Illuminating the past

Last Saturday, Bangkok’s skies were lit up with a series of awe-inspiring fireworks to mark the start of the 16-night Vijit Chao Phraya festival aimed at promoting Thai tourism during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit. 2022.

Until November 27, visitors cruising along the Chao Phraya River will be delighted with sound and light shows, map projections and magnificent cultural performances at six iconic riverside sites and shopping spots honoring the rich history and cultural heritage of Thailand.

This is a collaboration between the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and its public and private sector partners to support businesses with night-time activities such as boat tours, dinner cruises, hotels and restaurants by the river. This is part of Colorful Bangkok, one of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration’s 12 monthly festival projects.

“This is the most extravagant light event along the Chao Phraya River. After the country has fully reopened to international tourism, this initiative is designed to accommodate tourists returning to Thailand during peak season as well as delegates to the Apec Economic Leaders Week from November 14-19,” said Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, Minister of Tourism and Sports.

Comm Art production is tasked with creating a series of extravagant multimedia presentations focusing on vibrant ambiances and riverside communities around the majestic Chao Phraya River.

“We hope to promote Thai tourism through Vijit Chao Phraya, while the leaders of the Apec summit, their wives and their delegates will stay in hotels or visit various places along the Chao Phraya River. The idea begins with historic bridges before expanding to include other ancient temples and historic venues to showcase Thailand’s history, distinctive architectural arts and multiculturalism,” said Sangtham Chunchadathan, Marketing Director of Comm Art Production.

“This event will bring color to the Chao Phraya River. If the response is favourable, TAT could make it an annual festival to boost business opportunities for boat tours, dinner cruises, restaurants and hotels. They could include these additional attractions to their schedule or create more nighttime activities during high season.”

The show starts at 7:00 PM and you can start your cruise at Rama VIII Bridge with brilliant laser lighting to commemorate His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s idea to create a new bridge to relieve traffic congestion between Bangkok and the Thon Buri side of the Chao Phraya. River.

With an “Open, Connect And Balance” concept, the five-minute laser show interacts with the framework of an asymmetrical bridge that combines Thai architecture with modern technology, while a greeting message will be displayed on a single Y-shaped pylon synchronized with music from The Sound of Siam.

Located at the mouth of Klong Bangkok Yai, Fort Wichai Prasit has transformed its white walls into a massive screen on which is projected a striking video mapping of seven minutes with light and special effects.

Visitors will be transported back in time to the days of Ayutthaya when the Chao Phraya served as a major means of transport for diplomatic missions and maritime merchants from China and Europe. It was built as Fort Wichayen during the reign of King Narai the Great, and after the fall of Ayutthaya in 1767, King Taksin the Great established Thon Buri as the new capital, making it a strategic location.

Visitors can imagine themselves in the midst of the Franco-Siamese War in 1893, when Siam agreed to cede some territories of Laos to France. This led Adm Prince Abhakara Kiartivongse (also known as Prince of Chumphon) to establish Thailand’s modern navy.

An adjacent stage takes up the front of Wat Kalayanamit Woramahawihan for a 10-minute contemporary cultural performance with special effects to portray the history of the Kudi Chin community, where Buddhist temples, a Catholic church and a Chinese shrine have coexisted for centuries.

It is as if we had entered a traditional temple fair or a Thai celebration to witness a lively multicultural exhibition involving shadow puppets, a dragon dance troupe and Hua To Klong Yao. Visitors can also see the Procession of Royal Barges in which a replica of Suphannahong floats past the temple as fireworks light up the dark sky to simulate a meteor shower. This show represents three welcoming Thai characteristics – happiness, friendliness and smiles.

Another highlight is the five-minute light show and illumination effects at the Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke Bridge, which was built during the reign of King Rama VII. The SNC-Lavalin railway has been converted into a bridge connecting the Phra Nakhon and Thon Buri sides, turning this area into a major commercial hub.

The sounds of trains, planes, ships, musical instruments and cooking are used in the presentation to create a sense of delightful travel experiences and local life in each location. In order to evoke the joyful festive spirit on this bridge, TAT will soon update a schedule of lavish fireworks via thailandfestival.org.

River City Bangkok is a popular art and antiques mall that received the Outstanding Architectural Design award from the Siam Architects Association in 1984, giving it a perfect blend of old and new.

A seven-minute video mapping presentation is projected on its facade to show how Thai culture is promoted through soft power like food, movies, drama series, Khon mask dance performances and festivals.

The boat ride ends at Iconsiam and visitors can enjoy the iconic six-minute multimedia water features that stretch over 400m. This longest running water dance show in Southeast Asia combines innovative light, sound and multimedia technologies to reflect the beauty of traditional Thai customs and culture.

As part of Iconsiam Bangkok Illumination 2022, a 20m-tall Christmas tree symbolizes the light of the future, using renewable energy from solar cells in a hybrid form to reduce energy consumption and carbon footprint .

Back on land, visitors can join a walking tour in Talat Phlu, where the Creative Economy Agency has partnered with Urban Alley to curate the first series of the Hidden Temple multimedia traveling exhibition to Sunday.

As part of the Unfolding Bangkok initiative, it will illuminate three historic temples at night to highlight the district’s history and unique Thai architectural arts tied to Buddhist beliefs. Featured are projection mapping presentations and architectural lighting designs created by artists from DecideKit, Architectural Lighting and LightIs and Friends. On weekends, local students present cultural acts and specialists organize bike tours.

As part of the pilgrimage concept, visitors can start at Wat Intharam Worawihan, which was built in the Ayutthaya period. King Taksin the Great renovated it and his relics would be installed there. The temple suffered another major uprising during the reign of King Rama III and a new ubosot was erected to enshrine a statue of Phra Phutthachinnavorn.

Superb video mapping presentations are projected on the walls of three small vihans allowing visitors to imagine themselves traveling in Sri Lanka. The first one vihan is designed to resemble the abode of Lord Buddha, with murals showing his everyday objects. Visitors can worship a reclining Buddha statue against a projection-mapped, blooming lotus background.

The second vihan is enshrined with a reclining Buddha statue in a coffin and you can witness his cremation in a projection-mapped forest. In the final vihanBuddhist pilgrims can travel back in time to the time of King Rama II and accompany a group of monks on their ascent of Samantakuta (also known as Adam’s Peak or Sri Pada), home to the footprint of Lord Buddha standing on a lotus.

Visitors can reach Wat Chantharam Worawihan by following the pink lights along a narrow alley. It was built during the Ayutthaya period and was renovated during the reign of King Rama III. The pinion of the ubosot is illuminated to showcase a mural made of pastel-colored Chinese ceramics showing an assortment of traditional offerings.

The last stop is Wat Ratchakhrue, which was erected in the late Ayutthaya period by the Burmese army and was restored during the reign of King Rama I. The colorful light decoration leads pilgrims to the stupa at the top of an imitation of Mount Meru, home to Lord Buddha. steps and shade.

TAT Bangkok joins Chao Phraya Express Boat to offer special discounts on Riva Express Cruise to enjoy Vijit Chao Phraya on November 18, 19, 26 and 27. Tickets are 150 baht (from 250 baht) with a limit of 500 tickets. For more information, visit bit.ly/3A1UrsG.

Vijit Chao Phraya continues until November 27. Check out the schedule of light shows, projector mapping and cultural performances at thailandfestival.org or facebook.com/ThailandFestival.

The Hidden Temple exhibition is visible until Sunday from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Discover more details on cea.or.th.