Recommendation of 5 Must-Visit Major Scenic Areas in Chiang Rai

Located at the junction of Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos, Chiang Rai is part of the famous "Golden Triangle". After its transformation, Chiang Rai, once the world's largest origin of narcotic drugs, is now just a peaceful small town in northern Thailand, attracting many tourists to its scenic areas of Wat Rong Khun, Baan Dam and Long Neck Village. Generally speaking, tourists visiting Chiang Rai usually join a one-day group tour of Chiang Mai. The scenic areas include Wat Rong Khun, Baan Dam, Long Neck Village, and the border area of the Golden Triangle. If you think that the schedule is too tight, you can rent a car and go there yourself. Wat Rong Khun and Baan Dam are two good places to visit. You can start in the morning and return to Chiang Mai in the evening.

Wat Rong Khun, also known as the White Temple, is a temple designed by the famous Thai artist Chalermchai Kositpipat. The temple is mainly white, with many pieces of glass inlaid on its walls and sculptures. When the sun shines down on it, it reflects dazzling silver light from time to time, as if a richly decorated jade palace fell into the world. In addition to the traditional Buddhist theme, the murals in the main hall of Wat Rong Khun add many modern elements. In the second half of the fresco which represents the mortal world, there are many familiar figures: Robot Cat, Avatar, Girl Warrior, Michael Jackson, Alien, and Astro Boy... Very interesting.

Baan Dam has also been translated as the Black House Museum. In fact, it is not a temple, but a death-themed museum designed by the Thai ghost artist Thawan. The museum is full of dark spired wooden houses, built with a large number of exhibits about death, such as buffalo skulls, animal fur, and the hunting tools of primitive tribes. Entering the exhibition hall of Baan Dam is like entering an ancient temple. The towering roof of the main hall gives people the illusion of directly reaching into the sky. Sunlight can only illuminate one corner of the main hall, and the rest is hidden in the darkness of nothingness. The two worlds of light and dark are quite distinct. Stepping into it is like shuttling between the real world and the netherworld.

In the mountains to the north of Chiang Rai lies Mae Salong, the largest Chinese community in northern Thailand. Walking in the village, you can see rich Chinese customs all around you: red lanterns and spring couplets, exquisite tile murals, and Chinese characters. The atmosphere here is very cordial. Located in the high mountains, with a mild and humid climate, surrounded by clouds all year round, beautiful trees, beautiful flowers, and beautiful scenery, Mae Salong Village is also known as "Little Switzerland". The residents of the mountainous village are mostly officers and soldiers of the 93th division of the former Kuomintang military and their descendants. They have been living and building families in the mountainous areas of northern Thailand as refugees for years.

The long necked people living on the border between Thailand and Burma have become one of the most popular tourist features in northern Thailand. But few tourists know that behind the long neck custom is the bitter story of the long necked people who have been living away from home for years. Long necked people fled their hometown because of war. They are illegal immigrants in Thailand and are not protected by law. Therefore, they have to rely on the custom of "women's copper ring neck twining" to make a living. Long necked girls start to wear copper rings to stretch their necks from five years old. Every two years they stretch their necks further. The copper rings are worn for life, and can't be taken off, even during bathing or sleeping. As time goes on, these women's necks will have to rely on these collars, because if they take them off, their necks will become too fragile to hold up their heads.