Phu Chi Fa
| Phu Chi Fa | |
|---|---|
| ภูชี้ฟ้า | |
 The "sea of mist" seen from Phu Chi Fa | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 1,442 m (4,731 ft) |
| Listing | List of mountains in Thailand |
| Coordinates | 19°51′0″N 100°27′15″E / 19.85000°N 100.45417°E |
| Geography | |
  Phu Chi Fa Tap Tao, Chiang Rai Province | |
| Parent range | Phi Pan Nam Range |
| Climbing | |
| First ascent | unknown |
| Easiest route | drive |
Phu Chi Fa (Thai: ภูชี้ฟ้า, pronounced [pʰūː t͡ɕʰíː fáː]), also Phu Chee Fah, is a mountain area and national forest park in Thailand. It is located at the northeastern end of the Phi Pan Nam Range, 12 km to the southwest of Doi Pha Tang at the eastern edge of Tap Tao in Thoeng District, Chiang Rai Province.
The cliff is part of an elevated area, the Doi Pha Mon sub-range, that rises near the border with Laos sloping towards the Mekong River. The highest point of the ridge is 1628 m high Doi Pha Mon.
With views over the surrounding mountains, it is one of the famous tourist attractions of the Thai highlands near Chiang Rai.[1] Tourists visit the mountain especially at dawn in order to catch a glimpse of the "sea of mist", the view of the fog-surrounded hills, with heights ranging between 1,200 and 1,600 m to the east of the mountain.[2]
The weather on Phu Chi Fa is cool, averaging around 20 °C. It has three seasons: hot, rainy, and cool, influenced by the tropical monsoon.[3]
Fauna
[edit]Phu Chi Fa is home to a number of mammals, include barking deer, wild boar, palm civets. Birds include canaries, pheasants, and magpies.
Flora
[edit]The forest around Phu Chi Fa supports a wide variety of plant species, contributing to the region's rich biodiversity. Tree species include the White Orchid Tree (Bauhinia variegata), Sweet Chestnut (Castanea sativa), Fagus Hayatae, Red Beech (Fagus grandifolia), Water Beech (Fagus sylvatica), and Giant Beech (Fagus japonica). Other prominent trees include Terminalia Bellerica, known for its use in traditional medicine, Cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum), and aromatic species like Frankincense (Boswellia sacra) and Jambolan (Syzygium cumini). Wild flowering trees, such as Michelia Alba, Sarapee (Magnolia sirindhorniae), Wild Champak (Magnolia champaca), and Wild Magnolia, add seasonal blooms to the forest canopy.
The forest understory is equally diverse, supporting plant species such as Ground Orchids, Cogon Grass (Imperata cylindrica), Vetiver Grass (Chrysopogon zizanioides), Rat-tail Grass (Sporobolus indicus), and Broom Grass (Thysanolaena maxima). Mosses and various fern species thrive in the moist, shaded conditions, creating a lush, layered landscape beneath the taller trees. This combination of towering trees and a rich understory provides an intricate ecosystem, sustaining a wide array of wildlife and enhancing the natural beauty of the region.
Climate/Season
[edit]The weather on Phu Chi Fa is relatively cool, averaging around 20 °C. Each season follows a tropical monsoon pattern. It is influenced by the southwest monsoon during the rainy season and the northeast wind during the winter season.
It is divided into 3 seasons:
Summer: From mid-February to mid-May, the weather is generally hot and humid. especially in April, which is the hottest month of the year. The average maximum temperature was 31.4 degrees Celsius, with April being the hottest month. The highest temperature ever recorded was 42.0 degrees Celsius
Rainy: From mid-May to mid-October, which is the period when the southwest monsoon covers Thailand, the weather starts to become humid and there is heavy rain from around mid-May onwards. The month with the most rain is August.
Winter: From mid-October to mid-February, when the northeast monsoon prevails over Thailand, the weather is generally cold and dry. The coldest month is January. The average minimum temperature was 19.9 degrees Celsius, with the coldest temperature recorded in January at 1.0 degrees Celsius.
Tourist Attractions
[edit]On average, Phu Chi Fa is a popular tourist attraction, drawing a high volume of visitors, with more than 250,000 to 300,000 people traveling there each year. The peak tourist season for Phu Chi Fa falls during the winter months, particularly from December to February. This time of year is especially popular due to cooler temperate, making it the most favorable for outdoor activities and hiking in the area.
During the rainy season through to winter, one of the key attractions of Phu Chi Fa is its renowned viewpoint, offering a view of the sea of mist and a stunning sunrise. The landscape features expansive, layered mountain ranges stretching across the horizon. In the early mornings, the valleys below are often shrouded in a sea of mist, with the sun rising above it.
Phu Chi Fa’s landscape presents captivating views throughout the day, not just at dawn. The region’s rolling grasslands and intricate mountain ranges display varied colors across the seasons: in summer and winter, the grasslands take on a distinctive golden hue, while in the rainy season, they become lush and green. During late afternoon and evening, a gradual mist often blankets the area again.
The sakura viewing point: Near Phu Chi Fa, from December to February, the highway connecting Phu Chi Fa and Doi Pha Tang becomes a notable site for seasonal blooms. During these months, Thai cherry blossoms (Prunus cerasoides), locally known as “Nang Phaya Sua Krong,” flower along both sides of the road, forming a corridor of pink blossoms. This display has become recognized for its scenic appeal, making this stretch one of Thailand’s most visually striking mountain drives.
Location
[edit]| Phu Chi Fa National Park in overview PARO 15 (Chiang Rai) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "เที่ยวภูชี้ฟ้า รวม 5 เสน่ห์น่าดูชม หนาวนี้ต้องไปปักหมุด!". Thai Rath (in Thai). 2018-08-04. Retrieved 2018-10-30.
- ^ "Phu Chi Fa". Thailand Sights and Attractions. Thailand Tourist Authority. Retrieved 2014-12-06.
- ^ "Climate". Phu Chi Fa Forest Park. Thailand Dept of National Parks. Archived from the original on 2015-09-07. Retrieved 2014-12-06.
External links
[edit]
Phu Chi Fa travel guide from Wikivoyage- Phu Chi Fa, Thailand Tourism Authority
- Phu Chi Fa, Thailand Department of National Parks
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