{"id":5227,"date":"2026-08-12T11:10:53","date_gmt":"2026-08-12T02:10:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/manitabi.com\/?p=5227"},"modified":"2026-10-14T03:28:30","modified_gmt":"2026-10-13T18:28:30","slug":"oldcity-brass-craft-tour","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/manitabi.com\/en\/2026\/08\/12\/oldcity-brass-craft-tour\/","title":{"rendered":"Chiang Mai Old City Traditional Craft Tour | Make Lanna Brass Craft with an Artisan"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A single sheet of brass, in an artisan\u2019s hands and through skills handed down the generations, turns into a small flower.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

After visiting a temple linked to King Mangrai, the founder of Chiang Mai, and walking through the Old City, you will try Khua Tong, a brass craft handed down in the Lanna region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

More than looking at famous temples: on this tour of about three hours you learn the town\u2019s history and touch Chiang Mai\u2019s culture with your own hands, taught directly by a local artisan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n🕗 14:00\u201317:00<\/b> (approx. 3 hours)<\/span>\n💰 900THB<\/b> per person<\/span>\n📍 Wat Phra Chao Mengrai<\/b> (meet) \/ Wat Phuak Taem<\/b> (finish)<\/span>\n🗣 English \/ Japanese<\/span>\n<\/div>\nAsk about this tour on WhatsAppJust tell us you\u2019re interested in the traditional craft tour<\/small><\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Three highlights of this tour<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

1. A temple linked to the king who founded Chiang Mai<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

We visit Wat Phra Chao Mengrai, said to be the third royal temple built by King Mangrai.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\u0e27\u0e31\u0e14\u0e1e\u0e23\u0e30\u0e40\u0e08\u0e49\u0e32\u0e40\u0e21\u0e47\u0e07\u0e23\u0e32\u0e22\"
Wat Phra Chao Mengrai (\u0e27\u0e31\u0e14\u0e1e\u0e23\u0e30\u0e40\u0e08\u0e49\u0e32\u0e40\u0e21\u0e47\u0e07\u0e23\u0e32\u0e22)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

We walk the quiet grounds, uncrowded by tourists, home to a standing Buddha image said to be the same height as the king.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Walk the lanes of the Old City and meet everyday life<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

From the temple to the workshop we go on foot, passing old lanes and neighbourhood temples.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A
A small lane in the Old City<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Walking with the guide\u2019s commentary, ordinary street corners start to connect with Chiang Mai\u2019s history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Try a traditional Lanna craft alongside an artisan<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Finally, at Wat Phuak Taem, you try Khua Tong, the brass craft of the Lanna region. Hear about its history and tools from the artisan, then make a Dok Mai Wai flower ornament with your own hands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Khua
The traditional craft of Khua Tong<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

What are Khua Tong and Dok Mai Wai?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Khua Tong is a metal craft of the Lanna region in which sheets of brass are hammered into shape and finished with fine patterns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Khua
Khua Tong, a craft with more than 700 years of history<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

It has been used in many scenes of faith and daily life: ornaments for temple roofs, ceremonial canopies, hair ornaments and the long fingernails worn in traditional dance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Long
For Chiang Mai\u2019s fingernail dance, dancers wear long brass nails on their fingers<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Dok Mai Wai is a traditional flower hair ornament worn by women of the Lanna region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"dok
dok mai wai<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Because the flowers are mounted on fine spring-like parts, they tremble gently as the wearer walks or dances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wearing flowers in the hair is also said to protect the khwan, the spirit that dwells in a person, and to wish for good fortune.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today few artisans carry on the skills of Khua Tong. On this tour you learn directly from an artisan still active in the community, and come close to the craft and its background.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How the tour runs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

* Times and content may change slightly depending on conditions on the day.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n