It is 154 kilometres (96 mi) north of Chiang Mai, among the highest mountains in the country.

According to the Yonok chronicle, Mueang Fang was built in 641 by King Lawa Changkarat.

Later King Mengrai the Great reigned in Fang before building Wiang Kum Kam and Chiang Mai of the Lanna Kingdom for one year around 1268.

The town is subdivided into 12 boroughs ("chumchon"), which include five villages (muban) of the Wiang subdistrict - Mu 2, 3, 4, 5, and 9.

The rainy period of the year lasts for 9.0 months, from March 7 to December 8, with a sliding 31-day rainfall of at least 13 millimeters.