About Chiang Mai
/ Chiang Rai / Mae Hong Son

Chiang Rai, the northernmost province of Thailand is about 785
kilometers north of Bangkok. Situated on the Kok River basin,
Chiang Rai covers an area of approximately 11,678 square meters
with an average elevation of 580 meters above sea level. The province,
which is located within the renowned Golden Triangle area where
Myanmar, Laos and Thailand converge, is also known as the gateway
to Myanmar, Laos and Southern China.
Chiang Rai, which was founded in 1262 by King Meng Rai, was the
first capital of the Lanna Thai Kingdom (Kingdom of a million
rice fields), which was later conquered by Burma. It was not until
1786 that Chiang Rai became a Thai territory and was proclaimed
a province during the reign of King Rama VI in 1910.
Chiang Rai which tends to be a little more 'laid back' now competes
with Chiang Mai as a tourist attraction and is fast becoming a
popular escape for tourists wanting to get away from the troubles
they left behind.