Regional position
Located at the junction of Myanmar, Laos and Thailand in Southeast Asia, the Thai government erected an archway engraved with the words "Golden Triangle" at the junction of these three countries, so this area is called "Golden Triangle".
Geomorphological features
The traffic here is blocked and the mountains overlap, with a total area of about1.5 ~ 200,000 square kilometers. The ups and downs of the mountains form a three-dimensional climate, and the people at the foot of the mountain are extremely hot. At that time, people at the top of the mountain may have to surround the fire pit to keep out the cold. Relatively speaking, the natural conditions in high-altitude areas are relatively poor, and people's lives are more difficult.
Climate environment
The average elevation in this area is 1500-3000m, with fertile land and warm and humid climate. Long-term sunshine in the subtropical area of the Golden Triangle makes there enough sunshine to promote the growth of various plants. The change of monsoon belt in Southeast Asia makes it a dry and wet season. In summer, the southwest monsoon brings a lot of hot and humid water from the sea, forming a wet season when there is abundant rainfall, and a dry season in the dry and cold monsoon belt in the east and north. This periodic change regulates the rhythm of local creatures.
The climate with long sunshine, low latitude and high humidity in Southeast Asia is very conducive to the growth and reproduction of animals and plants, which in turn forms a unique local rainforest climate and causes biodiversity here.
Ecological river
Mekong River is another important geographical reason for the formation of the "Golden Triangle". It flows south from Qinghai in the northwest of China, passing through China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Viet Nam and Cambodia. This 4009-kilometer-long river cuts off the mountains in Southeast Asia. In addition, there are countless deep valleys and swift tributaries between mountains, forming countless canyons and cliffs, forming a big traffic bend. Due to the above-mentioned special geographical reasons, the economic and cultural ties between the Golden Triangle area and developed areas are less, and it is difficult for the central authorities of relevant countries to control the Golden Triangle period deeply or effectively for a long time.
However, the favorable climatic conditions for crop production, combined with the particularity and complexity of topography, landforms and geographical climate, have created an excellent place for many ethnic groups and various separatist forces, regional forces or ethnic armed forces to survive and multiply in this area. What is even more unimaginable is that this backward and narrow corner is constantly emitting the energy that corrodes civilized society and stubbornly proclaims its existence to the world. Complex geography, numerous nationalities and abnormal forces have created an excellent stage for all kinds of mysterious stories staged here.
Edit this paragraph
drug dealing
The Golden Triangle is rich in poppies, and it is world-famous for producing opium, heroin and other drugs through local warlords and drug lords. The Golden Triangle and the Golden Crescent on the border of Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan, and the Silver Triangle on the border of Colombia and Venezuela are also known as the three major drug sources in the world.
Planting history
/kloc-from the end of 0/9 to the beginning of the 20th century, Britain, the United States, France and other countries successively went to this area to teach cultivation, refining and selling techniques, and bought opium. The first opium production climax was formed in Khun Sa, a drug Lord in 1950s, followed by the "golden age" in 1960s. The output rose from dozens of tons to about 200 tons, and reached about 700 tons in the early 1980s. 1988 increased to 1200 tons, 1989 doubled, and the output reached 2400 tons. 199 1 year broke through the 3000-ton mark.
Pharmaceutical production
The core area of the Golden Triangle is the junction of Myanmar, Thailand and Laos, but under the strong anti-drug offensive of the Thai government, most of the drug producing areas have been transferred to Myanmar. The Golden Triangle area is the largest opium and heroin producing area in the world, with a planting area of over 6,543,800 mu, with an annual output of 2,650-2,800 tons of opium and about 200 tons of heroin. It is relatively recognized that the Golden Triangle is the source of 20% of the global opium supply, but the heroin trafficked through the Golden Triangle accounts for 60%-70% of the world every year, and the annual production capacity of heroin in this area can meet the global heroin consumption for two years.
Drug Lord power
There were many famous drug lords in this area in the 20th century. For a long time, there are many anti-government armed forces and other drug armed forces here, so it is also called "adventurer's paradise". Such as Khun Sa, Luo Xinghan and Peng Jiasheng. In order to manufacture and sell drugs, these drug lords organized a number of well-equipped local armed forces and openly challenged the central governments such as Myanmar and Thailand.
The local forces that once produced the most drugs in Myanmar are: the first special zone, Kokang, and the second special zone, Wa State. These places are actually controlled by the forces of the local warlord Golden Triangle, but they still surrender to the Central Military Government of Myanmar and have great autonomy, which also facilitates their own supply and trafficking of drugs.
From the end of11970 s to the beginning of11980 s, some poppy plantations were destroyed as the Burmese and Thai troops stepped up their attacks on Kunsa Group. At the same time, the United Nations Anti-drug Fund allocated special funds to implement the policy of replacing food and coffee with poppy cultivation in the "Golden Triangle" area. In a period of time, it has achieved results, and the output of opium poppy has fallen sharply, making the "Golden Crescent" in Central Asia once replace the Golden Triangle and become the largest opium production base in the world.
However, since 1986, poppy production in the "Golden Triangle" has rapidly resumed development, with a sharp increase in output, which greatly exceeded the historical record and once again became the world's number one opium production base.
Heroin trafficked through the "Golden Triangle" region accounts for 60% ~ 70% of the world total every year, and the annual output of heroin in this region can meet the global heroin consumption demand for two years. 1996 65438+ 10, the armed forces led by Kunsa surrendered to the government. However, the drug production in this area has not stopped, and it is still the second largest opium producing area in the world after the "Golden Crescent".
It was not until 2005 that the parties concerned in the "Golden Triangle" announced the cessation of poppy cultivation and the large-scale transformation of rice, vegetables and sugarcane production. In 2006, the public security and drug control department of Yunnan Province estimated that the poppy planting area in the "Golden Triangle" area was about 200,000 mu by means of satellite remote sensing monitoring. The poppy planting area in the "Golden Triangle" area has dropped to the lowest point in 100 years.
Edit this paragraph
special economic zone
Current situation of special zone
With the approval of the Lao government, the Laos Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone was formally established on September 9, 2009. The Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone is the world's first "enterprise overseas" special zone, which enjoys a high degree of autonomy except for national defense and the judicial power of the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone.
There are now thousands of people in the Golden Triangle Special Zone, many of whom are from China. China has security personnel to maintain law and order, and even the currency used is RMB. "The only symbol that can show the jurisdiction of Laos is the seal on the passport." Hong Kong's Asia Times also said that unlicensed China cars can often be seen coming and going in markets in Jiao Bo province.
Development plan
According to the local development plan, the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone will become a big city with 200,000 people in the future, and high-end entertainment facilities such as casinos, luxury hotels, golf courses and karaoke bars will become important profit growth points in this area. Among them, casinos mainly attract gamblers from China and Thailand, because gambling is illegal in these two countries. According to the website of Diplomatic Scholar, the overall facilities of the Golden Triangle Special Zone are expected to be fully completed in 2020, with a total cost of more than 2.25 billion US dollars. By then, the expressway across the Golden Triangle will pass through Laos from Yunnan, China, and reach the Thai border directly.
Edit this paragraph
Scenic spots/tourist attractions
Meisai town
Also known as "Sleeping Beauty", it is the northernmost town in Thailand. There is only one main street from south to north in Meisai Town, which is actually the last section of the expressway from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai and then to Meisai, and the end point is the stone bridge on the Thai-Myanmar border. On both sides of the street are rows of shops, many of which are run by China people, selling daily necessities, handicrafts and local products of Thailand and Myanmar.
There is a hill dozens of meters west of the street, and you can reach the top by climbing 100 steps. At the top, there is a Wat Phra tha Doi Wao(Pata Duwo Temple) and a scenic building. Climbing the observation tower, you can have a panoramic view of Mysay Town, Mysay River and Thachilek (tachilek Town) in Myanmar.
At the end of the street (to the north) is the Messai River, and on the other side of the river is tachilek Town in Myanmar. The river is connected by a stone bridge, and there is a "northernmost" archway at the bridge head. Residents of the two countries can enter each other's territory for 5 kilometers without a visa. There are lively and prosperous markets in both places, attracting a large number of residents from Thailand and Myanmar to buy and sell here.
Because Myanmar is rich in jade, there are a large number of shops and stalls selling jade in the United States. At the same time, Meisai is also a jade trading center in northern Thailand. In addition, because it is located in the traffic hub on the northern border of Thailand, Messe is also a must-see place for tourists to travel to the Golden Triangle and Qingsheng.
Tachilek town
Tachilek Town and Meisai Town in Myanmar face each other across the river and are connected by a stone bridge. Residents of the two places can travel freely within a certain range and engage in border trade or sightseeing. If foreign tourists want to go shopping and sightseeing in tachilek Town, Myanmar, they need to submit their valid passports, copies of passports, 3 photos and some US dollars at the checkpoint on the Thai border to go through the formalities of "one-day transit tour", or through local travel agencies.
In addition, you have to pay a visa fee of 15 US dollars to enter the Myanmar border, leave your passport (the passport will be collected when tourists return), and the scope of activities must be in tachilek Town. If you are not interested in Myanmar temples around tachilek Town, or if you are more knowledgeable, go to Myanmar to buy jade, don't go.
Qingsheng county
Founded by Ranatai Dynasty in 659 AD, it was once an independent small country and was invaded and ruled by Myanmar for 250 years. It was not until Zhao Pai, the ancestor of today's Wang Dynasty, defeated the Burmese army that Qing Sheng was regained.
There are still ruins of the old city wall and many historical sites, and there is a' Qingsheng Museum', which is a branch of the National Museum of Thailand, displaying various ancient Buddha statues in its heyday and customs and cultural relics of ethnic minorities in northern Thailand.
Qingsheng, because it is located at the junction of Thailand, Myanmar and Laos, used to be the distribution center of opium poppy. All kinds of drugs in the Golden Triangle went south to Thailand from here and then were transported to all parts of the world. Nowadays, Qingsheng has become a famous tourist area, and local residents have given up planting poppies and planted other crops instead. However, it seems that local residents still have a tradition of smoking opium.
Golden Triangle
The golden triangle in a broad sense refers to the "three neglected areas" at the junction of Thailand, Laos and Myanmar. The narrow golden triangle refers to the delta where the Mekong River meets the Messai River. As a symbol of the Golden Triangle in Thailand, the famous Golden Triangle archway is located in Sobruak village near the ancient city of Qingsheng. It is located between Meisai Town and Qingsheng Town, 60 kilometers away from Meisai, 0 kilometers away from Qingsheng1/kloc-0, and faces Myanmar and Laos across the river.
Because it is located in a mountainous area, with unique landforms, lush trees and beautiful scenery, and because Myanmar and Laos are isolated from the world, it adds to the mystery of this place. The Golden Triangle was once famous for opium production, and 80% of the world's opium came from here. Now, the Golden Triangle has become a famous tourist attraction in northern Thailand, attracting countless tourists every year. The golden triangle archway is made of marble and is 4 meters high. It is engraved with the words "Golden Triangle" in Thai and English. There are tourist souvenir shops, jade ornaments shops and restaurants around, which sell all kinds of special goods, such as mountain ethnic costumes in Thailand, jewels and jade in Myanmar and mountain treasures in Laos. Shop assistants usually wear national costumes, showing the unique national customs in northern Thailand, and the goods are also very memorable.
Messler village
Messler Village is located on Messler Mountain, about 60km north of Qinglaixi, with an altitude of about1300m. The village is mainly inhabited by soldiers of the former Kuomintang 93rd Division who fled to settle here with the approval of the Thai government in 1949 and their descendants, as well as some immigrants from southwest China. The villagers have retained a strong lifestyle and style of Han nationality in China, making it the largest Chinese village in northern Thailand.
Messler Village is located in the high mountains, with mild and humid climate, misty all year round, beautiful trees, beautiful flowers and pleasant scenery, so it is also called "Little Switzerland". After years of development, Meisile Village has relatively perfect tourism and commercial facilities, and now it has become another popular tourist spot in northern Thailand.
The history and characteristics of Messler Village have a long history with Chinese mainland and Taiwan Province. Politics aside, judging from its historical track, it is undoubtedly an epic history of China people's struggle for survival and development.