Chiang Mai – The Songkran festival in Chiang Mai is bustling as tourists and locals come out to splash water around the city moat to cool down and reduce dust pollution after Chiang Mai residents have suffered from smoke and dust for several months. Today, PM2.5 dust levels exceeded the standard, ranking 4th highest in the world.
In the afternoon of 13 Apr 2026 GMT+7, reporters observed a lively atmosphere during the Songkran or "Pi Mai Mueang" festival around Chiang Mai’s city moat and at Tha Phae Gate Square in Mueang District. Many Thai and foreign tourists came out to splash water to beat the heat amid the hot and stifling weather, making the afternoon more vibrant than in previous days.
It was observed that quite a few tourists preferred to use pickup trucks loaded with water tanks, driving around the moat to enjoy water splashing, adding color to this year’s Songkran festivities despite facing ongoing PM2.5 dust pollution exceeding safe limits in many areas.
Meanwhile, air quality data from the IQAir AirVisual app indicated that on the same afternoon, Chiang Mai had PM2.5 dust levels as high as 166 micrograms per cubic meter, ranking 4th globally in air pollution. This level poses health risks to the public. There were 82 hotspots detected in the area, with the most—33—located in Chiang Dao District.
However, it is expected that more locals and tourists will join activities from afternoon into the evening, as a procession carrying the "Phra Buddha Sihing," the revered Buddha image of Chiang Mai, will move from Charoen Mueang Road through Tha Phae Gate. Accompanying it will be over 50 processions featuring important Buddha images from various city temples, allowing people to pour water and pay respects for good fortune during the Songkran festival.
Although the dust and smoke situation remains concerning, the tourism atmosphere during Chiang Mai’s Songkran festival stays vibrant, reflecting the continued popularity among tourists. This ongoing influx helps generate income and stimulate the local economy.