What it is
Bo Sang, in the San Kamphaeng district east of Chiang Mai, has been known for generations as a centre for handmade umbrella and parasol production — crafted from bamboo frames and saa paper (made from mulberry bark), then hand-painted with traditional floral and landscape designs. Small family-run workshops along the main road let visitors watch the whole process, from paper-making through to final painting.
What to see
Workshops typically demonstrate each stage of umbrella-making, and many sell finished pieces ranging from small decorative parasols to full-size functional umbrellas, alongside other local handicrafts like painted fans and silk goods, since the broader San Kamphaeng area has a wider handicraft tradition beyond umbrellas specifically.
The Umbrella Festival
Bo Sang hosts an annual umbrella festival, usually in January, with parades, umbrella displays and the village at its most colourful and lively — worth timing a visit around if your travel dates align.
Getting there
Bo Sang is a short drive east of central Chiang Mai, commonly combined with other San Kamphaeng handicraft stops — silverware, ceramics and woodcarving workshops are dotted along the same general route, making it easy to build into a half-day handicraft-focused outing.