Chiang Rai | Experience the visual sensation brought by the Black, White, and Blue Temples.
Chiang Rai, the northernmost provincial city in Thailand, has three great religious art masterpieces in this small city: the Black, White, and Blue Temples, which are full of humanistic colors and worth a visit.
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[Pure White Temple]
Also known as Lingguang Temple, it is known as the "purest pure land in the world". Having seen many temples that are mostly glittering with gold and grand in scale, the White Temple is completely white. Amidst the blue sky and white clouds of Chiang Rai, it is a dreamlike paradise and is also known as the most beautiful temple in Thailand.
From a distance, one might think that this temple was built with porcelain, but upon closer inspection, it is made of white paint and glass glitter, making it a beautiful work of art.
The overall design of the White Temple is very exquisite. To reach the main temple, one needs to cross a "Naihe Bridge" with hundreds of demon hands reaching out from "hell" underneath. Crossing this bridge leads to the main temple of the White Temple, symbolizing the journey to heaven.
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[Gorgeous Blue Temple]
Unlike the White Temple, the Blue Temple gives people a sense of deep and tranquil beauty. The entire temple is based on a highly saturated blue tone, decorated with gold from various angles, emphasizing a gorgeous atmosphere with bold and bright colors.
When you enter the main hall and look around at the vivid murals on the walls and ceiling, you will marvel at the richness and vibrancy of colors in the world.
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[Mysterious Black Temple]
It's not really a temple, but a private museum. It's only called the Black Temple because the overall color scheme is black, and because there is a famous White Temple in Chiang Rai.
The overall architecture of the houses in Heimiao is a typical Lanna-style building, decorated with exquisite carvings. In addition to wood carvings, animal horns such as cow horns and deer antlers, as well as animal bones such as elephant bones, are also used for decoration.
Surrounded by green trees, the contrast between the black buildings and the lush green grass creates a unique picture.
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[Travel Tips]
◾️If departing from Chiang Mai, there are many one-day tour groups available. You can directly join a tour group for a one-day trip, or choose to rent a car for a self-guided tour.
◾️Generally, in temples, it is not allowed to expose shoulders and knees, bring food or pets, and in some places, shoes must be removed before entering the hall. Everyone should respect local customs and regulations.
◾️Photography is not allowed in some parts of the palace, pay attention to the signs.
◾️Please do not touch any murals or sculptures without permission.