Little Thailand
Kowloon city is not only about the Walled City, the Thai culture here is also worth exploring…
The Chiuchownese and Thai community in Kowloon city have become one of the cultural features in this district. From the map, we can see that there are numerous Thai and Chiu Chow stores or restaurants on the streets in Kowloon city, especially on South Wall Road. We can find different Thai grocery stores and restaurants concentrated here. We already have a consensus that we will call Kowloon city 'Little Thailand' or 'Little Bangkok' since we can see there are Thai everywhere in these streets, the use of Thai in signal boards, and the spices or sweets originated from Thailand. The most original Thai dishes' tastes & products produced in Thailand can also be found here. We can see that the cultural interaction between Chinese and Thai cultures can be found in every corner here.
The Thai living in Kowloon City has brought Thai culture to the neighbourhood: restaurants, grocery stores, massage parlours, Buddhism products shops, and others are everywhere in Kowloon City. From April 13th to 15th is the Songkran Festival in Thailand (i.e. Water splashing festival that we call). Thai people will bless each other and pray for good luck by splashing water. Every year the Thai trade unions will hold Songkran Festival in Hong Kong to promote Thai culture.
小泰國
九龍城並非只有寨城，當中的泰文化也是十分值得探索...
現今，在九龍城區的潮州族群與泰國族群已經成為這區的文化特色。地圖所展示九龍城街道上林立的泰國及潮州商舖或餐廳就是最好的證據，由其是城南道一帶更是聚集了不少泰國雜貨店和餐廳 。香港人對九龍城有一個共識，就是會稱九龍城為「小泰國」、「小曼谷」, 皆因我們能夠在街上隨處看到泰國人閒聊、泰文的招牌告示、泰國的特色香料及糕點。在九龍城裡總能嚐到最正宗的泰國味道、買到泰國特產。在九龍城每個角落我們總能看見中泰文化在相互交融。
生活在九龍城的泰國人更把泰國文化帶來這街區:泰式餐廳、雜貨店、按摩店、佛具店等店鋪林立在九龍城。每年的4月13至15日是泰國的宋干節，亦是我們所俗稱的泰國潑水節。泰國人會透過潑水方式互相祝福並祈求好運。泰國工會組織更會每年於香港舉辦潑水節，宣揚泰國文化。