About Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai is a historic and pleasant city claiming to be the second most important city in Thailand. Its temperate climate, cheap cost of living and laid back atmosphere make it popular with ex-pats and retirees whose swelling numbers have provided a pleasant ex-pat community supported by many useful services.

The city dates back to the end of the 13th century, when a new capital was founded on the Ping River for the Lanna Kingdom – one of the earliest organised groupings of the Siamese people. It retained semi-autonomous status until the early twentieth century but suffered invasion by the Burmese in the eighteenth century, a powerful earthquake a century earlier and several other setbacks before rising once more. Today its hundreds of historic temples remain intact, the unique moat is as beautiful as ever and the original bastions and city gates have been rebuilt around the ancient old town.

Chiang Mai was the centre of a largely agricultural province until tourism and commerce changed the prosperity of the city in the early nineties and more foreigners began settling. Today it boasts half a dozen international schools, world class hospitals, foreign clubs and societies, competent business services, two large malls and endless restaurants, bars and entertainment venues.

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It remains one of the most popular destinations in Thailand for visitors who come to enjoy the Northern mountain beauty, trekking, excursions to rural areas, spas, cheap shopping at the Night Bazaar and Baan Tawai Crafts Village and plenty of history and culture. These all add depth to the lifestyle experience of those living here. In fact shopping in Chiang Mai is a major feature.

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The more modern sector of the city now sits between the old town and Ping River, but narrow windy lanes and old teak houses remain. A series of concentric highways have opened up the outlying areas to rapid expansion into housing estates and pleasantly green suburbs with modern houses in a very secure enviroment. Beyond, at the periphery of the large Ping River valley lie some wonderful natural areas in the mountains and national parks of the area.

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Chiang Mai’s increasingly busy international airport receives more than a dozen flights a day from as far away as Singapore with plenty of cheap flights from Bangkok. There is also good rail and road access to the south and well maintained routes north. City traffic is reasonable at the right times of the day, and getting about by motorbike is perfectly safe and convenient.

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Welcoming visitors is an art perfected in Chiangmai, and recent decades have seen the city emerge as one of Asia's most popular and best value destinations. Many of the Thai working in tourist services speak English. People come to experience the beautiful mountainous scenery of Northern Thailand, go trekking, eat, drink, party, delve into history and seek out adventure. The quiet winding lanes of the old town, lively riverside restaurants, colourful hill tribe folk and bustling night bazaar all contribute to make Chiangmai an unforgettable place for visitors and residents alike.

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Some pictures of Chiang Mai