Lifestyle
Khon Muang are the city folk who originally came from Chiang Mai, Lamphun, Lampang and Phrae. Culturally, they design their houses having only one floor with wooden gable-decorations called Ka-Lae. They are known for their craftsmanship in wood carving, weaving, lacquerware and musical instruments.
Tai Yai, Burmese in origin, harvest rice, farm, raise cattle and trade. Their craftsmanship lies in weaving, pottery, wood carving and bronzeware.Akha have the largest population of any hill tribe in the region. Originating from Tibet and Southern China, they dwell on high grounds around 1,200 meters above sea-level. Within their villages they build a Spirit Gateway to protect them from evil spirits.
Lahu are also from the Yunnese area and live in high areas. They are known as hunters and planters. Karen live in various areas of the region which have valleys and riverbanks.Chin Hor, these are the former Kuomintang who took refuge in the area, mainly Doi Mae Salong Hmong from southern China are located on high land. They raise livestock and grow rice, corn, tobacco and cabbage. They are also known for their embroidery and silver.
Tai Lue live in dwellings of usually only a single room wooden house built on high poles. They are skilled in weaving. Lisaw from southern China and Tibet are renowned for their colorful dress and also build their dwellings on high poles. They harvest rice and corn and their men are skilled in hunting.
Yao reside along mountain sides and grow corn and other crops. They are skilled blacksmiths, silversmiths and embroiders.
an ancient town which once served as the main town before King Mengrai established Chiang Rai as the capital of the Lanna Kingdom in 1262. Traces of old double city walls and many other antiquities still remain in and outside the district town. The attractions include Chiang Saen National Museum, Wat Phra That Chedi Luang and Wat Pa Sak.
How to get there :
By bus
Chiang Saen is connected by bus to Chiang Rai (1.5 hrs, every 15-20 min, 37 baht). Blue songthaews also travel from Mae Sai via the Golden Triangle to Chiang Saen in about 1 hour (every 20 min or so, 60 baht).
The bus station and songthaew depot is located about 50 meters before the main road (Highway 1016) ends in a T-intersection on the banks of the Mekong river (intersection pictured above).
There does not appear to be any regular public transport south to Chiang Khong and the Lao border crossing.
By car
The district can be reached by taking Highway No. 110 from Chiang Rai for some 30 kilometres. Then take a right turn onto Highway No. 1016 and proceed on for another 30 kilometres.
By boat
It's also possible to charter a boat carrying up to 8 people along the Mekong to Chiang Khong (1.5 hrs) for around 1500 baht, or up to Sop Ruak (Golden Triangle) for less (around 40 min).
Wai Sa Phaya Mengrai or Phokhun Mengrai Maharat Festival is held from January 23 – February 1. The Buang Suang worshipping ceremony is to commemorate Phokhun Mengrai Maharat.
Dok Siao Ban or Blooming Siao Flower Festival at Phu Chi Fa is held during 13–15 February. There are sports competitions and cultural performances from hilltribes at Ban Rom Fa Thai in Amphoe Thoeng.
Songkran Festival and Boat Races of Mueang Chiang Saen is held during 13–18 April of each year. In this festival, there is a parade, water bathing ceremony of the Phrachao Lanthong Buddha image, boat races and folk performances.
Lichi Fair is held around the middle of May every year. There is a float competition, Lichi beauty contest and booths of many products at the provincial stadium of Chiang Rai.
Buatong Ban or Blooming Mexican Sunflower Festival is held in November, affording people the opportunity to see the sunflower fields, waterfalls and mist at Ban Hua Mae Kham, Amphoe Mae Fa Luang. There are also hilltribe performances.
Chiang Rai Flower Festival is held during the end of December to January every year. There are flower processions, flower gardens, Miss Thinn Thai Ngarm Contest and also the fair of agricultural products and the variety of flowers.
Chiang Saen, Mae Chan, and Doi Mae Salong are three substantially different places. Chiang Saen's culture has been influenced by its collection of Buddhist scriptures and temples. It was once the provincial capital. Mae Chan's name lies in its silver and tribal handicrafts. Once officially unrecognized by the Thai government, Doi Mae Salong is a Chinese KMT (Kuomintang) area renowned for its natural beauty and unique Yunnanese culture. Besides the Chinese 93rd Infantry of the Kuomintang, several other ethnic minorities have settled down in the region including the Tai Yai, Tai Lue, Tai Khoen and Tai Yuan.
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"sleeping woman mountain", is unusual land feature located in Mae Chan district on the western side of the highway between Chiang Rai and Mae Sai.[3] The silhouette of the mountain range takes the shape of a reclining woman when seen from certain angles. There is a viewpoint at Mae Chan, from where this land feature can be observed best.
Legend
The main local legend on how this land feature came into being says that there was once a beautiful young lady in the area whose husband went away but failed to come back at the expected time. His wife became anxious and waited, but time passed and he wouldn't come. Suddenly the woman thought that her husband might be lost and went out of the house to search for him. She wandered anxiously for days through fields and forests all across the region, but couldn't find him. However, the lady didn't give up and walked and walked until she could walk no more.
At that point the young lady was so exhausted she fell down on her back. Looking at the sky she cried bitterly, finally dying of despair. After her death the woman's ghost grew to a huge size and was covered by the surrounding earth, taking the shape of a sleeping lady with her face looking skywards.
Tourism
There is a viewpoint at Amphoe Mae Chan (Mae Chan district), from where the "sleeping lady" can be observed best. Local tour guides like to joke that Doi Nang Non is "the highest mountain in the world", if the lady would get up and stand on her feet.
There are a number of caves and water courses in these hills. Some of them have been developed as a tourist attraction.
Activities
Trekking An extensive network of trails mainly used by hill tribe villagers covers the mountain areas of Mae Suai, Mae Salong, Doi Chaang and the banks along the Mae Kok River.
Golf Santiburi Chiang Rai is one of the best courses in the country and is only 15 minutes from the city. Waterford is an attractive course about 45 minutes north of Chiang Rai city. The Military course is on the way to the Mae Fah Luang Bridge, not far from the Dusit Hotel. The old airport has a short but tough 9 hole course.
Mountain Biking Chiang Rai has incredible mountain biking because of the extensive network of paved roads with little traffic and dirt roads in the mountains. A nice day ride is to start in the city, go out to the elephant village and continue on past it until you find a small single track suspension bridge. Cross it and turn left, back towards Chiang Rai. On the way you will pass two hot springs and eventually end up back in the city.
Long Tail Boat Ride A long tail boat ride on the Kok River is a fun way to experience the scenery and see hill tribe villages. There are daily trips from Thaton, near the Burmese border to Chiang Rai. The main boat station is on the north side of the Mae Fah Luang Bridge, not far from the Rimkok Hotel.
Elephants Riding Elephant riding is possible at Baan Ruamit, about 30 minutes from Chiang Rai by car or 1 hour by long tail boat ride.
Doi Tung is a revered mountain which includes the Doi Tung Palace and the Mae Fa Luang Flower Garden. The Wat Phra That Doi Tung Holy Relic, an old religious site on top of the mountain, is about 2,000 metres above sea level.
Doi Mae Salong is home to a community settled by remnants of the 93rd Division of the Republic of China Army, who moved out of Yunnan province, China, in to Burma and after to Thai territory at the end of the Chinese Civil War in 1949. Today the town is a tourist attraction renowned for its tea and its small-town ambience on high hills.
