Thailand is one of the most ecologically diverse places in Southeast Asia. According to Biofin, the country accumulates 8% of all known plants globally or approximately 15,000 species.
Various efforts have been undertaken to protect this valuable biological richness from extinction, such as legislation and national park initiative.
Meanwhile, Bunrak Thanacharoenrot, a Thai landscape designer has his own novel way of preservation. He created the country’s first museum of ancient trees.
Changtong Heritage Park: An Ethereal Experience
The Changthong Heritage Park is located on the Third Ring road, around 8 kilometers north of the city of Chiang Mai in San Phi Suea Subdistrict, Mueang District, Chiang Mai Province in northern Thailand.
Entering the park, visitors are greeted with an otherworldly environment, resembling a setting straight out of fantasy films.
The 4.8 hectares-sized area consisted of many botanical wonders, from a mist-shrouded Blackwood Tunnel with gnarled roots to serene water springs that flow through moss-covered rocks.
More than a mere garden, it is a living ecosystem with ambient sounds of birds and presences of small animals like squirrels and lizards. There is also no wall or any physical barrier that separates the park from the outside world, a departure from the usual museum concept.
The main attraction that makes the park truly magical, however, is the assortment of scarce and bizarre plants from all around Thailand.
A Vast Collection of Thailand Flora
A number of species in Changthong Heritage Park are classified as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List like the white meranti, Hopea odorata, and Dipterocarpus alatus.
Other plants stand out for their unique genetic mutations that resulted in peculiar anatomies. Surrounding the small lake of the park are coconut palms with trunks that spiral upward or branching in different directions from the same stem.
Some trees are even thought to be over 400 and 500 years in age.
These plants are gathered from all around Thailand. For example, the Thai wild almonds (Irvingia malayana) commonly come from the provinces of Ubon Ratchathani, Sisaket, and Surin in the country’s lower northeastern region.
Read Also: 7 Endemic Plants of Southeast Asia That Could Change How You See Nature
The creator of Changthong Heritage Park, Bunrak Thanacharoenrot, examines the biological and aesthetical values when selecting which species to be exhibited.
The park’s layout aims to promote a harmony between humanity and nature, allowing the latter’s sustainability to thrive naturally on the long run.
The Architect Behind Changthong Heritage Park
Bunrak Thanacharoenrot or Chang is a nature lover and seasoned landscape designer. His family’s agricultural roots have influenced him to curate the Changthong Heritage Park.
The project was started 12 years ago by locating an appropriate spot for the park and selecting target species. The collections were gathered from donations and purchases from farmers. Next, they were carefully wrapped in burlap, transported by professional workers, and replanted in the park.
For 25 years, Thanacharoenrot has identified and transplanted more than 2,000 trees and 400 rare plant species; the majority of which are Northern Thailand’s native flora.
Speaking to Mongabay, he established a priority to uncover the origins of rare and exceptional plants from all over the country.
Thanacharoenrot’s creative works have garnered praise from the local government alike. In February 2025, the San Phi Suea Subdistrict Municipality partnered with the park with the aim of facilitating a joint conservation effort.
Today, Changthong Heritage Park welcomes visitors who wish to appreciate Thailand’s flora biodiversity. Opening every day from 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM, the park has an entrance fee of 150 baht for Thai and 250 baht for foreign tourists.
Sources:
Mongabay. Thailand’s living floral heritage takes root in a park of rare and ancient trees. Retrieved from https://news.mongabay.com/
https://www.biofin.org/thailand
