Wiang Phang Kham

Open Days: Open daily

Opening Hours: 24 hours

 

Wiang Phang Kham is an ancient city site located in Mae Sai District, Chiang Rai. Unlike typical tourist attractions, this site is not a preserved historical park but a living archaeological landscape where traces of the past coexist with modern community life.

 

In simple terms, Wiang Phang Kham is an ancient settlement whose remains can still be explored today. Visitors can walk through the area and observe remnants of moats, earthen walls, and original city layouts embedded within roads, residential areas, and public spaces.

 

According to the Singhanati Yonok Chronicle, the area was originally known as Wiang Si Thuang, a settlement of the Lawa people. It was later restored by Phaya Phrom Kumarn, who reclaimed Yonok from Khmer influence and established a new city named Wiang Phan Kham, which eventually evolved into Wiang Phang Kham.

 

The site is designed in a rectangular layout measuring approximately 500 x 1,500 meters, surrounded by moats about 15–20 meters wide and earthen walls up to 3 meters high. These features highlight the advanced urban planning of the ancient settlement.

 

Today, remnants of the city can be found in various locations such as Wat Wiang Phan, Pa Yang Village, and behind Mae Sai Hospital. Some areas still clearly show both walls and moats, while others retain only partial traces.

 

Getting There Wiang Phang Kham is easily accessible via Phahonyothin Road (Highway 1). The site surrounds the Mae Sai District Office and can be reached by car, public transport, or on foot within the community.

 

 

A: Yes, it is open daily as it is an open community site.

 

A: No, there is no entrance fee.

 

A: Ancient moats and earthen walls integrated into modern life.

 

A: Around 1–2 hours.

 

A: Yes, it is located along the main highway in Mae Sai.