Welcome to Beautiful Chiang Mai

Voted best city in asia by readers of Travel + Leisure

City Facts & Features

Chiang Mai (also written ‘Chiengmai’ or ‘Chiangmai’) is the capital city of Chiang Mai Province in Thailand
Chiang Mai means ‘New City’
Chiang Mai became the new capital of the Lan Na kingdom when it was founded in 1296 by King Mengrai succeeding Chiang Rai, the former capital which was founded in 1262
The city is subdivided into four wards (khwaeng): Nakhon Ping, Srivijaya, Mengrai, and Kawila
After Bangkok, Chiang Mai is Thailand’s second largest city
Chiang Mai’s historic importance is derived from its close proximity to the Ping River – a major tributary of the Chao Phraya River and major trading routes
Chiang Mai is home to Doi Inthanon, Thailand’s highest mountain
Mountains and vegetation covers 70% of Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai city area has over 300 Buddhist temples
Chiang Mai is one of the few cities in the world featuring a fully-preserved, one square-mile moat (known as the Old City)
Wat Prah That Doi Suthep is Chiang Mai’s most famous temple, sitting high on a hill it can be seen from all over Chiang Mai

The Chiang Mai Metropolitan Area has a population of nearly one million people, more than half the total of Chiang Mai Province
Approximately 400,000 people live inside the city center which swells to 500,000 during high season
80% of people living in the Chiang Mai district are locals from birth
Chiang Mai is the main base from which to do a Hill-Tribe trek with over 800,000 people living in the surrounding hills

Chiang Mai receives around 2 million foreign visitors a year
Chiang Mai was one of two tourist destinations in Thailand on TripAdvisor’s 2014 list of “25 Best Destinations in the World” (current standing number 24)
There are an estimated 20-25,000 full and part-time foreign expats living in Chiang Mai
Along with a handful of other nationalities, Chiang Mai’s expat community is comprised primarily of American, British, Dutch, French, Japanese, Korean and Swedish nationals
Several English language magazines, a newspaper, and various clubs, communities and societies support this foreign contingent

CNX is currently Thailand’s fourth busiest airport
In 2013, 19 airlines operated at CNX, serving more than 5.3 million passengers, 43,000 flights and 18,000 tons of cargo
CNX operates two terminals: one for domestic passengers and the other for international flights

The region enjoys a mild tropical climate with three distinct seasons regulated by mountainous terrain and a monsoon season.
The cool season arrives in November and is typified by dry weather and temperatures ranging from 15°C (60°F) to 25°C (80°C) in the valley
From March onwards, the hot season is the least pleasant time of year, culminating in temperatures reaching 40°C (105°F) at midday in April, averaging 30°C (85°F).
The first rains begin in late May and the rainy season continues through to October, with humidity above 80 per cent and daily afternoon downpours
Rainfall tops 250mm in September with lengthy overcast spells and all-day showers.

Chiang Mai is located 700Km North of Bangkok
Chiang Mai sits in a broad valley at an elevation of 330m above sea level
Lanna (‘a million rice fields’) pre-dates the kingdoms of Sukhothai and Ayuthaya and incorporated an area stretching from Chieng Sean (on the northern reaches of the Mekhong River) to Lamphun (just south of Chiang Mai)
Chiang Mai is located around 700kms north of Bangkok and 250kms south of the Myanmar (Burmese) border. It sits well within the tropics – located 18 degrees north – and is surrounded by mountain ranges, forming the tail end of the Himalayan range.

Agricultural activity comprised mainly of fruit, vegetables, and some rice cultivation is the mainstay of the local economy

Chiang Mai dates back to 1296, when it was founded as the new capital of the thriving Lanna Kingdom
Chiang Mai was a former capital of the Kingdom of Lan Na (1296–1768), which became a tributary state of the Kingdom of Chiang Mai from 1774 to 1939
Lanna Kingdom means ‘Land of a Million Rice Fields’ reflecting the agricultural richness of the area.
Chiang Mai has been continuously inhabited for over 700 years with its fortunes shifting at the hands of invading armies from Laos, central Thailand and Burma
From the pinnacle of its strength under King Mengrai (c.1300) to its submission as a vassal state under the Burmese in the mid 16th century, the city has managed to remain largely independent and was only formally included in the greater Thai Kingdom when the Lanna monarchy was extinguished early in the 20th century

Chiang Mai City location
in Chiang Mai province.