BANGKOK, Aug. 12, 2025 — The “Poetry Lights the Heart’s Lantern” festival in Bangkok, a public welfare initiative by China UnionPay as part of its Poetry POS Machine campaign, recently commenced at Iconsiam, Bangkok’s landmark riverside complex. This event signifies the campaign’s initial expansion overseas, extending its message of compassion beyond China’s borders.
Timed to coincide with a Chinese lantern festival in Thailand, the UnionPay booth stood out prominently, situated beneath the China-Thailand friendship lantern display. A striking large lantern served as its focal point, surrounded by smaller ones adorned with children’s poems in both Chinese and Thai.
On-site, Thai children recited verses by Chinese kids, absorbing the innocence and delight from afar. Visitors could make donations by swiping their UnionPay cards on the POS machine, receiving a bilingual (Chinese-Thai) poetry receipt as a souvenir. They also had the option to record their own poetry readings free of charge, taking home a postcard with a QR code linked to their audio – a distinctive memento of their involvement.
Notably, all proceeds from the event will be directed towards a Thai charitable foundation, aiming to enhance the lives and education of local children.
“We believe that while China and Thailand are geographically distant, the sincerity and warmth conveyed through poetry remain universal,” a China UnionPay spokesperson remarked.
“Poetry is humanity’s common language, a haven where all souls find refuge. Like light itself, no matter where it shines, it embodies our shared longing for brightness and warmth,” the spokesperson added. “This initiative is more than a gesture of goodwill; it represents a cultural dialogue and a heartfelt connection.”
As a leading international payment network, UnionPay is widely accepted in Thailand, with its global presence extending across 183 countries and regions. It is hoped that the Poetry POS Machine will serve as a unique philanthropic bridge – connecting people worldwide with children eager to share their voices, and uniting individuals from diverse cultures through their shared appreciation for poetry, innocence, and beauty.
Since its launch in 2019, the UnionPay Poetry POS Machine campaign has reached over 400 schools in mountainous areas across Anhui, Henan, Sichuan, Guizhou, Yunnan, Xinjiang, and beyond, supporting more than 7,000 local children in accessing art education.
Source: China UnionPay
CONTACT: Ms. Liu, Tel: 86-10-63074558
