Mae Salong, a village where mist-shrouded hills are etched with neat rows of oolong tea. Here in the highlands of northern Thailand, the air carries whispers of its Yunnanese origins. This land, once a remote outpost for Kuomintang soldiers, has traded a turbulent past of opium cultivation for the tranquility of these verdant plantations. Now known as Santikhiri, or 'Hill of Peace', the village is a testament to transformation. The legacy of its pioneering Chinese founders is steeped into every cup of local tea and reflected in the serene, rolling landscapes that stretch towards the Myanmar border.

Simple wooden or bamboo houses line the hillsides of Mae Salong. Many villagers keep pigs in small pens near their homes, just as their families have done for generations. These houses are basic but practical, built to keep cool in the heat and shelter from mountain rain. Pigs roam around the yards or sleep in the shade, often watched over by children or elders. This everyday scene shows how the people of Mae Salong live close to the land, blending old traditions with new ways of life.