On Sankampaeng road, running for 13 km. to the North of Chiang Mai, is the heart of the handicraft industry, which most popular of the local handicraft factories are situated. Sankampaeng District of Chiang Mai is the largest has long been known as Thailand's City of Handicrafts , Many of Thailand's major producers are located here and you'll find all of the traditional crafts of the old days and the new in the shops along the Chiang Mai - Sankampaeng Road. So don’t miss this opportunity of discover the making of :-
Umbrella : The local history has been told that there was a monk travelling to neighboring Myanmar where he came cross Sa paper umbrellas that offered protection against both the sun and the rain. He returned with the protection technique and introduced the umbrella to the elders of Borsang village, who added their own first, making umbrellas was just a hobby to do after the annual rice crop, which could supplement villager’s earnings.
Lacquer wear : The art of making lacquer-ware is a 400 year old Chiang Mai and Thai tradition. Lacquer-ware is entirely handmade. Lac Resin is produced by insects from sap taken from fig trees. The exquisite oriental designs on the flawless glossy black surface are made entirely by hand. The world renowned Thai lacquerware can be decorated in paint, gold leaf, egg-shell or simply engraved.
Celadon : Although ceramics were produced in Thailand as far back as the 9th century, the expertise and techniques for producing to tradition, the special glaze was developed to simulate the appearance of jade which, for thousands of years, has been reserve by the Chinese as the royal gemstone. Today’s celadon center on Sankampaeng Road. Baan Celadon and Siam Celadon factories use the same process as previously.
Silk and Textiles : At the Thai Silk Village you will discover the production of Thai Silk that begins with a small worm that comes from the eggs of silk moth and that eats leaves of mulberry trees before building a cocoon, with lengths from 500 to 1,500 yards per cocoon. A single thread filament is too thin to use on its own so Thai women combine many threads to produce a thicker, usable fiber. They do this by hand-reeling the threads onto a wooden spindle to produce a uniform strand of raw silk.
Wood-carving : Wood carving is considered one of Thailand's finest traditional handicafts that have been passed down from the Sukhothai period (1238 - 1438 ). The evidence of the long existing sculpture art can be found on windows, door and other wooden parts of Buddhist temples, It's easy to understand why ornamental wood carving in Thailand is such a highly specialized skill when you consider just how much intricate detail goes into every item created.
Silver Wear : Chiang Mai offers a wide selection of modern and antique silverware. The city is a prime source of such objects d'art because generations of artisans have made their homes here. Chiang Mai's laid back atmosphere has brought together many ethnic groups, each with its own distinctive style, providing you with a wide range of beautiful artifacts to choose from. The majority of the best silver works are situated along the Chiang Mai - Sankampeang Road. Here you will find delicately patterned silverware from Thailand, Laos and Burma along with antique and modern hill-tribe jewelry.
Jewelry : Your tour along the Sankampaeng road will have convinced you that Thai craftsmen are exceptionally gifted. They have also become experts in the art of making refined and elegant jewelry. Their expertise in cutting, polishing and setting gems is recognized world wide. If you are looking for truly beautiful jewelry or just single gem stones, the Sankampaeng Road is the place to go. Here you will find an assortment of glorious sapphires, diamonds, jade, emeralds and Siamese rubies set in a multitude of different settings including necklaces, earrings, rings and bangles all created by local artists.