Without much film work, the Chinese actress seems to take on anything she can, anywhere in the world

Fan Bingbing in full Thai regalia. Photo: fanbingbingbar/Instagram

A screen goddess on a float among floats in a Songkran Parade. Except that she is not a Thai actress, but a Chinese star with not many films to her name these days. Fan Bingbing (范冰冰) is in Bangkok now. But she is not attending a fashion show or a film festival, as she has frequently been in these past years. She is in the Thai capital as a Songkran beauty queen, except she is not there to play the legendary nang songkran (perhaps, what Marianne is to France). That role went earlier to Thai-Danish beauty queen Anntonia Porsild, who was cast as Mahodhara (picked this year from a bevy of seven nang songkrans that represent each day of the week). Ms Fan was decked-out in traditional Thai dress, as she sailed down Rajadamnern Klang Road to Sanam Luang, just hours ago, as part of the procession that kick-started the five-day festivities. And looked every bit the mannequin that she was made and togged to be. Ms Fan with immaculate makeup is nothing new. A drenched her would be. But her minders and security team likely only wanted her to be dry.

It is not quite clear what she was doing exactly in a Songkran parade. The Nation said she “crashed” the show. Others believed she was enlisted to lend “star power” to the annual event. Why that was necessary when there were many Thai actresses to fill her role was not discussed. Fan Bing Bing attired to look Thai may be amusing—even narak (cute), but for some locals, her turn-out was considered cultural appropriation. Did she look especially Thai? Many were divided on that. She was like those Chinese tourists who dressed in pha sinh (tubular skirt) when visiting Ayutthaya. Thai fans who appreciated her presence in the parade did consider her ride to be lacklustre as she was placed on a tuk-tuk-looking mini-lorry festooned with flowers, like a bridal car decorated on a budget, rather than the far grander peacock on a profusion of blooms that Ms Porsild rode in, and sheltered from the sun by a ceremonial umbrella. Ms Fan was unsheltered.

Ms Fan the unmoving mannequin on a float. Photo: Fan Bingbing Studio

It was not hard to come to the conclusion that Fan Bingbing’s Songkran appearance was put together to make Bangkok attractive—again—to Chinese tourists. The city has not been able to woo their favourite nationals after the COVID pandemic. In 2019, before the viral outbreak, more than 25 percent of the 40 million arrivals that year in Thailand comprised of Chinese. They no longer enjoy the top spot. According to local reports, the government is now hoping to lure 8 million of zhongguoren, but industry experts think that will be a “stretch”, as The Business Times reported in January. But will Fan Bingbing dressed as a Thai beauty queen not especially more striking than contestants of Miss Tiffany’s Universe do the trick? It is too early to tell if trip.com would be overwhelmed with bookings to the City of Angels.

To be sure, the Chinese special guest star did not look unattractive. She was just Fan Bingbing, the actress, the clothes horse. Kitted in a chut thai (traditional Thai dress)—in the formal siwalai style—of baby-blue silk with gold embroidery and a fully embroidered sabai (single shawl) draped diagonally over her upper body, she carried the look well and rather royally, as if still playing a role. To enhance her regal bearing, Thai jewellery was lavished on her. As a decisive finishing touch, she carried a phuang malai (floral hand garland), shaped like a handbag. In fact, she appeared ready to spend Songkran as a guest in the nearby palaces. But could a 中国代表(representative of China) really do more to attract her compatriots by dressing in the costume of the host nation? Would looking like an unspeaking character from an expensive production of Ramakien (Thai version of the Ramayana) really make the impression? Perhaps, the Thais wanted a simple approach: 爱美之心 人皆有之 (ai mei zhi xin ren jie you zhi)—everyone in their heart loves beauty.