Introducing Mae Salong (Santikhiri)

For a taste of China without crossing any international borders, head to this atmospheric village perched on the back hills of Chiang Rai. Although Mae Salong is now thoroughly on the beaten track, its hilltop setting, Chinese residents, and abundance of hill tribes and tea plantations converge in a unique destination not unlike a small town in southern China's Yunnan Province. It's a great place to kick back for a couple of days, and the surrounding area is ripe for exploration.