Wat Hua Wiang was established in 1863 and is the second temple built in Mae Hong Son. The term "Hua Wiang" refers to the central city. It is said that the original Wat Hua Wiang had seven assembly halls, but by 1972, all seven were demolished and replaced with a new assembly hall that is still in use today. Wat Hua Wiang plays a significant role as the center of Mae Hong Son and serves public purposes, including being a polling station for local council members, provincial council members, and members of parliament. It is also a regular meeting point for local scouts and even hosts gatherings for monks from this district and others in the province, and from adjoining provinces. Highlights of the temple include five ancient Buddha statues, with the largest facing east, constructed in 1863. The smaller statues in front also face east, while three smaller ones are arranged to the north, with two positioned to the south and one facing north. The Phra Lao Kaeng Hall was built to house a statue of Phra Lao Kaeng, a replica from Mandalay, Myanmar. Uncle Jong Po Ya and Uncle Jong Hoon traveled to invite this revered statue, which was cast in nine segments, transported by boat along the Pai River, and assembled at Wat Phra Non before being enshrined at Wat Hua Wiang. The people of Mae Hong Son revere this statue as one of the city’s principal icons. The two castle-style halls featured have square bases, each measuring 1.85 meters on each side and rising about 15 meters above the ground. The buildings are made of wood, with a concrete ground floor and the interior covered with various patterned tiles, while the walls support a wooden lattice upper section, leading to a three-tiered roof capped by a dome, all decorated with intricate metalwork. The smaller hall to the east was built in the same style as the larger one but is more intricately designed, featuring a five-tier roof (excluding the dome and royal umbrella). This hall, known as "Ahoeng Kham" in the Tai Yai language, translates to "guest reception." Its construction took two years and utilized construction materials such as colored glass and floor tiles from Myanmar. The meditation pavilion, a beautiful wooden structure with a corrugated iron roof, is adorned with intricate metal cutouts and represents a classic Tai Yai style built during the Rattanakosin era. It has been officially registered as an ancient monument by the Fine Arts Department. The new ubosot (ordination hall) was designed in a style combining Tai Yai architecture with Burmese influences. The structure is made of concrete with a multi-tiered roof covered in decorative tile and metalwork details. For more information, please contact 0 5361 2003.