Chiang Rai

History

The city was founded by King Mangrai in 1262 and became the capital of the Mangrai Dynasty. The word 'Chiang' means 'city' in Thai, so Chiang Rai would mean 'the City of (Mang) Rai'. Subsequently, Chiang Rai was conquered by Burma and remained under Burmese rule for several hundred years. It was not until 1786 that Chiang Rai became a Siam vassal. Siam (later Thailand) annexed the Kingdom of Chiang Mai in 1893 as a Monthon, which Chiang Rai joined later in 1910. It's not before 1933 that Chiang Rai became a full province of Thailand. In 1432, during the reign of King Sam Fang Kaen of the Mangrai Dynasty (1402–1441), the Phra Kaeo, or Emerald Buddha, the most revered Buddha statue, was discovered in Chiang Rai when an earthquake split the chedi at Wat Phra Kaeo of Chiang Rai city. The jade figure was then seen concealed within. Another telling of the story has the "Emerald Buddha" hastily covered in mud just before marauders entered to pillage. Many years later, the clunky-looking mud Buddha was found to actually house a magnificent jade statue, perhaps by way of the earthquake mentioned above—which caused a piece of the clay to break off—revealing the jade beneath. In 1992, the city pillar was moved from Wat Klang Wiang to Wat Phra That Doi Chom Thong, where it is known as Sadue Mueang (), the "navel" or omphalos of the city.

Geography

Chiang Rai lies on the flat alluvial plain of the Kok River, a tributary of the Mekong, between the Daen Lao Range in the north and the Phi Pan Nam Range in the south. The Kok River runs along Chiang Rai's north side, flowing eastwards out of Burma at Tha Ton (ท่าตอม) town, bending north-eastwards and joining the Mekong River about north-east of the city. The Lao River, a tributary of the Kok, flows south of Chiang Rai. There are four bridges spanning the Kok River within the town's boundaries, each running south–north. Most of the terrain surrounding Chiang Rai town is either flat or has moderate hills. The exception is outward in the west and north-west directions, where limestone hills are evident, some of which have vertical exposed cliffs. That is also the direction where most of the region's hill tribe people have their villages, further afield. The city is north of Bangkok, about north-east of Chiang Mai, south of Mae Sai and the Burmese border; south-west of the town of Chiang Saen on the Mekong River across from Laos; and north of Phayao town. The Golden Triangle, the tripoint of the Thailand, Laos and Myanmar borders, is north-east of the city.

Most-observed species

• Spotted Dove

  Spilopelia chinensis (Scopoli, 1786) · Aves
  638
• Great Myna

  Acridotheres grandis Moore, 1858 · Aves
  505
• Sooty-headed Bulbul

  Pycnonotus aurigaster (Vieillot, 1818) · Aves
  455
• Common Myna

  Acridotheres tristis (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  446
• Barn Swallow

  Hirundo rustica Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  418
• Eurasian Tree Sparrow

  Passer montanus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  343
• Ashy Woodswallow

  Artamus fuscus Vieillot, 1817 · Aves
  321
• Oriental Magpie-Robin

  Copsychus saularis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  308

Most recent

• M 4.6 — 2019-02-20
  26 km SW of Mae Chai, Thailand
• M 4.6 — 2018-02-03
  40 km WNW of Tachilek, Myanmar
• M 4.7 — 2017-04-18
  40 km NE of Tachilek, Myanmar
• M 4.5 — 2014-08-24
  44 km SSE of Fang, Thailand
• M 4.4 — 2014-06-09
  13 km NE of Tachilek, Myanmar
• M 4.3 — 2014-05-12
  29 km SSW of Chiang Rai, Thailand