Chiang Rai: Some 10,000 Sakura trees will fill a once-deforested mountain in Chiang Rai province with “lovely pink blossom” in the near future thanks to an initiative of the Mae Fah Luang University.

The mountain, known as Doi Ngam, looks set to become a popular attraction.

“We will be growing the Sakura trees over some 100 rai this summer. These trees should provide nice blooms in four years,” the university’s president Vanchai Sirichana says.

Doi Ngam sits just behind the university, which has come up with this grand plan for the celebration of HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirinhorn’s 60th birthday.

When the plan goes into full scale, all 300 rai of land in Doi Ngam will be full of Sakura trees.

“We have consulted the private sector and local people already. They agree with us,” Vanchai says.

He adds that there will be various varieties of Sakura trees, including the Wild Himalayan Cherry, in the planned woodland.

Vanchai expects this plan to stimulate tourism in this border province and generate income for locals.

Chiang Rai is Thailand’s northernmost province. It has long attracted tourists with its many appeals such as the Golden Triangle, Doi Tung, Wat Rong Khun, etc.

In winter, the weather in Chiang Rai is also very nice with temperature ranging between 10 and 12 Celsius degrees.

Adds the Sakura Woodland and Chiang Rai’s tourism will become even more vibrant. Pink blossoms across a vast area, after all, have never failed to impress tourists.

Now, did they plant them nicely in straight rows to make them look artificial and not belonging?

Or, did they plant them haphazardly, nature style to make them integrate with the landscape?

why am I writing this? coffee!

Before I go for a visit I'd like to know how much more is the farrang price compared to the entry fee for Thais to have a look at it

I saw the plans, and they are following a naturalistic model using an idealized separation of plants.

Now if they just keep the timber mafia out of there.........

Is that how tourist attractions work? You just tell people that this is one and that's that? Don't think so.

And in 4 years if they start charging Japanese and other Aliens some exorbitant discriminatory entry fees for Hanami parties at peak blooming season I will have another place to avoid.