The One Hundred Year Old Sacred Tree Road in Chiang Mai

　The Chiang Mai-Lamphun Road (Chiang Mai-Lamphun Road; ถนนเชียงใหม่-ลำพูน), also known as the "Sacred Tree Road" (神木公路), is a famous highway.

　It is said that around 1911, the cities of Chiang Mai and Lamphun planted **Yang Na** (龍腦香樹, *Dipterocarpus alatus*, also known as the "Almondwood Tree") and **Ironwood** (*Xylia xylocarpa*) along this road to mark the boundary between the two provinces. Whenever one sees the sacred tree, it signifies entering Chiang Mai, and the sight of the Ironwood tree marks the entry into Lamphun.

　The Sacred Tree Road is approximately 15 kilometers long, starting from the Chiang Mai Electricity Authority (PEA) and ending at the border between Chiang Mai and Lamphun provinces. There are a total of 903 sacred trees, all over 125 years old, standing about 40 meters tall. The trees are neatly arranged along the sides of the road, with the most dense section located in the Saraphi District, which has become the characteristic view of this road.

　The Thai name for the sacred tree is Yang Na (ยางนา), which in Chinese is called the "Almondwood Tree," with the scientific name *Dipterocarpus alatus*. It is a tropical tree species, known not only for its use in construction but also for its resin, which is processed into rubber. It is also called the "Rubber Tree".

　They are called "Sacred Trees" because locals believe that these century-old trees are guardian trees. They wrap orange cloth around the tree roots and place national and royal flags on them, praying for good fortune.

　In the early mornings, the road is often surrounded by cool mist, and combined with the small town buildings on the outskirts of Chiang Mai, this old highway adds a touch of romantic atmosphere every day.