Khon Kaen is on the Khorat Plateau, elevation 187 m, and is the center of the mid-northeastern provincial group of Thailand, according to the Thai government. Its coordinates are. The city has a population of 114,459.
Regional importance
Khon Kaen is a city in the northern region of Thailand. The city is bisected by Mithraphap Road, also known as the "Friendship Highway", or "Highway 2", the road linking Bangkok to the Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge. A modern, multi-lane by-pass enables through-traffic to avoid the city centre to the west, and connects to the airport, the new main bus station, and to the main roads to Kalasin and Maha Sarakham in the east, and Udon Thani in the north. The city can be easily navigated by driving along either of the two north-south main roads: Na Muang and Klang Muang, which are east and parallel to the Friendship Highway. In addition, there are two main east-west roads: Srichan Road and Prachasamosorn Road, leading east to the city of Kalasin, and west to the airport, as well as to other small villages.
The province of Khon Kaen's 2017 population was 1.8 million with a GDP of 190 billion baht. Its Smart City development plan aims to double its GDP per person to 394,000-493,000 baht by 2029 from an average of about 192,000 baht in 2016. Khon Kaen's plan has been incorporated into Thailand's 12th national social and economic plan. The plan has been driven largely by the Khon Kaen Think Tank, a group of involved citizens. The Smart City's signature project is the Khon Kaen Transit System Co, founded in 2017. Its plans for a 26 km light rail network from Samran to Tha Phra in the Mueang Khon Kaen District are complete and awaiting Thai Cabinet approval before bidding on the project can begin. The light rail system will feature 18 to 21 stations, take two years to complete, and will cost 15 billion baht. The Land Traffic Management Commission, a national think tank for transportation policy, has already blessed the plan.
Climate
Khon Kaen's climate is categorised as tropical savanna, with winters that are dry and very warm. Temperatures rise until April—a very hot month, with an average daily maximum of. The monsoon season runs from May until October, with heavy rain and somewhat cooler temperatures during the day although nights remain warm.
Administration
On 20 August 1935 Khon Kaen town municipality was established, with an area of 4.031 sq.km. On 24 September 1995 Khon Kaen was upgraded to city municipality. The administration of the city is responsible for an area that covers approximately 46 sq.km. and consists of 66,179 households. There are 95 communities divided as follows: zone 1 - 17, zone 2 - 28, zone 3 - 31 and zone 4 - 19 communities.
Culture
's 2014 EU Film Festival included Khon Kaen, together with Chiang Mai and Bangkok, as host locations. A selection of six films was shown in the city, including the Spanish film The Pelayos and the Polish filmWalesa, Man of Hope.
