"เหนือสุดในสยาม ชายแดนสามแผ่นดิน ถิ่นวัฒนธรรมล้านนา ล้ำค่าพระธาตุดอยตุง" ("Northernmost of Siam,Border of three nations, Home ofLan Na culture. The precious Wat Phra That Doi Tung.")
The average elevation of the province is 580 metres (1,903 ft). The north of the province is part of the so-calledGolden Triangle, where the borders of Thailand, Laos and Burma converge, an area which prior to the rise of agricultural production of coffee, pineapple, coconuts, and banana plantations, was unsafe because of drugsmuggling across the borders. TheMekong River forms the boundary with Laos, theMae Sai andRuak River with Burma. Through the town ofChiang Rai itself, flows the "Mae Kok"Kok River and south of it theLao River, a tributary of the Kok.
While the eastern part of the province is characterized by relatively flat river plains, the northern and western part consists of the hilly terrain of theThai highlands with theKhun Tan Range and thePhi Pan Nam Range in the west and theDaen Lao Range in the north. While not the highest elevation of the province, the 1,389-metre (4,557 ft) high[5]Doi Tung (Flag Hill) is the most important terrain feature.Wat Phra That Doi Chom Thongwat on top of the hill, according to the chronicles, dates back to the year 911. Nearby isDoi Tung Royal Villa, former residence of the late princess motherSomdej Phra Srinagarindra (mother ofKing Rama IX). Thanks to her activities the hills were reforested, and the hill tribes diverted from growing opium poppies to other crops including coffee, bananas, coconuts, and pineapples. The total forest area is 4,585 km2 (1,770 sq mi) or 39.9 percent of provincial area.[1]
Chiang Rai was founded in 1262. Populations have dwelled in Chiang Rai since the 7th century and it became the center of theLanna Kingdom during the 13th century. The region, rich in natural resources, was occupied by the Burmese until 1786.
Chiang Rai province's golden triangle bordering Laos and Burma was once the hub of opium production.
Chiang Rai became a province in 1910, after being part of theLanna Kingdom for centuries. After Lanna was incorporated into Thailand, it remained an autonomous region and thus the Chiang Rai area was administered from Chiang Mai.
Chiang Rai province is a transit point for Rohingya refugees from Myanmar (Burma) who are transported there from Sangkhlaburi district inKanchanaburi province.[9]
In September 2024, there was a major flood in Chiang Rai province, affecting six districts. It was the most severe flood in 50 years.[10]
The majority of the population are ethnicThai who speakKham Muang among themselves, but 12.5% are ofhill tribes origin, a sizeable minority in the north provinces. A smaller number are ofChinese descent, mainly descendants of theKuomintang soldiers who settled in the region, notably inSantikhiri.
Khon Muang[11] 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, lacquer ware, and musical instruments.
Tai Yai (ไทใหญ่) (Shan) are aTai ethnic group who primarily live in what is nowShan State in Burma, and also inMae Hong Son province in Thailand. They grow rice, farm, raise cattle, and trade. Their craftsmanship lies in weaving, pottery, wood carving, and bronze ware.
Akha have the largest population of any hill tribe in the region. Originating from Tibet and southern China, they dwell on high ground around 1,200 meters above sea level. Within their villages they build spirit gateways to protect them from evil spirits.
Lahu (Musor) are also from the Yunnanese 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 Haw in Chiang Rai consist primarily of the formerKuomintang (KMT army) who took refuge in the area, mainly inSantikhiri (formerly Mae Salong).
Hmong from southern China, inhabit high ground. They raise livestock and grow rice, corn, tobacco, and cabbage. They are also known for their embroidery and silver.
Tai Lue (Dai) live in dwellings of usually only a single room wooden house built on high poles. They are skilled in weaving.
Lisu from southern China and Tibet are renowned for their colorful dress and also build their dwellings on high stilts. They harvest rice and corn and their men are skilled in hunting.
Yao (Mien) reside along mountain sides and grow corn and other crops. They are skilled blacksmiths, silversmiths, and embroiders.
Theseal of the province shows awhite elephant, the royal symbol, recalling that Chiang Rai was founded by KingMengrai, according to legend because his elephant liked the place.
The former provincial slogan was "เหนือสุดในสยาม อร่ามดอยตุง ผดุงวัฒนธรรม รสล้ำข้าวสาร หอมหวานลิ้นจี่ สตรีโสภา ชาเลิศรส สัปปะรดนางแล", 'Northernmost of Siam, beautifulDoi Tung, repository of culture, most delicious rice, sweet and fragrantlychee, beautiful women, the finest flavoured tea, pineapple fromNang Lae, source of thegiant catfish".
The current slogan is "เหนือสุดในสยาม ชายแดนสามแผ่นดิน ถิ่นวัฒนธรรมล้านนา ล้ำค่าพระธาตุดอยตุง", 'Northernmost of Siam, frontier of three lands, the home ofLan Na culture and Doi Tung Temple'.
As of 26 November 2019 there are:[12] one Chiang Rai Provincial Administration Organisation (ongkan borihan suan changwat) and 73 municipal (thesaban) areas in the province. Chiang Rai has city (thesaban nakhon) status. Further 72 subdistrict municipalities (thesaban tambon). The non-municipal areas are administered by 70 Subdistrict Administrative Organisations - SAO (ongkan borihan suan tambon).
Province Chiang Rai, with an HAI 2022 value of 0.6307 is "somewhat low", occupies place 52 in the ranking.
Since 2003, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Thailand has tracked progress on human development at sub-national level using theHuman achievement index (HAI), a composite index covering all the eight key areas of human development. National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB) has taken over this task since 2017.[3]
^ab"ข้อมูลสถิติดัชนีความก้าวหน้าของคน ปี 2565 (PDF)" [Human Achievement Index Databook year 2022 (PDF)]. Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) (in Thai). Retrieved12 March 2024., page 26
^See: Forbes, Andrew, 'The Peoples of Chiang Mai', in: Penth, Hans, and Forbes, Andrew,A Brief History of Lan Na (Chiang Mai City Arts and Cultural Centre, Chiang Mai, 2004), pp. 221–256.
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