Chonburi province

Chonburi(Thai:ชลบุรี,RTGS:Chon Buri,[tɕ͡ʰōnbū.rīː]) is aprovince of Thailand(changwat) located ineastern Thailand.Its capital is also namedChonburi. Neighbouring provinces are (clockwise from north)Chachoengsao,Chanthaburi, andRayong, while theBay of Bangkokis to the west.Pattaya, a major tourism destination in Thailand, is located in Chonburi, along withLaem Chabang, the country's primary seaport. The population of the province has grown rapidly and now totals 1.7 million residents, although a large portion of the population is floating or unregistered.The registered population as of 31 December 2024 was 1.635 million.
The Thai wordchon(ชล/t͡ɕʰon˧/) originates from theSanskritwordjalá(जल)  meaning "water", and the wordburi(บุรี;/bu˨˩.riː˧/) from Sanskritpurī(पुरी);  meaning "town" or "city"; hence the name of the province means "city of water".  The local Chinese name for the province is萬佛歲;Bān-pu̍t-sòe, which is a rendering of "Bang Pla Soi" (บางปลาสร้อย) the former name ofMueang Chonburi district, the capital district of Chonburi province (this name is retained for one of Mueang Chonburi's subdistricts.)  The standard Chinese name for the province is a phonetic rendering of "Chonburi",春武里;Chhun-bú-lí.
Human habitation of the province dates back to the Neolithic era, when early inhabitants lived in the area along the Panthong river in modern day Phan Thong district.
During theDvaravatiperiod, the city of Mueang Phra Rot (Phra That Noen That) was established close to the mouth of the Bang Pakong river in modern-day Phanat Nikhom District. The city was in the shape of an irregular rectangle and was surrounded by a moat. Mueang Phra Rot was established from the 600s to the 1000s and had goods imported from theTangandSong dynastiesand from eitherPersiaorlower Mesopotamia.
To the east of Phra Rot was Mueang Sri Phalo in modern-day Nong Mai Daeng, which was established near the end of Phra Rot in the 1000s.Located near the mouth of theBang Pakong river, it became a wealthy port and fishing town, serving as a stopping point for Khmer, Vietnamese and Chinesebarquesbefore they ventured into theChao Phraya river.However, it lost prominence in the 1300s when the mouth of the river became shallower due to sedimentation. As a result in the town's economy declining, its inhabitants moved south to Bang Pla Soi. Construction of Sukhimvit road erased the town's eastern wall.
In the reign of King Nangklao,Rama III, Phra Intha-asa, The Governor of Phanat Nikhom I (Princely member of Nakhon Phanom royal family) took many immigrants (Nakhon Phanom Laotians, Named Lao Asa Pak Nam) from Samut Prakan and New Nakhon Phanom Laotians to Phanat Nikhom. The Siamese King at the time allowed them to establish a habitat between Chonburi and Chachoengsao (Named Phanat Nikhom in the present).
In 1892,Ko Sichang, an island off the mainland, served as a holiday point forKing Chulalongkornand his wifeQueen Saovabha Phongsri. Chulalongkorn later built a summer palace called "Phra Chuthathut Palace" named after his son,Prince Chudadhuj Dharadilok, who was born on Ko Sichang.During theFranco-Siamese crisis of 1893, the island was occupied by the French.During this time, the island was a part ofSamut Prakan provincebefore being transferred to Chonburi province on 1 January 1943 as a minor district (king amphoe) in Si Racha district.Ko Sichang became its own district on 4 July 1994.
Following the end of World War II, coastal towns particularly Ang Sila witnessed an influx of Teochew Chinese migrants.The Vietnam War would also cause an influx of American G.I.s to arrive, particularly in Pattaya. This would go on to lead Chonburi province to become popular among foreign tourists.
Theprovincial sealshows the hillKhao Sam Muk, on which there is asalawith a statue of the goddess Chao Mae Sahm Muk, who, it is believed, protects seafarers and the local population.
Theprovincial treeand flower is the New Guinea rosewood (Pterocarpus indicus, calledMai Praduin Thai).The provincial aquatic life isbamboo sharkChiloscyllium punctatum.
The provincial motto is "Beautiful seas. Delicious Khao Lam. Sweet sugar cane. Fine weaving. The buffalo racing festival."
The province is on theBay of Bangkok, the northern end of the Gulf of Thailand. TheKhao Khiaomountain range stretches from the northwest to the southeast of the province. The plains of the north were long used for farming. Laem Chabang, between Chonburi and Pattaya, is one of the few deep-water harbours of Thailand. The total forest area is 551 km(213 sq mi) or 12.2 percent of provincial area.
There is one wildlife sanctuary, along with three other wildlife sanctuaries, make upregion 2 (Si Racha)of Thailand's protected areas.
The provincial permanent legal population rose at nearly four per cent annually, from 1,040,865 in 2000 to 1,554,365 in 2010.There is a large floating population of long-term non-Thai residents without permanent status, on a perpetualtourist visaand/ormigrant workers(legal or not), as well as heavy, short-term tourist influxes.
According to a 2015 survey,around 97.87% of the population of Chonburi practicesBuddhism, followed byIslamwith 1.56% andChristianitywith 0.60%.
Chonburi province consists of 11 districts (amphoe). These are further subdivided into 92subdistricts(tambon) and 710 villages (muban).
The local governments are overseen by the Pattaya City Special Local Government in Pattaya and the Chonburi Provincial Administrative Organisation (CPOA,ongkan borihan suan changwatchonburi) throughout Chonburi. The 47 municipalities are split up into two city municipalities (thesaban nakhon), 10 town municipalities (thesaban mueang),and 35 subdistrict municipalities (thesaban tambon). Local communities are also overseen by 50 subdistrict administrative organisations (SAO,ongkan borihan suan tambon).
The Bangkok-Chonburi-Pattaya Motorway (Hwy 7) is linked withBangkok's Outer Ring Road (Hwy 9) with another intersection at Si Nakharin and Rama IX Junction.
The Bang Na-Trat Highway (Hwy 34) from Bang Na travels through Bang Phli and crosses the Bang Pakong River into Chonburi. There is a Chonburi bypass that meetsSukhumvit Road(Hwy 3), passingBang Saen Beach, Bang Phra, Pattaya and Sattahip.
Chonburi is about 120 kilometres (75 mi) by road fromSuvarnabhumi Airport(BKK), the country's largest international airport. By road, it is accessed fromSukhumvit RoadandMotorway 7from Bangkok. Chonburi is also served by scheduled flights viaU-Tapao International Airport(UTP), which is a 45-minute drive south of the city.
The main road through Chonburi isThailand Route 3, also known as Sukhumvit Road. To the northeast, it connects toBangkok, and to the south, it connects to Rayong province, Chanthaburi province andTrat province.Route 344leads east toKlaeng(which is also on Route 3). Route 7 runs parallel to Route 3 but bypasses the densely populated coastal area, connecting to the beach resort city of Pattaya.
TheState Railway of Thailand, the national passenger rail system, provides service in the province, with the main station beingChon Buri Railway Station.
Many hospitals exist in Chonburi, both public and private. Chonburi has one university hospital,Burapha University Hospital. Its main hospital operated by theMinistry of Public HealthisChonburi Hospital. Hospitals operated by other organisations, such as theThai Red Cross Society'sQueen Savang Vadhana Memorial Hospitaland theQueen Sirikit Naval Hospitalrun by theRoyal Thai Navy, are also found in the province.
Since 2003, theUnited Nations Development Programme(UNDP) in Thailand has tracked progress on human development at a sub-national level using theHuman achievement index(HAI), a composite index covering all eight key areas of human development. TheNational Economic and Social Development Board(NESDB) has taken over this task since 2017.
Some nine million visitors to the province were recorded in 2012, of which 6.1 million were from abroad, 2.2 million of these being Russian.
One major tourist attraction is the Chonburi Buffalo Race (งานประเพณีวิ่งควาย), which takes place in the districts of Ban Bueng and Nong Yai. The animals are dressed outrageously or creatively by owners. Assembled in the courtyard in front of the town hall, the buffaloes partake in racing or physical fitness and fashion contests. The Chonburi Buffalo Race festival started over 100 years ago.Usually, the races will be complemented with booths selling locally-made items, stage performances, games, and beauty contests.The annual Buffalo Race is held around the 11thlunar month, normally in October. It takes seven days and takes place on the field in front of the city and provincial government offices. The highlight of the festival is the buffalo race, which takes place on the last two days. This race is 100 metres (110 yd) long. The prize for the first nose past the finish line is a trophy and some money.
Songkranday inBangsaen(Ko Phra Sai Wan Lai Bangsaen) is a tradition that has been held continuously for over ten years at Bang Saen Beach and Laem Thaen. The event takes place between April 16–17 of each year. The highlight of this event is a contest in which the contestants build a sand Buddha at Bangsaen Beach. In each Buddha sand arch is a decoration. The combination of the sea atmosphere and Thai decorations has helped this become one of the most popular Songkran festivals in Thailand. Other activities also take place, such as meritingalmsto monks, bathing Buddha images, pouring water on the elders, traditional sporting events, sea boxing competitions, and oyster sheep competitions. Seafood and local food are often sold, along with other local products as part ofOne Tambon One Product(OTOP). Well-known artists have also given concerts at the event.