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Chiang Saen district

Coordinates: 20°16′30″N 100°5′18″E / 20.27500°N 100.08833°E / 20.27500; 100.08833
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Chiang Saen
เชียงแสน
District
confluence of Ruak River and Mekong Rivers, view from Wat Phra That Doi Pu Khao [th] in Ban Sop Ruak
confluence of Ruak River and Mekong Rivers, view from Wat Phra That Doi Pu Khao [th] in Ban Sop Ruak
District location in Chiang Rai province
District location in Chiang Rai province
Coordinates: 20°16′30″N 100°5′18″E / 20.27500°N 100.08833°E / 20.27500; 100.08833
CountryThailand
ProvinceChiang Rai
SeatWiang
Area
 • Total554.0 km2 (213.9 sq mi)
Population
 (2015)
 • Total53,500
 • Density99.2/km2 (257/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+7 (ICT)
Postal code57150
Geocode5708

Chiang Saen (Thai: เชียงแสน, pronounced [tɕʰīaŋ sɛ̌ːn]; Northern Thai: เจียงแสน, pronounced [tɕīaŋ sɛ̌ːn]) is a district (amphoe) in the northern part of Chiang Rai province, northern Thailand. Chiang Saen is an important entrepôt for Thailand's trade with other countries on the upper part of Mekong River.[1]

History

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According to an ancient chronicle,[2] the original city of Chiang Saen (Chiang: 'offshoot', saen: '100,000') was built in 545 CE in an area called Yonok by Tai migrants from the Chinese province of Yunnan, and was an important city (Southeast Asia Mandala-model mueang) of the Lanna ('million paddies') Kingdom.[3] 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, founded Chiang Saen in 1325 or 1328.[4]: 226 

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 (king amphoe) also named Chiang Saen covering the central area. The minor district was abolished in 1925.[5] The minor district was recreated two years later, then named Chiang Saen Luang (เชียงแสนหลวง).[6] In 1939 the minor district was renamed Chiang Saen, while the former district Chiang Saen became Mae Chan.[7] The minor district was upgraded to a full district on 6 April 1957.[8]

Geography

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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 (ดอยหลวงแปเมือง) of the Phi Pan Nam Range rises at the eastern end of the district.

Neighbouring districts are (from the east clockwise) Chiang Khong, Doi Luang, Mae Chan, and Mae Sai of Chiang Rai Province. 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. This boundary region with Laos and Myanmar is now a popular tourist area, with several casinos on the Burmese side.

Administration

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The district is divided into six sub-districts (tambons), which are further subdivided into 72 villages (mubans). Wiang Chiang Saen is a township (thesaban tambon) which covers parts of tambon Wiang. There are a further six tambon administrative organizations (TAO).

No. Name Thai name Villages Pop.
1. Wiang เวียง 10 10,807
2. Pa Sak ป่าสัก 13 8,337
3. Ban Saeo บ้านแซว 15 11,444
4. Si Don Mun ศรีดอนมูล 14 8,120
5. Mae Ngoen แม่เงิน 12 8,463
6. Yonok โยนก 8 4,777

Economy

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Chiang Saen is to be the site of the Trin Nakara Golden Triangle, a 40 billion baht mixed-used project built by the Innovation Group Co Ltd. It will occupy 3,139 rai in three Chiang Saen sub-districts: Wiang, Pa Sak, and Yonok.[9] The site will include zones for luxury holiday facilities, and with what Trin calls a world-class health centre, condominiums, a premium shopping complex, souvenir shops, an international convention centre and community and local product OTOP stores. The project is expected to create over 10,000 jobs, ranging from labourers to service professionals and industry experts.[9]

The Chiang Saen district is to be the site of the world's tallest flagpole when it is completed in 2020.[9] The pole, to be 189 m tall, the equivalent of a 63-story building, will take about a year to complete at a cost of from 250 million baht[10] to two billion baht.[11] 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 and a learning centre. It will fly a Thai flag measuring 60 metres wide by 40 metres and will be visible from 20 kilometres away.[9]

References

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  1. ^ "About Chiang Saen Port". Port Authority of Thailand (PAT). Archived from the original on 16 July 2015. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
  2. ^ Probably The Chiang Mai Chronicle, ISBN 974-7100-62-2
  3. ^ "Yonok, the birthplace of Lanna" Archived 2009-11-19 at the Wayback Machine, Welcome to Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai, accessed 2009-10-17
  4. ^ Coedès, George (1968). Walter F. Vella (ed.). The Indianized States of Southeast Asia. trans. Susan Brown Cowing. University of Hawaii Press. ISBN 978-0-8248-0368-1.
  5. ^ แจ้งความกระทรวงมหาดไทย เรื่อง ยุบกิ่งเชียงแสนเข้ารวมกับอำเภอเชียงแสนจังหวัดเชียงราย (PDF). Royal Gazette (in Thai). 42 (ง): 2159. October 4, 1925. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 16, 2012.
  6. ^ แจ้งความกระทรวงมหาดไทย เรื่อง ตั้งกิ่งอำเภอเชียงแสนหลวง (PDF). Royal Gazette (in Thai). 44 (ง): 1232. July 17, 1927. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 16, 2012.
  7. ^ พระราชกฤษฎีกาเปลี่ยนนามอำเภอ กิ่งอำเภอ และตำบลบางแห่ง พุทธศักราช ๒๔๘๒ (PDF). Royal Gazette (in Thai). 56 (ก): 354–364. April 17, 1939. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 19, 2009.
  8. ^ พระราชกฤษฎีกาตั้งอำเภอเชียงแสน พ.ศ. ๒๕๐๐ (PDF). Royal Gazette (in Thai). 74 (36 ก): 565–567. April 6, 1957. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 10, 2012.
  9. ^ a b c d "City-scale project for Chiang Rai". The Nation. 2018-12-21. Retrieved 2019-01-02.
  10. ^ Charuvastra, Teeranai (2016-01-12). "Thai Flag to Fly the Highest Atop Record-Shattering Pole". Khaosod English. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
  11. ^ "Chiang Rai will have the world's highest flag pole". ThaiPBS. 2016-01-13. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
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