About Doi Mae Salong
Doi Mae Salong is a mountain village and hill station in Mae Salong Nok, Mae Fa Luang District, Chiang Rai Province, northern Thailand. Situated at about 1,200 meters elevation near the Myanmar border, it is known for its tea plantations, Yunnanese Chinese heritage, and cool mountain scenery. Originally settled by the Kuomintang 93rd Division, it is now a cultural tourism destination famous for oolong tea, cherry blossoms, and panoramic viewpoints.
Visitors guide
Visitors can expect a cool mountain village set on ridges with terraced tea plantations, Yunnanese-style houses, tea shops and restaurants. The area offers viewpoints over misty valleys, the hilltop Wat Santikhiri, a morning market selling tea, dried fruits and Yunnanese foods, and small museums and shrines. Roads are winding and steep, with guesthouses, cafes and stalls throughout the village center.
Key highlights
- 01
Terraced oolong tea plantations including 101 Tea Plantation and Wang Put Tan
- 02
Wat Santikhiri hilltop temple and viewpoint
- 03
Martyr's Memorial Museum dedicated to former Kuomintang settlers
- 04
Santikhiri morning market with Yunnanese foods and local teas
- 05
Seasonal cherry blossoms and misty mountain viewpoints at sunrise
- 06
Yunnanese cultural heritage, cuisine and tea-tasting experiences
History of Doi Mae Salong
Doi Mae Salong was settled in the early 1960s by soldiers of the Kuomintang 93rd Division who arrived in northern Thailand. The settlement was later named Santikhiri and integrated under Thai administration. With support from the Thai government, opium cultivation was replaced by tea, coffee and temperate crops, transforming the area into a tea-growing community.
Culture & Context
The village preserves Yunnanese Chinese culture, language, cuisine and traditions. Tea culture is central, with oolong tea production and tea-tasting customs. Buddhist temples, Chinese shrines and local festivals reflect the blended Thai-Yunnanese heritage of the community.
Route
| By air |
|---|