The small village of Ban Santichon is a few kilometers west of Pai and is populated by Yunnanese immigrants.
It presents an interesting look at a Chinese-style village, but has now become something of a tourist trap, with identical thatched adobe huts selling souvenirs and crenelated castle walls that look entirely fake.
The folks residing in Ban Santichon are descendants of nationalist Chinese Kuomintang soldiers who arrived from Yunnan in China many years ago. Yunnanese roots are alive and well here and tourists are more than welcome to come and explore the village to see their culture and traditions.
You can get to study their traditional language, customs and dress, as well as the unique rammed-earth architecture, and sample the rustic yet tasty Yunnanese cuisine at a traditional restaurant.
The Chinese Yunnan Culture Center, opened in 2005, is the main attraction in Ban Santichon and is very slickly set up with exhibits of Yunnanese lifestyle. In addition are souvenir shops, with Chinese tea and crafts, a Yunnan-style restaurant, and a guesthouse.
If it doesn’t appear too kitsch, you might consider staying in the village for a night or two to fully grasp the lifestyle of the Yunnanese immigrants and their descendants, plus you can also explore the vast lychee orchards.
Also nearby are the popular Mo Paeng Falls, which is second only to Pai Canyon for top Pai landmarks, so it’s worth visiting both places on the same trip.
Getting There
There is no public transport to Ban Santichon, with most tourists either driving their rented cars or motorbikes up to the village. You can also rent bicycles in Pai and ride up there.
Need to Know
- What is it? A village and a culture center of migrant descendants of the Yunnan region in China who came to Thailand many years ago
- Opening hours: daily, year round
- Entrance fees: free
- Address: west of Pai
- Where: about 6km west of Pai town