About ten kilometers southeast of Chiang Mai, in San Kamphaeng district, Bo Sang has concentrated for over a century a singular craft: the manufacture of hand-painted Sa paper umbrellas. The main street is lined with family workshops, demonstration centers, and shops where each step of the production process can be observed, from the soaking of mulberry bark to the final hand-painting of floral patterns.

Why visit Bo Sang

Bo Sang is not a frozen museum village: it is a still-active production center where the majority of residents live from handicrafts. A visit allows you to see artisans at work directly, without staging, and to buy straight from the source. Beyond umbrellas, the village brings together several Thai craft trades: Sa paper, silk weaving, woodwork and silverwork, lanterns, pottery, fans, bird cages. It's also an opportunity to have an everyday object personalized—wallet, bag, phone case—by a village painter, for an additional fee.

History and origins of the craft

The tradition of umbrella-making at Bo Sang dates back over a hundred years. According to local legend, it was introduced by the monk Phra Inthaa, whose statue now stands at the village entrance. During a journey, a Burmese benefactor is said to have given him a decorated umbrella to protect him from the sun. Upon examining it, the monk observed that the materials used—bamboo and bark—were abundant in his native village. Upon his return to Bo Sang, he transmitted the technique to his disciples, and the inhabitants, previously focused on agriculture and livestock, gradually made it a secondary activity, then their primary livelihood. The village is today considered the national reference for Sa paper umbrellas.

What to see and do

Bo Sang Umbrella Making Center

The manufacturing center presents the entire process: preparation of Sa paper from mulberry bark, assembly of the bamboo frame, stretching the canvas, varnishing, then hand-painting the patterns (flowers, birds, landscapes). Artisans work in full view and willingly answer questions. Several of them offer to paint a custom motif on items you bring. Count 1 to 2 hours to tour the workshops.

Village workshops and boutiques

Outside the main center, small family workshops are scattered throughout the side streets. Each specializes in a particular technique: Sa paper, silk, carved wood, chased silver, custom umbrellas. Boutiques are concentrated on the main street; it's useful to visit several before buying, as umbrella styles and sizes vary considerably from one workshop to another.

Bo Sang Umbrella Festival

Every year in January, since 1980, the village hosts the Bo Sang Umbrella Festival for three days. Streets and building facades are decorated with colorful umbrellas, processions in traditional costumes traverse the village on foot or by bicycle, and food stalls set up near the school. The festival includes a beauty pageant, with the winner parading on a float adorned with hand-painted umbrellas. It's the best time to see Bo Sang in its entirety, but also the most crowded.

Practical information

Access to the village is free. Workshops and the manufacturing center are open during the day, generally from morning until late afternoon; it's best to avoid lunchtime, when some artisans take a break. A complete visit, including workshops and boutiques, takes about half a day. Bring water and a hat: the village is walked on foot and offers little shade outside the shops.

When to visit

The dry season, from November to February, remains the most pleasant for visiting northern Thailand: moderate temperatures, low humidity, clear skies. January is doubly interesting because of the umbrella festival. The hot season (March-May) makes visiting uncomfortable in the middle of the day, and the rainy season (June-October) can complicate travel by songthaew, though it doesn't prevent visiting the workshops.

How to get there

Bo Sang is located about 10 km southeast of Chiang Mai, on Route 1006 heading toward San Kamphaeng. The simplest and least expensive way is by the white songthaew, which departs from the Warorot Market in the city center. The journey takes about thirty minutes for a modest fare. You can also rent a scooter in Chiang Mai (allow 30 to 40 minutes of riding) or take a Grab. The same route serves San Kamphaeng and several craft villages, allowing you to chain visits together in a single day.

Nearby attractions

• Wat Bo Sang, an ancient temple associated with Phra Inthaa
• Chiang Mai Sudaluck, wood carving workshop
• Ban Ton Pao, a village specializing in Sa paper
• The San Kamphaeng Elephant Museum
• Tube Trek Water Park, a family aquatic park
• San Kamphaeng Saturday Walking Street, the Saturday night market

Back in Chiang Mai, extend your day with a visit to Wat Phra Singh or the Maiiam contemporary art museum, located not far from the Bo Sang route.

Frequently asked questions

To incorporate Bo Sang into a complete itinerary in northern Thailand, explore our Thailand travel ideas.