1.
Chiang Saen District
–
Chiang Saen is a district in the northern part of Chiang Rai Province, northern Thailand. Chiang Saen is an important entrepôt for Thailands trade with countries on the upper part of Mekong River. The Chiang Saen District is to be the site of the worlds tallest flagpole when it is completed in 2017. The pole, to be 189 m tall, the equivalent of a 63-storey building, the originator of the project, Mr Trin Nilprasert, aims to promote Thainess and Thai identity. The flagpole is to be set in a park complete with a museum, no reliable written history of the city exists until the arrival of King Mengrai in the 13th century. His grandson, Saen Phu, ruler of the Lanna Kingdom, the city was sacked by Chao Kawila of Chiangmai during the reign of Rama I, because it had been the Burmese base of operations in the preceding years. The city was deserted, while its inhabitants resettled in other Bangkok-allied Lanna cities such as Lampang and Chiang Mai, several ancient ruins are found in the old cities. For example, Wat Pa Sak hosts a well-preserved Lanna-style phrathat, the mueang was converted into a district at the beginning of the 20th century in the thesaphiban reforms, with an additional branch or minor district also named Chiang Saen covering the central area. The minor district was abolished in 1925, the minor district was recreated two years later, then named Chiang Saen Luang. In 1939 the minor district was renamed Chiang Saen, while the former district Chiang Saen became Mae Chan, the minor district was upgraded to a full district on 6 April 1957. The Mekong River borders the north end of the district, forming the boundary with Laos, other important rivers are the Kok and the Ruak River, tributaries of the Mekong. The 1,328 m high Doi Luang Pae Mueang massif of the Phi Pan Nam Range rises at the end of the district. Neighbouring districts are Chiang Khong, Doi Luang, Mae Chan, to the north is the Shan State of Myanmar and Bokeo Province of Laos. The area around the confluence of the Mekong with the Ruak River is known as the Golden Triangle and this boundary region with Laos and Myanmar is now a popular tourist area, with several casinos on the Burmese side. The district is divided into six subdistricts, which are subdivided into 72 villages. Wiang Chiang Saen is a township which parts of tambon Wiang. There are a further six tambon administrative organizations, Chiang Saen travel guide from Wikivoyage Chiang Rai Province travel guide from Wikivoyage Chiang Saen data amphoe. com Birdwatching in Chiang Saen on thaibirding. com Yonok Wetlands near Chiang Saen —
2.
Mekong
–
The Mekong is a trans-boundary river in Southeast Asia. It is the worlds 12th-longest river and the 7th-longest in Asia and its estimated length is 4,350 km, and it drains an area of 795,000 km2, discharging 475 km3 of water annually. From the Tibetan Plateau the river runs through Chinas Yunnan Province, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, in 1995, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam established the Mekong River Commission to assist in the management and coordinated use of the Mekongs resources. In 1996 China and Myanmar became dialogue partners of the MRC, the extreme seasonal variations in flow and the presence of rapids and waterfalls in the Mekong make navigation difficult. Even so, the river is a trade route between western China and Southeast Asia. The English name Mekong derives from a form of Thai. In Thai and Lao, mae nam is used for any major river, as such, Thai and Lao locals often refer to it in English as the River Khong. In Khmer, Mékôngk is itself glossed as mother of water, from mé and taking kôngk as a form of kôngkea. The local names for the river include, Burmese, မဲခေါင်မြစ်, IPA, Chinese, 加果空桑贡玛曲, 扎那曲 and 扎曲 Zā Qū, upper reaches, 澜沧江, 瀾滄江 Láncāng Jiāng, middle and lower reaches, Khmer, មេគង្គ Mékôngk, ទន្លេមេគង្គ Tônlé Mékôngk, ទន្លេធំ Tônlé Thum. Tai of Sipsong Panna, น้ำแม่ของ, น้ำของ, the Mekong Basin has one of the worlds largest and most productive inland fisheries. An estimated two million tonnes of fish are landed a year, in addition to almost 500,000 tonnes of aquatic animals. Aquaculture yields about two tonnes of fish a year. Hence, the lower Mekong basin yields about 4.5 million tonnes of fish, the total economic value of the fishery is between US$3.9 and US$7 billion a year. Wild capture fisheries alone have been valued at US$2 billion a year and this value increases considerably when the multiplier effect is included, but estimates vary widely. An estimated 2.56 million tonnes of fish and other aquatic animals are consumed in the lower Mekong every year. Aquatic resources make up between 47 and 80 percent of protein in rural diets for people who live in the Lower Mekong Basin. Fish are the cheapest source of protein in the region and any decline in the fishery is likely to significantly impact nutrition. Fisheries contribute significantly to a diversified livelihood strategy for many people, particularly the poor and they provide a principal form of income for numerous people and act as a safety net and coping strategy in times of poor agricultural harvests or other difficulties
3.
Jinghong
–
Jinghong is a city in and the seat of Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, in the far south of Chinas Yunnan province, and the historic capital of the former Tai kingdom of Sipsongpanna. Main|Chiang Hung The town was founded as Chiang Hung, by Tai king Phanya Coeng in 1180, during the Mongol Yuan Dynasty in China, the Tai kingdom of Sipsongpanna began a close and long-lasting relationship to Lanna, another historic Tai kingdom that lay south. In 1296, Lannas capital Chiang Mai was founded by Mangrai, in 1401 during the Chinese Ming Dynasty, the Sipsongpanna Tai ruler Tau Se Da Xam attacked a smaller Tai area to the north unknown as Weiyuan equivalent to modern Jinggu). The Ming administration sought to retaliate but adopted a cautious response of diplomacy, about this period Sipsongpanna began to pay tribute to the Ming. In 1405 the Sipsongpanna Tai attacked Chiang Mai, in conjunction with Ming Chinese troops, in 1421 the Chinese attempted to cause a split in Sipsongpanna by backing multiple administrations during a period of civil strife, but their plan failed to succeed. 1448 saw the defeat of Mong Mao, a Tai state in eastern Burma, by a combination of Chinese, Sipsongpanna, in the 1450s another struggle for succession arose in Sipsongpanna, with one faction backed by Kengtung and one by Chiang Mai. Despite the Kengtung factions victory, conflict started with that state shortly afterwards, the Burmese Toungoo state arose in the 1530s to crush Chiang Mai, and its influence also extended to Kengtung and Sipsongpanna, which like other Tai kingdoms soon began to pay tribute. Jinghong has a range of 21°27–22°36 N and a longitude range of 100°25–101°31 E. It borders Puer City to the north, Mengla County to the east and Menghai County to the west, the city is limited to the south by Hengduan Mountains, and the Lancang River passes through Jinghong. Two bridges near the city span this river, which flows south-east towards Laos, climatically, Jinghong has a tropical wet and dry climate. The city has a humid climate with strong monsoonal influences. Summer is long and there is no winter as such, instead, there is a dry season. Annual sunshine hours amount to between 1800 and 2300 and annual rainfall ranging from 1,100 to 1,700 millimetres. The coolest month is December, averaging 18.4 °C, while the warmest is June, at 27.1 °C, however, high temperatures reach their peak in April before the onset of the monsoon from the Indian Ocean. Xishuangbanna Gasa Airport is the second largest airport in Yunnan, located just five kilometers from the downtown, flights to Kunming, Shanghai, Chengdu and other major cities in China run regularly. There is one international flight to Luang Prabang. The city has the largest public transportation center in Xishuangbanna and connects travelers to cities, towns. Additionally, at least three botanical parks and gardens and are located in or near the city, turton, Andrew Civility and Savagery, Social Identity in Tai States
4.
Laos
–
Present day Laos traces its historic and cultural identity to the kingdom of Lan Xang Hom Khao, which existed for four centuries as one of the largest kingdoms in Southeast Asia. Due to Lan Xangs central geographical location in Southeast Asia, the kingdom was able to become a hub for overland trade. After a period of conflict, Lan Xang broke off into three separate kingdoms— Luang Phabang, Vientiane and Champasak. In 1893, it became a French protectorate, with the three territories uniting to form what is now known as the country of Laos and it briefly gained independence in 1945 after Japanese occupation, but returned to French rule until it was granted autonomy in 1949. Laos became independent in 1953, with a monarchy under Sisavang Vong. Shortly after independence, a civil war ended the monarchy. Laos is a one-party socialist republic and it espouses Marxism and is governed by the Lao Peoples Revolutionary Party, in which the party leadership is dominated by military figures. The Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the Vietnam Peoples Army continue to have significant influence in Laos, other large cities include Luang Prabang, Savannakhet, and Pakse. Laos is a country with the politically and culturally dominant Lao people making up approximately 60 percent of the population. Mon-Khmer groups, the Hmong, and other hill tribes, accounting for 40 percent of the population, live in the foothills. It is a member of the Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, East Asia Summit, Laos applied for membership of the World Trade Organization in 1997, on 2 February 2013, it was granted full membership. According to the anti-corruption non-governmental organisation Transparency International, Laos remains one of the most corrupt countries in the world and this has deterred foreign investment and created major problems with the rule of law, including the nations ability to enforce contract and business regulation. This has contributed to a third of the population of Laos currently living below the poverty line. Laos has an economy, with one of the lowest annual incomes in the world. In 2014, the country ranked 141st on the Human Development Index, according to the Global Hunger Index, Laos ranks as the 29th hungriest nation in the world out of the list of the 52 nations with the worst hunger situation. Laos has also had a human rights record. In the Lao language, the name is Muang Lao or Pathet Lao. Stone artefacts including Hoabinhian types have been found at sites dating to the Late Pleistocene in northern Laos, archaeological evidence suggests agriculturist society developed during the 4th millennium BC
5.
Sukhothai Kingdom
–
The Kingdom of Sukhothai was an early kingdom in the area around the city Sukhothai, in north central Thailand. The Kingdom existed from 1238 until 1438, the old capital, now 12 km outside of New Sukhothai in Tambon Mueang Kao, is in ruins and has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage historical park. Sukhothai is from Sanskrit sukha + udaya, meaning dawn of happiness, prior to the 13th century, Tai kingdoms had existed in the northern highlands including the Ngoenyang Kingdom of the Tai Yuan people, and the Heokam Kingdom of the Tai Lue people. Sukhothai had been a centre and part of Lavo, which was under the domination of the Khmer Empire. The migration of Tai people into the upper Chao Phraya valley was somewhat gradual, Sukhothai had enjoyed a substantial autonomy until it was reconquered around 1180 by the Mon people of Lavo under Khomsabad Khlonlampong. Two friends, Pho Khun Bangklanghao and Pho Khun Pha Mueang revolted against the Khmer Empire governor of Sukhothai. Khun, before becoming a Thai feudal title, was a Tai title for a ruler of a town and its surrounding villages, together called a mueang. Bangklanghao ruled Sukhothai as Sri Indraditya – and began the Phra Ruang Dynasty - he expanded his kingdom to the bordering cities. Modern historical studies demonstrate that Thai history began before Sukhothai, yet the foundation of Sukhothai is still a celebrated event. Pho Khun Ban Muang and his brother Ram Khamhaeng expanded the Sukhothai kingdom, to the south, Ramkamhaeng subjugated the kingdom of Supannabhum and Sri Thamnakorn and, through Tambralinga, adopted Theravada as state religion. Traditional history described the extension of Sukhothai in a great fashion, to the north, Ramkamhaeng put Phrae and Muang Sua under tribute. To the west, Ramkhamhaeng helped the Mons under Wareru to free themselves from Pagan control, so, Thai historians considered the Kingdom of Martaban a Sukhothai tributary. However, in practice, such Sukhothai domination may not have extended that far, with regard to culture, Ramkhamhaeng requested the monks from Sri Thamnakorn to propagate the Theravada religion in Sukhothai. In 1283, the Thai script was invented by Ramkamhaeng, formulating into the controversial Ramkamhaeng Stele discovered by Mongkut 600 years later and it was also this time that the first relation with Yuan dynasty was formulated and Sukhothai began sending trade missions to China. The well-known exported good of Sukhothai was the Sangkalok – the only period that Siam produced Chinese-styled ceramics, by the beginning of the fourteenth century, the Thai of Sukhothai controlled most of present-day Thailand. Only the eastern provinces remained under Khmer control, after the death of Ramkhamhaeng, the Sukhothai tributaries broke away. Ramkhamhaeng was succeeded by his son Loethai, the vassal kingdoms, first Uttaradit in the north, then soon after the Laotian kingdoms of Luang Prabang and Vientiane, liberated themselves from their overlord. In 1319 the Mon state to the west broke away, and in 1321 Lanna placed Tak, one of the oldest towns under the control of Sukhothai, to the south the powerful city of Suphanburi also broke free early in the reign of Loethai
6.
Lampang
–
Lampang, also called Nakhon Lampang to differentiate from Lampang Province, is the third largest town in northern Thailand and capital of Lampang Province and the Lampang district. Traditional names for Lampang include Wiang Lakon and Khelang Nakhon, the city is a trading and transportation center. Lampang lies 601 km north of Bangkok and 101 km southeast of Chiang Mai, Lampang city is in the valley of the Wang River, bordered by the Khun Tan Range on the west and the Phi Pan Nam Range on the east. The river, a tributary of the Chao Phraya, flows through the city. The city lies mainly on the side of Wang River. Nowadays, downtown Lampang has grown in the southeast of the river along Bunyawat, Lampang has a relatively dry climate relative to nearby provinces. Winter starts after the last rains, typically November, and lasts until March, cold air masses from Siberia sometimes lead to nighttime temperatures below 10 degrees Celsius, although that is quite rare. Winter is characterized by dry, sunny, and quite pleasant days, in recent times, the blue winter sky is often marred by the practice of burning the fields after the harvest, as well as the smog generated by Mae Mo coal-fired power plants. Summer typically runs from March until June, the temperature could soar to 40 degrees Celsius in April. Late afternoon thunderstorms and hailstorms are frequent, rainy season runs from June until November, and significant rain may occur in May as well. Being in a rain shadow, Lampang receives less precipitation than neighboring provinces. Lampang was a city in the Lanna kingdom. However, its prominence is largely overshadowed by Chiang Mai or Chiang Rai which were the traditional seats of government. Following decades of warfare with both the Ava Burmese and Ayudhya during the 17th-18th century, the region was in decline, severely depopulated, besides the traditional rice paddy farming, pineapple, and sugarcane constitute major food crops in Lampang Province. The province has a deposit of lignite in Mae Moh district, fuelling several coal-fired electricity generating plants. Lampang also has a deposit of kaolin which is widely utilized in the ceramics industry. Historically, logging was an important industry, since Lampang, together with nearby Phrae had a stand of teak. Many elephants were employed to transport the logs to the river for transport to Bangkok, hence the founding of an elephant school, much of the old growth teak stands in Lampang had been thoroughly harvested
; Thai: มังราย; 1238–1311), also known as Mengrai (Thai: เม็งราย),[Note 1] was the 25th king of Ngoenyang (r. 1261–1292) and the first king of Lanna (r. 1292–1311). He established a new city, Chiang Mai, as the capital of the Lanna Kingdom (1296–1558).[1][2][3]:195
