On 18 April 2013, the Royal Thai Consulate-General in Guangzhou, in collaboration with Thai Student Association of Guangdong and Jinan University, organised the“SEA’s Songkran Festival 2013” at the College of Chinese Language and Culture, Jinan University.

     During the opening ceremony, Mr. Ye Qin, Vice President of Jinan University said that Jinan University is the first university in China to recruit foreign students and was glad to be part of this cultural exchange activities. Afterwards, Mrs. Suphatra Srimaitreephithak, Consul-General to Guangzhou, delivered remarks on the history of Songkran Festival and relevant customs that Thai people inherit for generations such as Buddha Bathing Rite and Baisri-Su-Kwan ceremony. The honored guests from both Thai and Chinese sides also participated in the Buddha Bathing Rite and Baisri-su-kwan ceremony during the event.

     On the stage were cultural performances from Thai, Laotian and Myanmese students. Participants had a chance to win lucky draws, the largest price being a Guangzhou-Bangkok roundtrip ticket sponsored by Thai Airways (Guangzhou Branch). Along one side of the stage were exhibitions booths explaining about the festival and the participating countries. There were also booths that sold home-made snacks prepared by the students. After the cultural performances and activities on the stage was the joyful water-splashing moment that visitors including the youths, the Chinese and the foreign students on the campus and from the general public very much enjoyed.