# Chiang Rai province

Chiang Rai (Thai: เชียงราย, pronounced; Northern Thai: ᨩ᩠ᨿᨦᩁᩣ᩠ᨿ เจียงฮาย, pronounced) is one of Thailand's seventy-six provinces, which lies in upper northern Thailand and is Thailand's northernmost province. It is bordered by the Shan State of Myanmar to the north, Bokeo province of Laos to the east, Phayao to the south, Lampang to the southwest, and Chiang Mai to the west. The provinces is linked to Houayxay Laos by the Fourth Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge that spans the Mekong.

## Geography

The average elevation of the province is 580 metres (1,903 ft). The north of the province is part of the so-called Golden 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 drug smuggling across the borders. The Mekong River forms the boundary with Laos, the Mae Sai and Ruak River with Burma. Through the town of Chiang Rai itself, flows the "Mae Kok" Kok River and south of it the Lao 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 the Thai highlands with the Khun Tan Range and the Phi Pan Nam Range in the west and the Daen Lao Range in the north. While not the highest elevation of the province, the 1,389-metre (4,557 ft) high Doi Tung (Flag Hill) is the most important terrain feature. Wat Phra That Doi Chom Thong wat on top of the hill, according to the chronicles, dates back to the year 911. Nearby is Doi Tung Royal Villa, former residence of the late princess mother Somdej Phra Srinagarindra (mother of King 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 km$^2$ (1,770 sq mi) or 39.9 percent of provincial area.

### National parks

There are seven national parks, along with one other national park, make up region 15 of Thailand's protected areas.
* Doi Luang National Park, 1,169 km$^2$ (451 sq mi)$^{:61}$
* Lam Nam Kok National Park, 587 km$^2$ (227 sq mi)$^{:18}$
* Mae Puem National Park, 351 km$^2$ (136 sq mi)$^{:120}$
* Phu Sang National Park, 285 km$^2$ (110 sq mi)$^{:98}$
* Khun Chae National Park, 270 km$^2$ (100 sq mi)$^{:80}$
* Phu Chi Fa National Park, 93 km$^2$ (36 sq mi)$^{:21}$
* Tham Luang–Khun Nam Nang Non National Park, 19 km$^2$ (7.3 sq mi)$^{:7}$

## History

Chiang Rai was founded in 1262. Populations have dwelled in Chiang Rai since the 7th century and it became the center of the Lanna 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 the Lanna 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 in Kanchanaburi province.
In September 2014, there was a major flood in Chiang Rai province, affecting six districts. It was the most severe flood in 50 years.

## Demographics

The majority of the population are ethnic Thai who speak Kham Muang among themselves, but 12.5% are of hill tribes origin, a sizeable minority in the north provinces. A smaller number are of Chinese descent, mainly descendants of the Kuomintang soldiers who settled in the region, notably in Santikhiri.

## Ethnic groups

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, lacquer ware, and musical instruments.
Tai Yai (ไทใหญ่) (Shan) are a Tai ethnic group who primarily live in what is now Shan State in Burma, and also in Mae 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 former Kuomintang (KMT army) who took refuge in the area, mainly in Santikhiri (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.

## Symbols

The seal of the province shows a white elephant, the royal symbol, recalling that Chiang Rai was founded by King Mengrai, according to legend because his elephant liked the place.
The provincial tree is the tree jasmine (Radermachera ignea), and the provincial flower is the orange trumpet (Pyrostegia venusta). The giant catfish (Pangasianodon gigas) is the provincial aquatic life.
The former provincial slogan was "เหนือสุดในสยาม อร่ามดอยตุง ผดุงวัฒนธรรม รสล้ำข้าวสาร หอมหวานลิ้นจี่ สตรีโสภา ชาเลิศรส สัปปะรดนางแล", 'Northernmost of Siam, beautiful Doi Tung, repository of culture, most delicious rice, sweet and fragrant lychee, beautiful women, the finest flavoured tea, pineapple from Nang Lae, source of the giant catfish".
The current slogan is "เหนือสุดในสยาม ชายแดนสามแผ่นดิน ถิ่นวัฒนธรรมล้านนา ล้ำค่าพระธาตุดอยตุง", 'Northernmost of Siam, frontier of three lands, the home of Lan Na culture and Doi Tung Temple'.

## Hospitals

* Kasemrad Sriburin General Hospital, Private hospital.
* Chiangrai Prachanukroh Hospital, Public hospital.

## Transport
### Air

Chiang Rai International Airport has domestic flights to both Bangkok airports, which connect to regional and international flights.

### Boat

There is daily boat service between Chiang Rai and Tha Ton.

### Rail

There is no railway system in Chiang Rai. The nearest station is Chiang Mai Railway Station.

### Road

Chiang Rai province is intersected by Asian Highway 2, which runs for over 13,000 kilometres (8,100 mi) from Denpasar in Indonesia to Kosravi in Iran, and by Asian Highway 3, which runs for over 7,000 km (4,300 mi) from Kentung in Myanmar to Ulan-Ude in Russia.
Decent bus services are available in the province. In more remote areas, songthaews are the norm.

## Administrative divisions
### Provincial government

Chiang Rai is divided into 18 districts (amphoes). The districts are further divided into 124 sub-districts (tambons) and 1,751 villages (mubans).
| 1. Mueang Chiang Rai 2. Wiang Chai 3. Chiang Khong 4. Thoeng 5. Phan 6. Pa Daet 7. Mae Chan 8. Chiang Saen 9. Mae Sai | 10. Mae Suai 11. Wiang Pa Pao 12. Phaya Mengrai 13. Wiang Kaen 14. Khun Tan 15. Mae Fa Luang 16. Mae Lao 17. Wiang Chiang Rung 18. Doi Luang |

### Local government

As of 26 November 2019 there are: 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).

## Human achievement index 2022

| Health | Education | Employment | Income |
| 61 | 71 | 53 | 19 |
| Housing | Family | Transport | Participation |
| 42 | 37 | 45 | 20 |
| 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 the Human 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.
| Rank | Classification |
| 1–13 | "High" |
| 14–29 | "Somewhat high" |
| 30–45 | "Average" |
| 46–61 | "Somewhat low" |
| 62–77 | "Low" |
* Map with provinces and HAI 2022 rankings

## Gallery

* Phu Chi Fa
* Pu Kaeng Waterfall, Doi Luang National Park
* Huai Mak Liam Hot Spring, Lam Nam Kok National Park
* A road tunnel decorated with Thai style art
* Elephants, Kok River
* Kok River
* Chiang Saen, Mekong River
* Chiang Saen