Most cities in Thailand have a "city column", which is usually made of stone and forms the heart of the city. These religious columns are sometimes referred to as the "navel" columns because they are located in the center of the city. The Chiang Rai city column is a unique landmark in the city, because it Rather than being just a single column, consisting of 109 separate columns, it was erected in 1987 to mark the 60th birth anniversary of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej and the 725th anniversary of the founding of the city.