Santikhiri, Mountain village in Mae Salong Nok, Thailand.
Santikhiri is a mountain village in Mae Salong Nok situated at roughly 1,200 meters (3,900 feet) elevation, surrounded by tea plantations on terraced slopes. The settlement spreads across steep hillsides with carefully arranged growing areas that shape the local landscape.
Chinese Kuomintang soldiers founded this settlement in 1961 after relocating from Myanmar and receiving Thai citizenship. They established themselves here as part of a political arrangement to support Thai authorities against communist movements.
The village keeps Chinese customs alive through its temples and the way people celebrate local festivals throughout the year. You can see this heritage reflected in how residents build their homes and conduct their daily lives.
The village is reachable by regular bus services from Chiang Rai, with the journey taking about three hours. The best time to visit is between October and February when temperatures are more comfortable.
The high elevation makes this place about 5 to 10 degrees cooler than surrounding regions, allowing for the cultivation of premium Oolong tea. These cool conditions give the local tea harvest special qualities that visitors often discover when visiting tea plantations.
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