The city was founded by King Mengrai in 1262 and was the first capital of the Lannathai kingdom, however it lost this status soon thereafter to Chiang Mai. In 1432 the Emerald Buddha, the most important idol of Thailand, did show up first in Chiang Rai, when lightning struck the Wat Phra Kaew temple and it showed up under stucco cover.
Chiang Rai is served by Chiang Rai International Airport