When speaking of shopping
in Chiang Mai, one must consider, along with the
everyday necessities, the many handicrafts that are
part of the city's history. Made with workmanship
skill that have been passed down from generation to
generation, these beautiful crafts are a good
representation of Chiang Mai's proud Lanna heritage.
Bor Sang and
Sankampaeng Area (Highway
1006)
This road serves as the
location to the largest amount and the most popular of
handicraft factories . and shops in Chiang Mai. It
begins at the Chiang Mai - Sankampaeng
intersection and continues to the Sankampaeng district
at k.m. 13. It is lined on both sides by showrooms and
factories where you have the opportunity to observe
the production of crafts, as well as purchase them.
Thai silk, cotton, lacquerware, ceramics, leather
products, silverware, umbrellas, woodwork, jewelry,
and antiques can all be found along this road.
Due to the increased shortage of antiques, artists
have turned to creating replicas of old antiques which
portray the same beauty and characteristics as the
genuine ones. There is no attempt to pass off these
neo-antiques as genuine. The famous Bor Sang Village,
which sells umbrellas and woodcarvings, is also
located on this road.
Umbrellas
made of sa paper, hilltribe crafts with bold
colors,fabrics of countless types, delicate ceramics,
replicated and genuine antiques, dazzling jewelry and
gems, silverware of all sorts, lacquerware with
intricate designs, rattan and wickerwork, and
woodcarvings ranging from pictures to furniture are
only a part of the long list of crafts and arts that
help to make Chiang Mai special. Each individual piece
of workmanship requires paints taking attention to
detail and design in the process of its creation.
Owning one of Chiang Mai's tradition crafts is a sure
way to take back tangible memories of your visit to
Chiang Mai.Whatever it is you are looking for-be it a
keychain or Thai silk - Chiang Mai offers the shopping
facillities for you to find a buy that you will be
pleased with.
Cottons & Silks
first-class Chiang Mai cottons and silks are of
incomparable quality. Cottons and silkshave
innumerable fashion and furnishing applications. The
largest possible selection is available in San
Kamphaneg.
Furniture/Woodcarving
Chiang Mai is a major centre of furniture making.
Major
woods and materials include teak, rosewood and rattan.
Items may be unadorned or, especially with teak and
rosewood, artfully carved in traditional or modern
designs. Woodcarving is a traditional northern Thai
art featured in numerous temples. In recent years,
wood carving has increasingly embellished furniture,
gracing screens, chairs, tables, beds, indeed anything
bearing a wooden surface large enough to be carved.
Carved elephants, figurines and tableware number among
other popular purchases.
Lacquerware
striking black and gold designs give Lacquerware its
visual appeal and sheen. This decorative art enhances
items made of wood, bamboo, metal, paper and baked
clay, in the form of receptacles, ornaments and
various souvenirs.
Night Bazaar
The
Night Bazaar on Chang Klan Rd. is probably the largest
center for the selling of all sorts of crafts in
ChiangMai. A good place to shop if you are pressed for
time-the selection is astounding! The Night Bazaar
originated as a three story building, and later
expanded to be the busy mosaic of department stores,
shops, and vendors that it is today.
Markets
Visiting one of Chiang Mai's markets is a good way to
observe the local Thai people, as well as get to know
them. It is also an excellent place to improve your
bargaining skills. Chiang Mai markets are one of a
kind, and quite unlike anything you would expect to
find in your home country. You can find almost
anything at these ld style markets which sell
everything from spices to fresh meat. There are
several of these markets in Chiang Mai, including the
Ton Lamyai, the Warorot, which is famous for its
variety of preserved fruits; the Sanpakoi, and the
Chiang Mai Gate markets.
Hang Dong Area
This area begins at the Chiang Mai-Hang Dong
intersection, and continues until the k.m. 15 post
marker. This area is best known for its many antique
shops. There are also wood carving, lacquerware,
ceramic, silver, and bamboo craft stores along this
route. In addition, on k.m. 15 of this road, lies
Tawai Village, which is famous for its woodwork. It is
a good place to observe carvings and neo-antiques
being made, as well as being sold at cheap, wholesale
prices.
Wualai Road
This road is famous for being home to generations of
silversmiths. It is here that much silverware is
produced and sent to shops all over the city to be
sold. If you are in search
of high quality, Chiang Mai style silverware with
expert workmanship, then this is the place to visit.
In addition to silver, there is also lacquerware,
antiques, ceramics, and silk available on this road.
Villages
As for those who desire to observe crafts being made
in their traditional surroundings, the different craft
villages are a good place to visit. Apart from the
umbrella villageof BorSang, and the Tawai woodcarving
village, there is also the rattan and wickerwork of
HongDong, the ceramic village of Muangkung, and the
cotton village of Nong Aab Chang and Baan Rai Pai Ngam
which specializes in natural dyes. These village also
give the opportunity for a good bargain.
Hilltribe
Products
These include silver ornaments, such as bracelets,
necklaces, pendants, hairpins and pipes of intricate
design, and embroidered items including tunics,
jackets, purses, bags, caps and dress lengths.
Gold Plated Orchids
& Butterflies Orchids and butterflies are
preserved and plated
with 24-carat gold to create unusual gift items such
as necklace pendants, hairpins and earrings.
Pottery
Chiang Mai is the major centre of Thailand's pottery
industry. Prized items include high-fired celadon
which is produced in many forms, including dinner sets,
lamp bases and decorative items.
Everyday
Necessities
Department stores, supermarkets, convenience stores,
and most of the streets of Chiang Mai sell the
everyday necessities that you need. Most will have
anything from shampoo to bread for sale. The prices at
these stores are fixed.
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