China Town today is decorated with red lanterns with New Year greeting message putting up on the Yaowarat road as it is set to kick off the grand scale festival today to  welcome the Chinese year of goat.

Highlight of this year festival is a three-goat jade sculpture bestowed by the Chinese government to the Thai princess to mark her 60th birthday anniversary on April 2 and the 40th anniversary of Thailand-China diplomatic relations.

The beloved Thai princess was born in the year of goat. The 1.6 meter sculpture weighing 3 tonnes will be displayed at the China Town Gate’s Thai Chinese Cultural Circle as symbol of peace and good luck.

 Mr Wisit Limprana, organizer of the Bangkok Chinatown Festival, said these two Mandarin words crafted on this jade sculpture means “three goats” and “peace and prosperity”. It is the New Year greeting from the Chinese Culture Ministry, meaning peace and prosperity of the people.

The princess is also scheduled to visit the gold sculpture of Guanyin, Chinese Goodness of Mercy, when she opens the festival at the Chinatown this evening.

 The sculpture is located at the Thien Fah Foundation.

The Guanyin sculpture is a popular place of Thai of Chinese descent to pray for health and healing. The foundation will also present gold goat sculpture to the Thai princess on the occasion.

 Jitti Tangsittipakdi, president  of Gold Traders Association explained that gold is always yellow. Its color has never changed even when anyone  try to burn it.

From the ancient Chinese time, yellow has represented the color of the king. It is a noble color which ordinary people can not use. It also represents good luck. Thus, the best present for the Chinese New Year is obviously gold, he said.