrate the 55th anniversary of TAT and to introduce new travel routes linking countries in the ASEAN Economic Community.”
The special caravan will take place from 16 November to 13 December, 2015, totalling 31 days and 30 nights. The trip will cover the unique Silk Road route, starting in China from the Altai Mountains to Xishuangbanna through Lao PDR. and then enter Thailand via the northern region (Chiang Rai). The caravan will then travel down to explore the 19 provinces in the Central Region of Thailand through to the Singkhon Pass at the border between Thailand and Myanmar.
The journey will begin on 16 November, 2015, with a grand opening ceremony at the starting point in Altai, Xinjiang. The caravan will then start touring historic routes, featuring ancient civilisations and charming World Heritage Sites, including the Altai Golden Mountain, five-coloured lake, and Kelamayi, the largest black oil well in Xinjiang. In Gansu, important tourist sites include the Tomb of Emperor Harmi, sand dunes of Mingshashan, Buddha images cave and Danxia Landform Geological Park.
In Shanxi, the route will feature the beauty of the 7,000 carved Buddha images in Jizan Cave and the impressive Terracotta Army at the Tomb of Emperor Qin, which is the 8th wonder of the world before continuing further to Xichuan to visit Wu Zetian Temple, then travelling through to the historic battle route during the Three Kingdoms period. In Chengdu, the many interesting points of interest en route are the Giant Panda Conservation Centre and the Guan Xai Xiang Guan, an ancient city over a thousand years old. The trip in China will conclude in Yunnan with visits to the Million Years Stone Park in Kunming as well as other interesting attractions in Jinghong and Xishuangbanna.
The caravan will continue onto Lao PDR. and then enter Thailand at Chiang Saen, Chiang Rai, where the white temple or Wat Rong Khun is the highlight. The trip will then travel through northern Thailand, passing through Phayao, Phrae, Uttaradit, Sukhothai, Phitsanulok, and Nakhon Sawan then continue throughout the 19 Central Region provinces beginning from Chainat province, which will also host the arrival of the caravan.
In the Central Region, the caravan will pass through Singburi province and stop at Lopburi province where the participants will visit the Three Pagodas Temple, Narai Ratchaniwet Palace and see the monkeys at Phra Kan Shrine; to Saraburi where they will pay homage to the Buddha’s Footprint at Wat Phra Buddhabat Ratchaworamahaviharn; to Angthong to touch the fingertip of the large Buddha image at Wat Muang; to Suphan Buri to visit the Dragon Village and learn about the 5,000-year-old Chinese history, and onto Ayutthaya where they will visit temples and try elephant riding around the Ayutthaya Historical Park and admire the beauty of illuminated historical sites at night. Then, they will travel onto Nonthaburi to see the Dragon Temple Kamalawat 2, then to Pathum Thani, onto Chachoengsao to pay homage to the Luang Pho Sothon Buddha image and the giant Ganesh image before proceeding onto Samut Prakan to visit Ancient Siam.
From Samut Prakan, they will pass through Samut Sakhon to Samut Songkram – the city of the river’s tempo to visit the Ban Bang Phlup Community Learning Centre, King Rama II Memorial Park, and Bang Kung Camp, then onto Ratchaburi to see Damnoen Saduak Floating Market and Lao Tak Lak Floating Market, which was used as the backdrop of the ‘Lost in Thailand 2’ movie, then onto Phetchaburi to rest and relax at Cha-am Beach. The next day, they will go to Prachuap Khiri Khan to see the Monuments of the Seven Great Kings of Siam at Ratchaphakdi Park and then go onto survey the border checkpoint market, and the route crossing the Gulf of Thailand linking the Andaman Sea at the Singkhon Pass.
From Prachuap Khiri Khan, they will travel back to Kanchanaburi to see the Bridge over the River Kwai, pay respect to the wooden Guan Yin Goddess at Mettadharmapothiyan Temple, visit Krasae Cave and enjoy the rafting. Then they will travel pass Nakhon Pathom to Bangkok to see the Grand Palace, Temple of the Emerald Buddha, and go shopping.
The caravan will end the trip on the night of 13 December, 2015, with a gala dinner party and a ceremony to present certificates to the participants conquering the ‘15,000 Miles from Altai to Suvarnabhumi’ at the Chinese Cultural Centre in Bangkok.
For more information and to follow the 31-day journey, visit:
Website: www.tiewpakklang.com
Facebook: TAT_Tiewpakklang
Contact Information
International Public Relations Division
Tourism Authority of Thailand
Tel: +66 (0) 2250 5500 ext. 4545-48
Fax: +66 (0) 2253 7419
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.tatnews.org
Facebook: TAT Newsroom
Twitter: TAT Newsroom
