Language
Country/Area
No result found
The thousand-year-old Kingdom of Harifenchai: How did it shape the Lanna Kingdom today?
Northern Thailand, especially the Lanna region, has stunning natural beauty, surrounded by mountains that stretch from the border with Myanmar to Laos. The region's river valleys cut through mountain ranges, creating a beautiful geographical picture. Compared with other regions in Thailand, the tropical monsoon climate in the north exhibits more obvious seasonal temperature differences due to its higher altitude, with lower winter temperatures. Historically, Northern Thailand is closely related to the rise of the Kingdom of Harifinchay, which became a powerful country in the region in the 7th century AD, and this culture later influenced the Lanna Kingdom, which was established in the 13th century, until the 18th century. decline.
Geographical features
North Thailand's long-standing topographic features have profoundly affected its culture and economy. It is bounded by the Salween River to the north and the Mekong River to the east. The river valley includes the Ping, Wang, Yang and Nan rivers, which flow from north to south and eventually join the Chao Praia River. The mountains in this area include Tainan Mountains and Pipanan Mountains, with an altitude of about 2,000 meters. Many of the once dense forests have now been cleared, but these areas still have significant ecological value and beautiful natural landscapes.
“The terrain in the north is not only beautiful, but its diversity has also nurtured a variety of different cultures and ecosystems.”
National Parks and Natural Resources
Northern Thailand has about sixty national parks. Among them, Chiang Mai Province has the largest number of national parks, including Doi Inthanon National Park, the highest in Thailand, and the famous Op Luang National Park, which attracts a large number of tourists with its spectacular river canyons, waterfalls and caves. Others, such as Doipuka National Park and Doipuka National Park, are famous for their unique natural landscapes and ecosystems.
Economic Situation and Development
According to 2018 statistics, the total economic output of the northern region was 1.266 trillion baht, accounting for approximately 7.7% of Thailand's GDP. Among them, Lampong Province has the most outstanding economic performance, with an annual output value of 8.4395 billion baht. The GDP per capita here reaches 211,489 baht, which is significantly higher than in provinces such as Chiang Mai and Lampaji. These data show that although Beitai is located inland, its economic vitality cannot be underestimated.
Language and Culture
The official language of Thailand is Central Thai, but in Northern Thailand, Northern Thai is one of the main dialects and is widely spoken in different communities. It is spoken by about 6 million people. In addition, Northern Thailand also has a variety of minority languages, such as Karen, Miao and Balang. The existence of these languages enriches the cultural diversity of Northern Thailand.
Future Outlook
With the process of globalization, how to maintain the harmonious coexistence of the cultural heritage of the Kingdom of Harifinchay and the development of the contemporary Lanna Kingdom will be an important challenge facing northern Thailand. The profound cultural heritage left by this period of history has an impact that cannot be ignored on contemporary society.
“In the wave of globalization, how to preserve and continue this history has become an important issue facing the contemporary Lanna Kingdom.”
After thousands of years, the influence of the Kingdom of Harifinchay is still rooted in the cultural and economic life of the Lanna Kingdom. How will they continue to influence and integrate with each other in the future is worthy of our consideration?
