It’s known as the Land of Smiles but what else do you know about Thailand? Read on for lots more fun facts about Thailand for kids to learn more about this beautiful country.
Thailand is famous around the world for its beautiful beaches, amazing temples, and the incredible city of Bangkok.
It also has a culture and a history that’s completely unique. Where else can you find a festival for monkeys? And do you dare try to pronounce Bangkok’s full name?
Whether you call it the Land of Smiles or the Land of the Free, there’s a lot to love about Thailand. Here are a few fun facts about Thailand for kids.
Fun Facts on Thailand
It wasn’t always called Thailand.
Thailand was actually known as Siam for most of its history. It didn’t officially become Thailand until 1932.
Speaking of which…
Have you ever wondered where Siamese cats got their name? This breed actually originated from Siam. Thailand loves these cats, and it’s actually considered good luck to give a bride a pair of them on her wedding day.
They have a festival for monkeys every year.
Every year, the province of Lopburi holds the Lopburi Monkey Banquet in front of the Pra Prang Sam Yot temple. At this banquet, over 600 monkeys eat a buffet that consists of over two tons of food.
Again, the Thai people believe good luck will follow from treating their monkey friends with respect.
It has both the smallest and largest mammals in the world.
The bumblebee bat is the world’s smallest mammal. You can also find the largest mammal in Thailand’s waters, the whale shark.
There are a lot of animals in Thailand!
One-tenth of all animal species in the world live in Thailand. Also, there are more birds in Thailand than America and Europe combined.
One of those animals is the world’s biggest snake.
Thailand is home to the reticulated python. The largest one that was ever discovered was 33 feet long.
Elephants are important animals in Thailand.
The elephant is Thailand’s official national animal. There used to be over 100,000 elephants in Thailand. Today, there are around 4,000, and half of them are domesticated.
Thailand is where Red Bull was invented.
Does one of your parents like Red Bull? It was originally based on a Thai drink called Krating Daeng.
Interesting Facts about Thailand
It’s truly a Land of the Free.
The Thai people actually call their country Prathet Thai. That translates to “Land of the Free.” There’s a very good reason for that.
Thailand is the only Southeast Asian country that’s never been ruled by a European country. In fact, it’s one of the only countries in the world that’s escaped European rule for its entire history!
Bangkok is a very popular place to visit.
Are you on your way to Bangkok? Then you’re not alone. Bangkok is the single most visited city in the entire world. It gets 15 million tourists every year.
Also, Bangkok isn’t its full name.
Bangkok’s official name is one of the longest names for a place in the world.
It’s entire official name is Krungthepmahakhon Amonrattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilokphop Noppharatratchathaniburirom Udomratchaiwetmahasathan Amonphimanawatansathit Sakkathattiyawitsanukamprasit.
But you can just call it Bangkok.
It’s also where most people live.
As you’ve probably guessed, Bangkok is an important city. One-tenth of Thailand’s people live there.
A lot of the city used to be underwater.
Many of Bangkok’s buildings were built on stilts because the city was full of water. Most of the canals eventually disappeared over time.
It can get pretty hot.
Bangkok was named the hottest city in the world. Make sure you drink plenty of water while you’re there.
Logging is banned in Thailand, and for good reason.
Even though Thailand is famous for its jungles, there used to be a lot more. Thailand has lost more trees than any other country except Singapore.
They have a lot of temples.
There are over 40,000 different temples in Thailand. You have to be dressed well before you can visit them. They don’t allow shorts or short-sleeved shirts.
They also have a lot of islands.
Thailand has 1,430 islands, including the more famous ones Phuket and Koh Samui. A lot of them have been featured in movies!
Thailand is the world’s largest exporter of orchids.
Orchids are Thailand’s national flower. It has 1,500 different orchid species.
They have one of the world’s tallest statues.
You can find the Great Buddha at Wat Muan Monastery. It stands at an incredible 416 feet high, making it the ninth tallest statue in the world.
Facts about Thailand Culture
All boys were required to be monks.
At one time, every male in Thailand was required to serve as a Buddhist monk for a short period of time before they turned 20. This practice is no longer observed.
They consider the head to be the most important part of the body.
Because of that, Thai culture doesn’t allow anyone to touch another person’s head.
It’s illegal to disrespect the king.
In Thailand, they have the lese majeste rule. That means a person can be imprisoned for treason if they disrespect the king.
The King and I was never shown in theaters.
Have you ever seen the movie The King and I? They haven’t seen it in Thailand for the reason we just mentioned above. They considered it to be disrespectful to their king.
It’s also illegal to not wear underwear.
But don’t worry, no one’s going to check.
Thailand is one of the friendliest countries in the world.
One of its nicknames is “the land of smiles.” You’ll see why soon! People are always smiling in Thailand, and they’re considered one of the world’s most welcoming countries.
That friendliness is part of their culture.
Treating other people with respect is a very big deal in Thailand. Losing face, or getting embarrassed in public, can have very serious consequences. So always be friendly to other people, and never shout or show rudeness.
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