Compared to say to or three years ago its fascinating to see so many young Chinese visiting Chiang Mai for what appears to be long weekend breaks. Then I was reminded that it is only a two hour flight from some parts of China and that the airfare on some budget airlines is no more than 2000 baht.

I would find it interesting to compare the difference in spending habits between Thai middle-class and Chinese in the same age group (early to late 20s). For example I wonder if young Thai people are spending a large proportion of their salary cheques on repaying loans for cars, whereas the Chinese (who probably use more public transport and therefore are not so much indebted with car loans ) have more disposable income to be able to afford weekends in Thailand.

And I wonder if in the future we will see more Thais visiting adjoining countries for their long weekends.?

Any thoughts?

There are more than enough low to middle income Chinese to be able to swamp a place like chiangmai.

They have enough to travel, and chiangmai is a cheap package trip for them.

chiang mai is the best place in SE Asia, why would thais want to go to china and see people peeing in the street?

thais in the same age/income bracket go to Japan, HK, Singapore - more hiso

asking a thai to go to cambodia, burma, laos or vietnam is like asking them to stop eating rice.

There are already a lot of Thais going to Japan ,Vietnam or Korea for a mid week of 4 or 5 day's.

> And I wonder if in the future we will see more Thais visiting adjoining countries for their long weekends.?

I think they already are. Judging from what my Thai colleagues do.

Popular places include Hong Kong / Macau, Japan, Korea, Singapore. I don't see a lot of them traveling to Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. (Other than those with Farang partners, who do visit those places.)

And indeed good that so many younger, independently traveling Chinese find their way to Chiang Mai. That group tour thing with older Chinese people was nasty, and Chiang Mai was spared most of it.

You're right about better public transport in China. If it's not one of the frequent, air conditioned buses running on LNG, then it's the very fast underground system.

One thing impresses me with the young Chinese here, is that there's always someone in the group who speaks quite good English. I often chat to them in the Song Tiaws as they head down to Thae Pae gate.

I also make a point of suggesting they pay the driver from the footpath side, and not with their rear ends poking out into the traffic on the driver's side! They are used to driving on the right.

You're right about better public transport in China. If it's not one of the frequent, air conditioned buses running on LNG, then it's the very fast underground system.

One thing impresses me with the young Chinese here, is that there's always someone in the group who speaks quite good English. I often chat to them in the Song Tiaws as they head down to Thae Pae gate.

I also make a point of suggesting they pay the driver from the footpath side, and not with their rear ends poking out into the traffic on the driver's side! They are used to driving on the right.

Interesting, having never been to China, that they drive on the right.Goes a long way to explaining their bizarre habits riding scooters and bicycles while holidaying in CM

You're right about better public transport in China. If it's not one of the frequent, air conditioned buses running on LNG, then it's the very fast underground system.

One thing impresses me with the young Chinese here, is that there's always someone in the group who speaks quite good English. I often chat to them in the Song Tiaws as they head down to Thae Pae gate.

I also make a point of suggesting they pay the driver from the footpath side, and not with their rear ends poking out into the traffic on the driver's side! They are used to driving on the right.

Interesting, having never been to China, that they drive on the right.Goes a long way to explaining their bizarre habits riding scooters and bicycles while holidaying in CM

I come from the US and we drive on the right. No problem driving on the left here for me or getting out on the driver side of the songtaew!

You're right about better public transport in China. If it's not one of the frequent, air conditioned buses running on LNG, then it's the very fast underground system.

One thing impresses me with the young Chinese here, is that there's always someone in the group who speaks quite good English. I often chat to them in the Song Tiaws as they head down to Thae Pae gate.

I also make a point of suggesting they pay the driver from the footpath side, and not with their rear ends poking out into the traffic on the driver's side! They are used to driving on the right.

Interesting, having never been to China, that they drive on the right.Goes a long way to explaining their bizarre habits riding scooters and bicycles while holidaying in CM

I come from the US and we drive on the right. No problem driving on the left here for me or getting out on the driver side of the songtaew!

Drive on the right! Don't you run into all the other cars? just kidding.

Yes, China is on the right, but Hong Kong is on the left, so they have a figure 8 bridge at the border, which puts you on the correct side.

Their bizarre habits are partly explained that some cities have not yet banned the use of compressed air horns, so like some Song Tiaw drivers here, they just lean on the horn when they go through an intersection. It is totally chaotic!

chiang mai is the best place in SE Asia, why would thais want to go to china and see people peeing in the street?

Don't need to go to China to see folk peeing in public, just head to a hotel here where they let their kids piss in the pool over-spill!

But, yes, I'm all for young, adventurous types or couples heading over; not so keen on the loud, obnoxious, pushy tour groups.

In China they don't drive on the right, they drive on the right, the left, up the middle, on the pavement on the hard shoulder, wrong way round roundabouts, in front of ambulances, fire engines. Utter chaos... a bit like here really

I think they create their own lanes ...there is a chinese app for that

Takes nerves of steel to drive there so I don't ...just sit behind the sedan is a great time to play some games on the iPod

Air Asia makes it cheap and easy to come here. It's safe. It's not expensive. Chiang Mai was made famous in China's #1 comedy movie. It's the hip thing to do at the moment.

Chinese travel bloggers are coming here and writing about how nice it is, so the masses follow. They even all go eat at the same food carts the bloggers ate at. The Chinese are a follow society, and that is why they are coming here, and all doing the same exact thing when they come. The girls even wear the same dresses, hats, and sun glasses.

That said, the Chinese are going everywhere in the world at the moment.

Staying longer than the weekend, at Immigration a Chinese couple extending their visas came and sat next to me and changed the ambience from pleasant quiet to war zone with them yelling at each other. Had to put an end to that after about 3 minutes.

The Chinese are a follow society, and that is why they are coming here, and all doing the same exact thing when they come. The girls even wear the same dresses, hats, and sun glasses.

...I think its so cute seeing 'couples' wearing the same color t-shirts and sometimes hats while touring around town...never seen that anywhere before.

Personally I like Chinese-people,which I can still say after being joined at the hip with one(from Hong kong) for more than 10yrs

unfortunately, the Thais seem to find them of little to desire,mostly I believe from their intrinsic lack of "manner" ,which of course really offends Thai's in general.

Air Asia makes it cheap and easy to come here. It's safe. It's not expensive. Chiang Mai was made famous in China's #1 comedy movie. It's the hip thing to do at the moment.

Chinese travel bloggers are coming here and writing about how nice it is, so the masses follow. They even all go eat at the same food carts the bloggers ate at. The Chinese are a follow society, and that is why they are coming here, and all doing the same exact thing when they come. The girls even wear the same dresses, hats, and sun glasses.

That said, the Chinese are going everywhere in the world at the moment.

As though Westerners and others don't have Lonely Planet or Frommers in hand and follow Trip Advisor (as many Chinese travelers also do) and follow well-worn paths!

The women are generally rather attractive, too. And one nice thing: they leave their clothes on as opposed to Westerners who seem to believe that when on holiday you strip down to as little as possible. Tacky!

Air Asia makes it cheap and easy to come here. It's safe. It's not expensive. Chiang Mai was made famous in China's #1 comedy movie. It's the hip thing to do at the moment.

Chinese travel bloggers are coming here and writing about how nice it is, so the masses follow. They even all go eat at the same food carts the bloggers ate at. The Chinese are a follow society, and that is why they are coming here, and all doing the same exact thing when they come. The girls even wear the same dresses, hats, and sun glasses.

That said, the Chinese are going everywhere in the world at the moment.

As though Westerners and others don't have Lonely Planet or Frommers in hand and follow Trip Advisor (as many Chinese travelers also do) and follow well-worn paths!

The women are generally rather attractive, too. And one nice thing: they leave their clothes on as opposed to Westerners who seem to believe that when on holiday you strip down to as little as possible. Tacky!

I'm not talking following a Lonely Planet guide, I'm talking about what color dress you should wear to visit X, Y, and Z, and where you should stop to get your photo taken, and what poses to make, and what camera to take your photos with. They follow every tiny detail others have done, not just in travel, but in all aspects of their life. There are not a lot of out of the box thinkers in China. Those who can control the masses and are filthy rich.

I do agree that the women are generally attractive. Even the nerdy looking ones, there is something very nice about many of them. Easy on the eyes. Really nice and friendly too if you talk to them.

Air Asia makes it cheap and easy to come here. It's safe. It's not expensive. Chiang Mai was made famous in China's #1 comedy movie. It's the hip thing to do at the moment.

Chinese travel bloggers are coming here and writing about how nice it is, so the masses follow. They even all go eat at the same food carts the bloggers ate at. The Chinese are a follow society, and that is why they are coming here, and all doing the same exact thing when they come. The girls even wear the same dresses, hats, and sun glasses.

That said, the Chinese are going everywhere in the world at the moment.

As though Westerners and others don't have Lonely Planet or Frommers in hand and follow Trip Advisor (as many Chinese travelers also do) and follow well-worn paths!

The women are generally rather attractive, too. And one nice thing: they leave their clothes on as opposed to Westerners who seem to believe that when on holiday you strip down to as little as possible. Tacky!

I'm not talking following a Lonely Planet guide, I'm talking about what color dress you should wear to visit X, Y, and Z, and where you should stop to get your photo taken, and what poses to make, and what camera to take your photos with. They follow every tiny detail others have done, not just in travel, but in all aspects of their life. There are not a lot of out of the box thinkers in China. Those who can control the masses and are filthy rich.

I do agree that the women are generally attractive. Even the nerdy looking ones, there is something very nice about many of them. Easy on the eyes. Really nice and friendly too if you talk to them.

Offering another perspective as a Chinese ....it's not that they are not our of the box thinkers by nature Chinese are worried about making mistakes and losing face especially on an overseas trip.

In some ways ....yes I think it may be a good way to build up confidence as their upbringing in China defers dramatically from the west where independence is regarded as a good trait and heavily encouraged.

On the flip side I have seen some rude and unruly western backpackers being obnoxious at temples , holy relics and hamming it up for a Instagram moment and I dislike that tremendous the lack of respect

In the Chinese culture staying close to the family and staying within the parameters of what is acceptable is important and hence most appear restricted or uncreative at first glance

Engage them and most of that comes undone and it's an interesting encounter

My only gripe is to have them slowly understand the global importance of using the roads right ....

I was under the impression that the Chinese had just eclipsed the Thais in average hourly wage.

There will be more Chinsse tourists in the future and fewer middle class Thais traveling as economic progress here has been stagnant for the last decade.

Traveling up Nimman road yesterday running over all the Chinese tourists, a thought occurred to me.

Although Chinese do not fall in the "farang" category, they are largely despised for what is seen by Thais as their rude and uncouth behavior. To what degree they are actually impolite and to what degree it is cultural misunderstanding is up for debate.

So despite the rudeness of backpackers and despite over 50% of Northern Thailand's Chinese ancestry, the Thais would rather see "farang" backpackers with dreadlocks running around than A troupe of Chinese tourist with identical hats and umbrellas.

Today was a good day to be "farang."

There are a lot of similarities between the Thai and Chinese that I can see (seems to drive Thai mad when I mention it).

I find them no more restricted and in the box than the Thais or the Europeans for that matter. Had some interesting chats with some of the Chinese, some of them really have a get up and go attitude to life and are not afraid to try something new.

Also met quite a few Chinese in the UK last month, at a guess would say they were mostly more high class with more money than the ones here.

If like me you speak very bad Chinese (very bad), then take the conversation away from English and the boot will be on the other foot. Personally I like chatting with Chinese as they tend to have very different perspectives and experiences which makes it interesting. Plus I'm trying to improve my Chinese language skills!

Met some Hong Kong Chinese ladies about 2 weeks ago asking for directions. They were so nice that I ended up taking them over to where they were going myself and talking with them for about an hour. Very refreshing to be able to speak with Asians who speak perfect fluent English and have a conversation with them about what is going on the world and get their thoughts. As much as I like the Thais it is often very difficult to have a conversation with them about anything that pertains to life outside of Thailand; even the most educated of them.

Thailand may become for the Chinese what Spain became for the Brits and Germans a few decades ago.

About the same distance too.

Thailand cheaper than the alternatives but civilised enough for comfort.

The influx of foreigners caused a sea change for the Spanish.....and also pushed property inexorably higher.

Thailand may become for the Chinese what Spain became for the Brits and Germans a few decades ago.

About the same distance too.

Thailand cheaper than the alternatives but civilised enough for comfort.

The influx of foreigners caused a sea change for the Spanish.....and also pushed property inexorably higher.

Depending on your world view either righteous vengeance or karmic fate that this should happen right after the KT incident.

Thailand no need farang, Thailand want quality tourist! OK Thailand, farang gone, here are some Chineses for you lololzlzlzlzlz

Thailand may become for the Chinese what Spain became for the Brits and Germans a few decades ago.

About the same distance too.

Thailand cheaper than the alternatives but civilised enough for comfort.

The influx of foreigners caused a sea change for the Spanish.....and also pushed property inexorably higher.

Thoughtful post!

Thailand may become for the Chinese what Spain became for the Brits and Germans a few decades ago.

About the same distance too.

Thailand cheaper than the alternatives but civilised enough for comfort.

The influx of foreigners caused a sea change for the Spanish.....and also pushed property inexorably higher.

Maybe, but it's not just Thailand. With the recent rice of the Chinese middle class, they are traveling all over the world like never before. Thailand is not unique, it is just close and convenient. But everywhere else is getting in influx of them too, not to mention the domestic travel the Chinese are partaking in now in record numbers. China is such a huge country, they have everything they could ever want to see at home and then some.

Apparently the influx in Chiang Mai has a lot to do with the movie 'Lost in Thailand', basically a cheap Hangover copy for the Chinese, filmed here, CM uni especially. Highest grossing movie ever in China.