Doi Angkhang - Cherry Blossom - Chiang Mai Thailand Attractions

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Doi Angkhang - Cherry Blossom

The Royal Agricultural Station Angkhang is the project from the idea of His Majesty the King Bhumibol Adulyadej in order to support agriculture instead of opium planting. The project began when His Majesty the King Bhumibol Adulyadej traveled by a helicopter and passed this mountain peak. He saw a village and then made a visit. He saw opium fields, and a village of Muser tribesmen who at that time plaited side braid hair, wore black clothes, and carried sword on their shoulders. His Majesty the King planned to change the opium field into agricultural field. The Station therefore was found in 1969.
The Station is located in Baan Koom, Moo. 5, Mae Ngon Sub-District, Fang District, Chiang Mai, approximately 1,400 meters above the sea level. In the Station, there are fruit research center, winter flowers, farm plant demonstration, and oily plants. The purpose is to find efficient products that can substitute the tribesmen’s opium planting and develop agriculture for tribesmen in nearby area. Visitors can visit winter fruit trees planting demonstration (such as peaches, Chinese bayberries, plums, strawberries, Chinese pears, raspberries, persimmons, kiwis, and nectarines), winter plants (such as carrots and lettuces), and flowers such as carnations, roses, asters, and chrysanthemums). The Station also sells its products.
Getting there, Visitors can come to visit the Station by private cars and public transportation. There are three ways to come here by cars: go along Doi Angkhang at Wat Had Samran km. 137 via Chiang Mai-Fang road (Road No. 107), go along Doi Angkhang at Chiang Dao District km. 79 from the center of Chiang Mai via Chiang Mai-Fang road (Road No. 107), and the road from Fang District-Norlae village which is the shortest but the steepest and the roughest route and has a military barrier (not recommended).
For public transportation, use Chiang Mai-Fang or Chiang Mai-Ta Torn bus route to Doi Angkhang entrance in front of Wat Had Samran, km. 137. Then take a bus, van, or motorcycle to Doi Angkhang. If you came from Chiang Rai, you can use Chiang Rai-Doi Angkhang road also.
The Station also provides the accommodation from 6 a.m.-6 p.m. More information visit http://www.angkhangstation.com/
Attractions around Doi Angkhang
Bonsai Garden is located in front of the station. The garden comprises temperate and winter plants of Thailand and overseas, all of which are decorated, cut and planted with the Bonsai technique. Touring around Bonsai garden, visitors can also see herbal plantations. The best time to visit is from November to January.
Mu Ban Khum is a village located near the Royal Agricultural Station. It is a small community comprising people of various races such as Burmese, Hwa, and Thai Yai. They settled in the area and run souvenir shops and restaurants.
Kiu Lom Viewpoint is a scenic spot to watch sunrise and sunset including a sea of clouds. It overlooks the delightful ambience of the mountains. On a clear day, the Ang Khang Royal Agricultural Station can be seen from here.
Mu Ban No Lae is on the Thai-Burmese border. The people of No Lae migrated from Myanmar about 15 years ago. They speak their own language and are Buddhists. On every Buddhist day, they stay home to practice the Buddhist precepts. No Lae village offers a magnificent view of natural scenery of the Thai-Burmese border.
Mu Ban Khop Dong is home to Musoes. The tribe believe in ghosts and spirits and still hold on to simple ways of life. The Royal Project has supported this village in promoting agriculture and handicrafts. The Young Local Guide project is underway to guide visitors on the local lifestyle and beliefs, as well as to create a non-migration awareness in local youths.
- Birdwatching - More than 1,000 species of birds can be seen. The best spots are Mae Phoe forest station and around Angkhang Natural Resort.

last updated 2017-07-14 21:57:01 view 82670

Direction to Doi Angkhang - Cherry Blossom

Driving to Doi Ang Khang.

Doi Ang Khang although not as high as Doi Inthanon but I can tell that it is steeper. We have 2 choices of road to Doi Ang Khang I ever uesd the one look more straight way it is Highway 107 through Ping Kong to Chai Prakan then turn left up the hill by the highway 1249. Now I'd like to try the other way by using highway 1178 (turn left at Muang Ngai). This path winding along the mountain slopes, but it's less than the first route, this way has more beautiful views for example the reservoir as shown. (I always stop and take the photograph of nice views during traveling. )

Driving to Doi Ang Khang.

Highway 1178 that we used in the second trip drive us through many communities, some area are primarily agricultural areas rather than a house. These communities have many cultural heritage such as Yunnan. Label used on the ad banners with Chinese characters. From the foot of Doi Ang Khang along the way there are rocky along the slopes of the mountains and the rocks scattered around then through the Pha Daeng national park (Pha Daeng means red cliff) which look strange.

Phra That Doi Ang Khang.

After a long drive up the hill, we finally arrived Doi Ang Khang. The road here is still curved zigzag, but less steep. We found another road we have used many years before. We turn left along the path through the first junction to Phra That Doi Ang Khang this way is a different way to Wat Phra That Doi Ang Khang (normally we thought that Phra That is located in Wat but it doesn't) , there are many maple trees around Pra That, begin changing color and Wild Himalayan Cherry (we call Thai Sakura) this is very popular for Thai people they will bloom once a year around the new year period (some time around Valentine's day).

Khop Dong viewpoint

locate in Moo 14 Tambon Mon Peun, Fang district, Chiang Mai, 1400 meters height from sea level , area used for agriculture research about 1,811 rai by hill tribes that supported from station for career development, including nine villages including Ban Luang, Ban Khum, Ban No Lae, Ban Pang Ma, Ban Pa Kha, Ban Khop Dong, Ban Pha Daeng, Ban Sin Chai and Ban Tham Ngop. Population consisting of four major tribes include Thai Yai, Palaung, Black Muser. and Yunnan Chinese. This is a popular scenic spot for tourists on Doi Ang Khang to wait for the sunrise views atop Doi Ang Khang, so there are a lot of tourists on weekend but it is usually a thick fog in the early morning and rarely seen the sunrise even once (unlucky). Around the viewpoint there is many merchants, most of them sale vegetables and souvenirs and also some breakfasts, food is mostly mushroom porridge, coffee, coco, Patonko. We have to wait for a while after ordered cause of many people in the line, we found many things was changed here, last visited it's only one coffe shop and one of mushroom porridge shop no table, today a lot of tables and chairs. Store whit a folding table became a semi-permanent kiosks store. A bright red umbrella to shield the sun and rain during the day (picture buttom-right), which originally these stores are open in the morning only now open until the afternoon. Especially during the past year the surrounding area was turned into camping area. Top left : A very popular activity here is to give alms to a Buddhist monk. Bottom left : A girl with bracelets, she sales different colors bracelets some of them look like silver put orderly on the mat. Prices range from 1 to 50 baht depending on size. She got special attention from tourists and her calculation skill is very good, someone buy many pieces in a different sizes just less than a minute that she use to sum up the cost.

Wild Himalayan Cherry (Thai Sakura),

Another thing that attracts visitors to Doi Ang Khang which is very far is a lot of Wild Himalayan Cherry on Doi Ang Khang. They often bloom beautifully in the new year on the roadside on Doi Ang Khang. You have to find suitable parking for safety. You may found the photo like this in many websites and magazine.

Mu Ban Khop Dong

After our morning activities has lapsed. We drove down the road indefinitely. At Doi Ang Khang the path is simple right now we are on the way to Mu Ban Khop Dong next thing to do is visit the hill tribe village. One recommended is Mu Ban Khop Dong. The Royal Project has supported this village in promoting agriculture and handicrafts. Cultivation is the main occupation of the people here, they grow tea, vegetables and fruits step down on the slopes which create a very nice view. From here drive straight on the road , it is growing village they built houses along the hillside sloping down. When you in the village you can ask for the Young Local Guide to guide you on the local lifestyle and beliefs, as well as to create a non-migration awareness in local youths. From Ban Khop Dong we drive along the road now we are in Ban No Lae another attraction of Doi Ang Khang, this village is under the cooperated Thailand - Myanmar project in 2005. There is Songteaw which is only one transportation here, and the pickup truck used to sell products, we didn't found this a lot in the city. The dress of the people in Ban No Lae compared with Ban Khop Dong that we just passed, the difference is the color that they used. Ban No Lae use red while Ban Khop Dong use black. The people here are ethnic Burmese Palaung tribe, originally this group live in Myanmar and just fascinating. They have their own language and culture. They are Buddhists. Every Buddhist Sabbath the people will stay home for kippur. From this village, overlooking the natural beauty of the Thailand - Burma border area.

Traffic in the long weekend.

After visiting the area around Doi Ang Khang most visitors will head to the commercial area and the entrance to Ang Khang Royal Agricultural Station. This route is downhill slope, drive carefully. During the new year holiday the traffic jam for long time here. To reach the ground below may take an hour. We saw two cars got overheat, if you want to drive you should prepare for this too.

Doi Ang Khang downtown

, you can find things, accommodation, a tour guide and day trip in this area.

Ang Khang Royal Agricultural Research Station.

One last thing that we did on Doi Ang Khang is the Ang Khang Royal Agricultural Research Station that was established in 1969 to study of temperate fruit trees and flowers. Demonstration plant oil crops aimed to find a product that is worthy enough to replace the opium of the tribe. And promoting the development of farming in his vicinity. The project has been divided into many crop zones. The most famous zone called Suan 80 (Suan mean park) this zone plant a lot of flowers which is attract Thai people to come here more and more every year.