Bo Sang Umbrella Village

Bo Sang is the umbrella village of Chiang Mai, about 9 km east of the city on the San Kamphaeng handicraft road. It’s famous for handmade parasols of sa (mulberry) paper, stretched over bamboo frames and hand-painted with the floral designs the village is known for. You can watch the whole craft for free at the Umbrella Making Centre (open about 08:30-17:00 daily), and if you come in January the quiet village erupts into one of the north’s most colourful festivals.

How the village started

Local lore credits a villager named Nai Phuek, who repaired a monk’s wind-damaged umbrella-tent and added a handle, turning it into a portable umbrella. Villagers once made them under their stilted houses and laid them out in courtyards to dry in the sun. Early umbrellas were plain and painted with bark-based colours, red being common; flowers and multiple colours came later.

What to see

At the workshops you can follow every stage: shaping and assembling the bamboo ribs, tying the top tight, stretching the paper or fabric over the frame, and the hand-painting that gives each umbrella its pattern. A coating of oil or resin protects the finished paper. Most workshops welcome visitors and sell directly, and the painters will decorate a phone case, bag or your own item in a few minutes for a small fee. Shops along the road stock umbrellas from tabletop size to garden parasols, alongside other Northern Thai handicrafts.

What to buy

Saa paper umbrellas have the handmade northern Thai look and suit gifts and home decor. Silk or cotton umbrellas are the better choice if you want one to use. Small ones travel well; large ones are for decorating or event props. Before you pay, check that the shape is balanced, the frame is sturdy, the fabric is taut, the paint does not flake and the umbrella opens and closes smoothly.

Insider Tip: Have a painter decorate something you’ll actually use, a phone case or a tote, rather than buying a parasol that’s awkward to fly home. It’s cheap, quick, and a better souvenir than a mass-made one. Come in the morning for better photos and fewer people.

The Umbrella Festival

Usually the third weekend of January, Bo Sang holds the Bo Sang Umbrella and San Kamphaeng Handicrafts Festival (see the festival page for the current dates). Entry is free and events start at 10 am. The main street becomes a tunnel of hanging parasols and lanterns, artisans demonstrate their work, and the signature “beauty on a bicycle” parade sees women in Lanna dress cycle through carrying umbrellas. Miss Bo Sang Umbrella is crowned on the last evening, and a Borsang Umbrella Run is held around the same time.

Getting there

From central Chiang Mai, head east on the San Kamphaeng road for about 9 km and turn off at the signs for the Bo Sang community; the village is about 11 km from Tha Phae Gate and 20-30 minutes away by car, scooter or songthaew. The Umbrella Making Centre is at 111/2 Moo 3, Ton Pao (phone 053 338 195).

Watch out: On an ordinary day this is a working craft village, not a theme park. It’s low-key, and the main draw is the workshops rather than a big attraction. Ask before photographing artisans at work.

The San Kamphaeng hot springs are about 18 km from the village along the same road for an easy add-on.

Bo Sang Umbrella Village is at Ton Pao, San Kamphaeng District, Chiang Mai 50130. View on Google Maps.