In the north of Thailand, close to the border with Laos and Burma, and less than 800 kilometres from Bangkok, lies Chiang Rai. About 200 kilometres away is one of Thailand’s other great tourist attractions, Chiang Mai

Founded in 1262 by King Mengrai, it rose for a time to become the capital of the Kingdom of Lanna, before losing that status to Chiang Mai. 

It is a small city, so you can see the main sights in one or two days. Travellers will welcome the peace offered here, which is absent from other popular tourist areas. The city and the province are known for their eye-catching temples, their cultural ambience, and the cultivation of coffee and tea. 

  1. The White Temple
  2. The Black House
  3. The other temples
  4. Singha Park
  5. The Golden Triangle
  6. The Market

The White Temple

Wat Rong Kung, better known as “the White Temple”, lives up to its popular name because its brilliant, pure colour eclipses everything else about it. The whiteness represents the purity of Buddha. 

Work began in 1997, and the building remains unfinished. Nevertheless, it is one of Thailand’s most popular temples — particularly now, in the age of TikTok and Instagram. Another distinctive feature of this temple is the figures that contrast with the classical, ancient Thai architecture. 

To reach the main hall, visitors have to cross a bridge decorated with figures that represent the suffering that people have to endure before they can enter heaven. 

Path over figures representing hell, at Wat Rong Khun, fantastic White Temple, Chiang Rai, northern Thailand.

The Black House

Near the White Temple stands the building known as the ‘black house’, or ‘black temple’. This is not so much a temple, more an art museum and studio. 

From the outside, it looks like a temple, bet everything changes the moment you step through the door: this mysterious building houses the world’s largest collection of animal remains transformed into items of furniture and artistic installations. 

Around the building are gardens with sculptures in spectacular and unusual shapes. 

Chiang Rai Thailand Black House Baan Dam Black Temple

The other temples

Apart from the White Temple and the Black House, Chiang Rai is home to other temples that are worth a visit. 

Wat Rong Suea Ten, better known as the ‘Blue Temple’, opened in 2016, and is outstanding thanks to the blue colour of its exterior and interior resembling, to some extent, the appearance of Istanbul’s Blue Mosque. 

Two of its most typical features are the two huge nagas at the entrance and the great white statue of the Buddha inside. 

Blue Temple, Chiang Rai, Thailand

Built in 1385, the Phra Singh temple is one of the oldest in Chiang Rai. It retains its original structure, and its outstanding features include the priests’ ordination hall and the wooden doors and window frames, which are carved with Lanna floral motifs and figures of Thewada. 

Beautiful viharn of the Wat Phra Singh temple in the Chiang Rai province of Thailand.

Finally, Wat Wat Huay Pla Kung, or the Temple of the Chinese Buddha, is a few kilometres from the city. A great sculpture of the Guan Yin Chinese Buddha set on top of a green hill is the biggest attraction, although there is also a small white temple and a Chinese-style pagoda. 

The historical temple Wat Huai Pla Kang (Chinese temple) in Chiang Rai, Thailand

Singha Park

Chiang Rai has an international airport. Just over 10 kilometres away lies Singha Park, which is now an agrotourism centre with one of this Asian country’s biggest tea plantations. 

Picnic areas, restaurants, cycling tours and even a small zoo are some of the additional attractions offered by the park.

Singha Park Chiang Rai

The Golden Triangle

The Golden Triangle, 55 kilometres from Chiang Rai, is the area where Thailand, Laos and Burma converge. The Mekong river flows through an area that was at one time the world’s opium-growing epicentre. 

We recommend you join a guided tour if you’d like to visit this area.

The Market

In Thai cities, markets are of key importance, and the night markets are another, more local attraction that every tourist should experience. 

In Chiang Rai there is a market in the streets of the city centre every evening and at night. 

There are stalls selling street food, but the outstanding attractions are the craft and clothing stalls. As you wander around the market, you will often come across live music performances, comedy shows and even drag queen shows.