Chiang Rai

เชียงราย; Chiang Rai
Coordinates	19 ° 55 ′ N , 99 ° 50 ′ E Coordinates: 19 ° 55 ′ N , 99 ° 50 ′ E
Symbols
	coat of arms
	coat of arms
Basic data
Country	Thailand
province	Chiang Rai
ISO 3166-2	TH-57
Residents	69,888 (2012)
	Lak Müang (city center) of Chiang Rai

Thesaban Nakhon Chiang Rai in Lan-Na script

Chiang Rai ( Thai : เชียงราย , full name: เทศบาลนคร เชียงราย ; Lanna : เจียง ฮา ย , Chiang Hai ; also: Chiengrai ) is a city ( Thesaban Nakhon ) in the Thai province of Chiang Rai . It is the capital of Mueang Chiang Rai County ( Amphoe ) and Chiang Rai Province in the northern region of Thailand .

The city of Chiang Rai has 69,888 inhabitants. (Last updated 2012)

geography

Chiang Rai is 730 kilometers from Bangkok and lies at an altitude of 580 meters in the middle of the mountain landscape of the Golden Triangle , on the right bank of the Maenam Kok , a tributary of the Mekong . Chiang Rai is the northernmost provincial capital of Thailand.

Numerous members of the Akha , Karen , Lisu and Meo hill tribes still live here .

On May 5, 2014, Chiang Rai was hit by a strong earthquake.

history

Chiang Rai was founded by King Mangrai in 1262/63 on an old settlement of the Lawa and Mon and was for some time the center of the kingdom of Lan Na ( land of millions of fields ). The city is named after Mangrai, the name means "City of (Mang-) Rai" ('Mang' may be part of the title, the actual personal name is just 'Rai')

Chiang Rai was not incorporated into Thailand (then Siam ) until 1786 under King Phra Phutthayotfa Chulalok (Rama I.) . In 1910, Chiang Rai was declared an independent province of Thailand by King Vajiravudh (Rama VI) .

traffic

The international airport of Chiang Rai ( IATA airport code : CEI) is located about 8 km northeast of Chiang Rai, the old airport used by the military is located south, directly on the outskirts. The long-distance bus station is about 10 km south of the city center. The bus station for local transport is in the center near the night market. There is a connection with public transport between the two bus stations. The nearest train station is in Chiang Mai.

The main road connections are:

Thanon Phahonyothin : North-South connection
Route 1020 : to Chiang Khong border with Laos
Asian Highway AH2
Asian Highway AH3
Kunming-Bangkok Expressway

Attractions

Statue of King Mangrai , the founder of Chiang Rai (1239-1317)
Wat Phra Kaeo Don Tao - the place where the famous Emerald Buddha was found , which can be admired in Wat Phra Kaeo in Bangkok since 1782 ; beautiful wood carving and painting.
Wat Rong Khun ( วัด ร่อง ขุ่น ) - extraordinary Buddhist temple in Tambon Ao Don Cha, designed by the Thai artist Chalermchai Kositpipat since 1998 .
Wat Phra That Doi Chom Thong - very old temple in which King Mangrai decided to found the city of Chiang Rai here in 1260.