Chiang Rai is a large city located in the north of Thailand. It was founded in 1962 by King Mangrai and it became the capital of the Mangrai Dynasty before being conquered by Burma and finally becoming a Chiang Mai vessel. One of the main tourist attractions is the White Temple (Wat Rong Khun), a contemporary art exhibit in the style of a Buddhist temple designed by Chalermchai Kositpipat in 1997. Another interesting site is the Black House (Baan Dam), a collection of around 40 buildings around a peaceful garden created by Thawan Duchanee with a mix of traditional northern Thai buildings interspersed with some outlandish modern designs.