King’s Cup Elephant Polo Tournament
Date : 23 – 30 March 2009
Venue : Anantara Golden Triangle Resort, Chiang Rai 

The 8th King’s Cup Elephant Polo Tournament takes place, 23 – 30 March, on the playing field of the Anantara Resort, near the Golden Triangle, Chiang Saen district.
First held in Hua Hin, the tournament moved north to Chiang Saen two years ago. The event attracts 50 polo players, who represent teams sponsored by companies in Thailand as well as polo clubs in foreign countries.  All told, 12 teams compete for the trophy. It requires 18 elephants to travel to the venue from their home pastures in Surin province, in northeast Thailand.
Anantara Resort is located on the road that follows one of the tributaries that flows into the Mekong River at the area known as the Golden Triangle, where the borders of Thailand, Myanmar and Laos meet.
It is approximately 80 km north of Chiang Rai. The provincial city is served by both scheduled and low-cost airlines based in Bangkok.

Doi Pha Tang, about 160 kilometres from the provincial town, is a viewing point on top of a high cliff over the Thai-Laotian border affording a delightful scene for the river and the sea of mist throughout the year. During December-January, blooming Sakuras provide a picturesque scenery. It is home to the Chinese Haw, the Hmong and Yao minorities. The Haws are the remnants of the 93rd Chinese Division who moved in to settle on Doi Pha Tang. There are a lots of bungalows & tents serve tourists.

Wat Phra Chao Lan Thong is located within the city walls. This temple was built by Prince Thong Ngua, a son of King Tilokkarat, the 12th Lanna ruler in 1489. A 1,200-kilogram Buddha statue with a lap width of 2 meters and height of over three meters was cast and named Phra Chao Lan Thong. Another statue called Phra Chao Thong Thip which is made of brass in the Sukhothai style was also cast.