Chiang Rai is the city of
King Meng Rai the Great, founded in 1262 on
the banks of the Kok river. Chiang Rai is
Thailand's northernmost province, bordering
both Burma and Laos.It covers an area of approximately
11,678 square meters with an average elevation
of 580 meters above sea level.
Chiang Rai was the first
capital of the Lanna Thai Kingdom. Important
attractions in this historic province includes
the Golden
Triangle, the former infamous drug trade
meeting point of Thailand, Laos and Burma.Other
attractions are the Mekong River, which runs
from the Himalaya Mountains through China,
Burma, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and to the
south China sea in Vietnam, and the Doi
Toong Royal villa of The Princess Mother,
which offers great scenic views and the most
beautiful flower garden in the north.
The serene temples in Chiang
Saen on the bank of Mekong River are worth
a visit as an historical location awaiting
declaration as a UNESCO World Heritage Site
in the near future. Furthermore, those who
love herbal green tea should not miss the
scenic mountain Doi Mae Sa Long, the residence
of the Chinese Gok Min Tung Party, which migrated
from China to Chiang Rai in 1960.
