Chiang Mai
Encyclopedia
Chiang Mai sometimes written as "Chiengmai" or "Chiangmai", is the largest and most culturally significant city in northern Thailand
. It is the capital of Chiang Mai Province
, a former capital of the Kingdom of Lanna
(1296 - 1768) and was the tributary
Kingdom of Chiang Mai from 1774 until 1939. It is located 700 km (435 mi) north of Bangkok
, among the highest mountains in the country. The city is on the Ping river
, a major tributary of the Chao Phraya river
.
In recent years, Chiang Mai has become an increasingly modern city and has been attracting over 5 million visitors each year, of which between 1.4 million and 2 million are foreign tourists (depending on the year). Chiang Mai gained prominence in the political sphere in May 2006, when the Chiang Mai Initiative
was concluded here between the ASEAN nations and the "+3" countries (China
, Japan
, and South Korea
). Chiang Mai is one of three Thai cities contending to host the World Expo 2020
. It has also recently positioned itself to become a Creative City
and is considering to apply for Creative City Status with UNESCO
.
Chiang Mai's historic importance is derived from its strategic location on the Ping river and major trading routes.
While officially the city (thesaban nakhon) of Chiang Mai only covers most parts of the Mueang Chiang Mai district
with a population of 160,000, the urban sprawl of the city now extends into several neighboring districts. This Chiang Mai Metropolitan Area
has a population of nearly one million people, more than half the total of Chiang Mai Province
.
The city is subdivided into four wards (khwaeng
): Nakhon Ping, Srivijaya, Mengrai, and Kawila. The first three are on the west bank of the Ping River, and Kawila is located on the east bank. Nakhon Ping district comprises the north side of the city. Srivijaya, Mengrai, and Kawila consist of the west, south, and east respectively. The city center—within the city walls—is mostly within Srivijaya ward.
King Mengrai
founded the city of Chiang Mai (meaning "new city") in 1296, and it succeeded Chiang Rai
as capital of the Lanna kingdom. The ruler was known as the Chao. The city was surrounded by a moat
and a defensive wall
, since nearby Burma was a constant threat. With the decline of the Lannathai kingdom, the city lost importance and was often occupied either by the Burmese or Thais from Ayutthaya
. Because of the Burmese wars that culminated in the fall of Ayutthaya in April 1767, Chiang Mai was abandoned between 1776 and 1791. Lampang
then served as the capital of what remained of Lannathai. Chiang Mai formally became part of Siam in 1774 by an agreement with Chao Kavila, after the Thai King Taksin
helped drive out the Burmese. Chiang Mai then slowly grew in cultural, trading and economic importance to its current status as the unofficial capital of northern Thailand, second in importance only to Bangkok
.
The modern municipality dates to a sanitary district (sukhaphiban
) that was created in 1915. This was upgraded to a municipality (thesaban
) on March 29, 1935, as published in the Royal Gazette, Book No. 52 section 80. First covering just 17.5 km² (7 sq mi), the city was enlarged to 40.216 km² (16 sq mi) on April 5, 1983.
), which are further subdivided into 77 villages (muban
). The city (thesaban nakhon) Chiang Mai covers the tambon Si Phum, Phra Sing, Haiya, Chiang Moi, Chang Khlan, Wat Ket and Pa Tan, and parts of the tambon Chang Phueak, Suthep, Pa Daet, Nong Hoi, Tha Sala, Nong Pa Khrang and Fa Ham. There are further 3 townships (thesaban tambon) - Chang Phueak covers parts of the tambon Chang Phueak, and Mae Hia and Tha Sala the whole same-named tambon. There are further 6 Tambon administrative organizations (TAO).
Aw), tempered by the low latitude and moderate elevation, with warm to hot weather year-round, though nighttime conditions during the dry season can be cool and are much lower than daytime highs.
at Wat Doi Suthep in its center. Below it are clouds, representing the moderate climate in the mountains of northern Thailand. There is a naga, the mythical snake said to be the source of the Ping River
, and rice stalks, which refer to the fertility of the land.
Chiang Mai has over 300 Buddhist temples
(called "wat
" in Thai). These include:
Wat Suan Dok
is a 14th century temple located just west of the old city-wall. It was built by the king for a revered monk visiting from Sukhothai for the rains retreat. The temple's large sala kan prian (sermon hall) is unusual not only for its size, but also because it is open on the sides instead of enclosed. There are many chedis which contain the ashes of the old rulers of Chiang Mai. The temple is also the site of Mahachulalongkorn Rajavidyalaya Buddhist University, where monks pursue their studies.
Chiang Mai hosts many Thai festivals, including:
, Chiangmai Rajabhat University, Rajamangala University of Technology Lanna
, Payap University
, Far Eastern University, and Maejo University—as well as numerous technical and teacher colleges. Chiang Mai University was the first government university established outside of Bangkok. Payap University is the first private institution in Thailand that was granted university status.
Bars and late-night restaurants are located all over the city, but many can be found on either side of the moat's eastern flank (in the Thapae Gate area), with some live music venues along the Ping River near Nawarat Bridge, along Immanent road in the western part of the city or in the vicinity of the night bazaar
. The Playhouse Theatre off Chang Puak road in the old city offers nightly shows and entertainment performed by Thai national performers. They also offer a unique Lanna dining experience surrounded by mountains and waterfalls. At the Galare Centre, there is a free display of Thai cultural dancing and music. There is also a cluster of bars, American franchise fast food and coffee outlets together with more eclectic restaurants near the intersection of Chang Klan and Loi Kroh Road. Karaoke lounges can be found all over the city. Many are found at Chiang Mai Land Road, and some very large establishments along the length of Chang Klan Road, extending south from the famed night bazaar. There are only a couple of go-go bars in Chiang Mai.
Bus, train and air connections serve Chiang Mai well. A number of bus stations link the city to central and northern Thailand. The Central Chang Pheuak terminal (north of Chiang Puak Gate) provides local services within Chiang Mai province and the Chiang Mai Arcade bus terminal north-east of the city (requires Songthaew or tuk-tuk ride, see below) provides services to over 20 other destinations in Thailand including Bangkok, Ayutthaya, and Phitsanulok. There are several services a day from Chiang Mai Arcade terminal to Bangkok (a 10–12 hour journey).
The state railway operates 14 trains a day to Chiang Mai Station
from Bangkok
. Most journeys run overnight and take approximately 12–15 hours. Most trains offer first-class (private cabins) and a second-class (seats fold out to make sleeping berths) service. A third-class offered is the most economical service, its lack of comfort makes it unsuitable for many tourists.
To get to cities such as Mae Hong Son
or Chiang Rai
a plane or bus must be used. No trains are available to cities north of Chiang Mai.
Chiang Mai International Airport
receives up to 28 flights a day from Bangkok (flight time about 1 hour 10 minutes) and also serves as a local hub for services to other northern cities such as Chiang Rai
, Phrae
and Mae Hong Son
. International services also connect Chiang Mai with other regional centres, including cities in other South East Asian countries.
The local preferred form of transport is personal motorbike and, increasingly, private car.
Local public transport is provided in four forms: tuktuks, songthaew
s, less frequently rickshaws
and the recently re-launched, though infrequent, Chiang Mai Bus service. Local Songthaew fare is usually 20–50 Thai baht
per person for trips in and around the city. If the group of people is larger, the fare per person will be less. Tuktuk fare is usually at least 20 baht per trip (comfortable for two, but some can squeeze in four passengers); fare increases with distance. Chiang Mai's local bus service was relaunched in 2006. It serves routes in and around the city, although the service itself lacks the frequency and route mass as is available in other major cities.
which primarily occurs for a period of several weeks up to the beginning of April. This issue has been acknowledged for some time. Back in 1996, speaking at the Fourth International Network for Environmental Compliance and Enforcement conference, which was held in Chiang Mai in that year, the then governor of Chiang Mai, Virachai Naewboonien invited guest speaker Dr. Jakapan Wongburanawatt, the Dean of the Social Science Faculty of Chiang Mai University
at that time, to discuss the state of Chiang Mai air pollution efforts. Dr. Wongburanawatt stated that back in 1994, there were already increasing numbers of city residents coming to hospitals suffering from respiratory problems associated with city air pollution. The Thailand Pollution Control Department of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment is actively engaged in finding solutions with public awareness campaigns and other initiatives. During this period, unlike the majority of the year, air quality in Chiang Mai often remains below recommended standards with fine-particle dust levels reaching twice the standard.
The northern centre of the Meteorological Department has reported that low-pressure areas from China
trap forest-fire smoke in the mountains along the Thai-Myanmar
border. Chiang Mai’s air quality has been perceptibly deteriorating over the past ten years. This is being addressed by a number of initiatives, and in part, is often seen in cities with increasing economic growth at the expense of a strong corresponding programme to counteract the negative effects of environmental impact. The city is often shrouded in smog during this period leading up to the rainy season. Fine particulate dust levels have sometimes been tested between 190 micrograms and 243 micrograms per cubic meter. (The standard acceptable level is 120 milligrams per cubic meter.)
Amongst the minor sources of particulate matter pollution in Chiang Mai is the prevalence of burning in the city, with cremation
s, burning garbage
, or vehicular emissions
from poorly maintained diesel vehicles contributing. Added to these minor causes is dust raised during building and excavations.
Chiang Mai’s problems are exacerbated by the fact that the city, like other areas such as Los Angeles
and Salt Lake City, is located in a natural geographic bowl surrounded by mountains. The result is a slowing of air movement, picking up more particulates as they are released by cars and burning trash. Also as a result of this inversion effect
, as air rises in the bowl, it effectively turns over and settles back down over the city until a welcome wind shift or rainstorm cleans the air. The Thailand Pollution Control Department of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment is actively engaged in finding solutions to this hazardous problem and has been for several years as Chiang Mai's air quality index numbers are ever decreasing. Exacerbating this problem, one the most popular modes of convenient low-cost public transportation in Chiang Mai—as in the rest of Thailand—is provided by differently coloured pick-up trucks called 'Songtheouw'. Red Songtheouws (Red Cars or Rod Daeng) provide passenger requested journeys whilst other colours operate on fixed routes. People ride in the back of these trucks which are equipped with diesel engines. The exhaust systems on all of these trucks are bored out in order to increase horse power which then increases the amount of carbon emissions and heavy metals
which get ejected out of the back of the vehicles. As a result, the streets of Chiang Mai are increasingly difficult to ride on when using a motorcycle. It is a very common sight to see motorcyclists protecting their breathing passages as they follow these trucks. The same can be said from the famous Tuk tuks which are ubiquitous in Thailand. The city authorities are well aware of this issue and have enacted a campaign to replace all of the older, poorly tuned offending vehicles with modern yellow and blue metered passenger taxis. As these older, air quality offenders are slowly retired, it remains to be seen if the regulating bodies will be able to effect change in Chiang Mai in the face of resistance the drivers of these vehicles who have traditionally made their living in this way for many years. It should be said that Chiang Mai is not the only Thai city with this problem as Songtheow and Tuk Tuk is the major mode of low cost transportation in Thailand. Unfortunately, because of Chiang Mai's inversion effect as the result of it being situated in a geographic bowl, the carbon emissions emitted from vehicles is made an even more troubling problem.
For several years, as Chiang Mai's air quality index has become more and more troublesome, in relation to the rest of the region, the recognition of the problem has been growing locally. Doctors in Chiang Mai have been noticing an increase in people coming to see them with upper respiratory difficulties. Chiang Mai has now enacted stringent regulation of emissions standards for all vehicles. Since 2008, police sometimes set up roadblocks to test exhaust emissions on the spot and officers will enact the law to ban offending vehicles as Chiang Mai continues to work actively towards a cleaner environment.
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
. It is the capital of Chiang Mai Province
Chiang Mai Province
Chiang Mai is the second-largest province of Thailand, located in the north of the country. Neighboring provinces are Chiang Rai, Lampang, Lamphun, Tak, and Mae Hong Son. In the north it borders Shan State of Burma...
, a former capital of the Kingdom of Lanna
Lanna
The Kingdom of Lanna was a kingdom centered in present-day northern Thailand from the 13th to 18th centuries. The cultural development of the people of Lanna, the Tai Yuan people, had begun long before as successive Tai Yuan kingdoms preceded Lanna...
(1296 - 1768) and was the tributary
Tributary state
The term tributary state refers to one of the two main ways in which a pre-modern state might be subordinate to a more powerful neighbour. The heart of the relationship was that the tributary would send a regular token of submission to the superior power...
Kingdom of Chiang Mai from 1774 until 1939. It is located 700 km (435 mi) north of Bangkok
Bangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
, among the highest mountains in the country. The city is on the Ping river
Ping River
The Ping River , along with the Nan River, is one of the two main contributaries of Chao Phraya River. It originates at Doi Chiang Dao in Chiang Dao district, Chiang Mai Province. After passing Chiang Mai town, it flows though the provinces Lamphun, Tak, and Kamphaeng Phet...
, a major tributary of the Chao Phraya river
Chao Phraya River
The Chao Phraya is a major river in Thailand, with its low alluvial plain forming the centre of the country. It runs through Bangkok, the capital city, and then empties into the Gulf of Thailand.-Etymology:...
.
In recent years, Chiang Mai has become an increasingly modern city and has been attracting over 5 million visitors each year, of which between 1.4 million and 2 million are foreign tourists (depending on the year). Chiang Mai gained prominence in the political sphere in May 2006, when the Chiang Mai Initiative
Chiang Mai Initiative
The Chiang Mai Initiative is a multilateral currency swap arrangement among the ten members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations , the People's Republic of China , Japan, and South Korea...
was concluded here between the ASEAN nations and the "+3" countries (China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, and South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
). Chiang Mai is one of three Thai cities contending to host the World Expo 2020
Expo 2020
Expo 2020 is a Universal scale Registered Exposition time slot which can be sanctioned by the Bureau of International Expositions, Paris between 2011 and 2014....
. It has also recently positioned itself to become a Creative City
Chiang Mai Creative City
Chiang Mai Creative City Chiang Mai Creative City is an initiative to develop Chiang Mai into a Creative City. A Creative City is a city where cultural and creative activities are an integral part of the city's economic and social functioning...
and is considering to apply for Creative City Status with UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
.
Chiang Mai's historic importance is derived from its strategic location on the Ping river and major trading routes.
While officially the city (thesaban nakhon) of Chiang Mai only covers most parts of the Mueang Chiang Mai district
Amphoe Mueang Chiang Mai
Mueang Chiang Mai is the capital district of Chiang Mai Province in northern Thailand. The district contains the city of Chiang Mai.-History:...
with a population of 160,000, the urban sprawl of the city now extends into several neighboring districts. This Chiang Mai Metropolitan Area
Chiang Mai Metropolitan Area
The Chiang Mai Metropolitan Area is the urban sprawl of the twin cities of city of Chiang Mai and town of Lamphun. It has an area of around 2,905.13 km² in 2 Province, 2,302.88 km² in Chiang Mai and 602.25 km² in Lamphun. There are 1,099,473 inhabitants in the metropolitan area. The population...
has a population of nearly one million people, more than half the total of Chiang Mai Province
Chiang Mai Province
Chiang Mai is the second-largest province of Thailand, located in the north of the country. Neighboring provinces are Chiang Rai, Lampang, Lamphun, Tak, and Mae Hong Son. In the north it borders Shan State of Burma...
.
The city is subdivided into four wards (khwaeng
Khwaeng
Khwaeng is an administrative subdivision used in the 50 districts of Bangkok. As of 2009 there are 169 khwaeng in all. A khwaeng is roughly equivalent to a tambon in other provinces of Thailand. With the creation of the special administrative area of Bangkok in 1972 the tambon within the area of...
): Nakhon Ping, Srivijaya, Mengrai, and Kawila. The first three are on the west bank of the Ping River, and Kawila is located on the east bank. Nakhon Ping district comprises the north side of the city. Srivijaya, Mengrai, and Kawila consist of the west, south, and east respectively. The city center—within the city walls—is mostly within Srivijaya ward.
History
Mengrai
King Mangrai was the 25th King of Ngoen Yang and the first King of Chiang Mai , capital of the Lanna Kingdom .-Early years:...
founded the city of Chiang Mai (meaning "new city") in 1296, and it succeeded Chiang Rai
Chiang Rai
-Demographics:Official Population count: According to the Thailand National Statistical Office, as of September 2010, Chiang Rai municipal district has a population of 199,699...
as capital of the Lanna kingdom. The ruler was known as the Chao. The city was surrounded by a moat
Moat
A moat is a deep, broad ditch, either dry or filled with water, that surrounds a castle, other building or town, historically to provide it with a preliminary line of defence. In some places moats evolved into more extensive water defences, including natural or artificial lakes, dams and sluices...
and a defensive wall
Defensive wall
A defensive wall is a fortification used to protect a city or settlement from potential aggressors. In ancient to modern times, they were used to enclose settlements...
, since nearby Burma was a constant threat. With the decline of the Lannathai kingdom, the city lost importance and was often occupied either by the Burmese or Thais from Ayutthaya
Ayutthaya kingdom
Ayutthaya was a Siamese kingdom that existed from 1350 to 1767. Ayutthaya was friendly towards foreign traders, including the Chinese, Vietnamese , Indians, Japanese and Persians, and later the Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch and French, permitting them to set up villages outside the walls of the...
. Because of the Burmese wars that culminated in the fall of Ayutthaya in April 1767, Chiang Mai was abandoned between 1776 and 1791. Lampang
Lampang
Lampang, also called Nakhon Lampang to differentiate from Lampang Province, is the third largest town in northern Thailand and capital of Lampang Province and the Lampang district. Traditional names for Lampang include Wiang Lakon and Khelang Nakhon. The city is still growing rapidly as trading...
then served as the capital of what remained of Lannathai. Chiang Mai formally became part of Siam in 1774 by an agreement with Chao Kavila, after the Thai King Taksin
Taksin
Taksin ; was the only King of the Thonburi Kingdom...
helped drive out the Burmese. Chiang Mai then slowly grew in cultural, trading and economic importance to its current status as the unofficial capital of northern Thailand, second in importance only to Bangkok
Bangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
.
The modern municipality dates to a sanitary district (sukhaphiban
Sukhaphiban
Sukhaphiban were an administrative division of Thailand.Sanitary districts were the first sub-autonomous entities established in Thailand. A first such district was created in Bangkok by a royal decreee of King Chulalongkorn in 1897...
) that was created in 1915. This was upgraded to a municipality (thesaban
Thesaban
Thesaban are the municipalities in Thailand. There are three levels of municipalities - city, town and subdistrict municipality. Both Bangkok and Pattaya are special municipal entities outside the thesaban system....
) on March 29, 1935, as published in the Royal Gazette, Book No. 52 section 80. First covering just 17.5 km² (7 sq mi), the city was enlarged to 40.216 km² (16 sq mi) on April 5, 1983.
Administration
The district is subdivided into 16 subdistricts (tambonTambon
Tambon is a local government unit in Thailand. Below district and province , they form the third administrative subdivision level. As of the 2009 there are 7255 tambon, not including the 169 khwaeng of Bangkok, which are set at the same administrative level, thus every district contains 8-10 tambon...
), which are further subdivided into 77 villages (muban
Muban
Muban is the lowest administrative subdivision of Thailand. Usually translated as village, they are the subdivision of tambon. As of 2008, there are 74944 administrative villages in Thailand. As of the 1990 census, the average village consisted of 144 households or 746 persons.A muban does not...
). The city (thesaban nakhon) Chiang Mai covers the tambon Si Phum, Phra Sing, Haiya, Chiang Moi, Chang Khlan, Wat Ket and Pa Tan, and parts of the tambon Chang Phueak, Suthep, Pa Daet, Nong Hoi, Tha Sala, Nong Pa Khrang and Fa Ham. There are further 3 townships (thesaban tambon) - Chang Phueak covers parts of the tambon Chang Phueak, and Mae Hia and Tha Sala the whole same-named tambon. There are further 6 Tambon administrative organizations (TAO).
| No. | Name | Thai name | Villages | Inh. Population A population is all the organisms that both belong to the same group or species and live in the same geographical area. The area that is used to define a sexual population is such that inter-breeding is possible between any pair within the area and more probable than cross-breeding with individuals... |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Si Phum Si Phum Si Phum is a tambon of Mueang Chiang Mai District, in Chiang Mai Province, Thailand. In 2005 it had a total population of 17,610 people.... |
ศรีภูมิ | |||
| 17,162 | |||||
| 2. | Phra Sing Phra Sing Phra Sing is a tambon of Mueang Chiang Mai District, in Chiang Mai Province, Thailand. In 2005 it had a total population of 8,616 people.... |
พระสิงห์ | |||
| 8,616 | |||||
| 3. | Haiya Haiya Haiya is a tambon of Mueang Chiang Mai District, in Chiang Mai Province, Thailand. In 2005 it had a total population of 14,818 people.... |
หายยา | |||
| 14,818 | |||||
| 4. | Chang Moi Chang Moi Chang Moi is a tambon of Mueang Chiang Mai District, in Chiang Mai Province, Thailand. In 2005 it had a total population of 9,528 people.... |
ช้างม่อย | |||
| 9,528 | |||||
| 5. | Chang Khlan Chang Khlan Chang Khlan is a tambon of Mueang Chiang Mai District, in Chiang Mai Province, Thailand. In 2005 it had a total population of 15,368 people.... |
ช้างคลาน | |||
| 15,368 | |||||
| 6. | Wat Ket Wat Ket Wat Ket is a tambon of Mueang Chiang Mai District, in Chiang Mai Province, Thailand. In 2005 it had a total population of 24,094 people.... |
วัดเกต | |||
| 24,094 | |||||
| 7. | Chang Phueak Chang Phueak Chang Phueak is a tambon of Mueang Chiang Mai District, in Chiang Mai Province, Thailand. In 2005 it had a total population of 27,421 people. The tambon contains 5 villages.... |
ช้างเผือก | 5 | 27,421 | |
| 8. | Suthep Suthep Suthep is a tambon of Mueang Chiang Mai District, in Chiang Mai Province, Thailand. In 2005 it had a total population of 36,952 people. The tambon contains 15 villages.... |
สุเทพ | 15 | 36,952 | |
| 9. | Mae Hia Mae Hia Mae Hia is a tambon of Mueang Chiang Mai District, in Chiang Mai Province, Thailand. In 2005 it had a total population of 15,656 people. The tambon contains 10 villages.-Tourist attractions:* Royal Park Ratchaphruek... |
แม่เหียะ | 10 | 15,656 | |
| 10. | Pa Daet Pa Daet (Chiang Mai) Pa Daet is a tambon of Mueang Chiang Mai District, in Chiang Mai Province, Thailand. In 2009 it had a total population of 16859 people.The subdistrict is located south of the city of Chiang Mai, along the western short of the Ping River... |
ป่าแดด | 13 | 15,931 | |
| 11. | Nong Hoi Nong Hoi Nong Hoi is a tambon of Mueang Chiang Mai District, in Chiang Mai Province, Thailand. In 2005 it had a total population of 13,144 people. The tambon contains 6 villages.-References:... |
หนองหอย | 6 | 13,144 | |
| 12. | Tha Sala Tha Sala Tha Sala is a tambon of Mueang Chiang Mai District, in Chiang Mai Province, Thailand. In 2005 it had a total population of 11,347 people. The tambon contains 5 villages.... |
ท่าศาลา | 5 | 11,347 | |
| 13. | Nong Pa Khrang Nong Pa Khrang Nong Pa Khrang is a tambon of Mueang Chiang Mai District, in Chiang Mai Province, Thailand. In 2005 it had a total population of 8,423 people. The tambon contains 7 mubans .... |
หนองป่าครั่ง | 7 | 8,423 | |
| 14. | Fa Ham Fa Ham Fa Ham is a tambon of Mueang Chiang Mai District, in Chiang Mai Province, Thailand. In 2005 it had a total population of 7,193 people. The tambon contains 7 villages.... |
ฟ้าฮ่าม | 7 | 7,193 | |
| 15. | Pa Tan Pa Tan, Chiang Mai Pa Tan is a tambon of Mueang Chiang Mai District, in Chiang Mai Province, Thailand. In 2005 it had a total population of 8,855 people.... |
ป่าตัน | |||
| 8,855 | |||||
| 16. | San Phi Suea San Phi Suea San Phi Suea is a tambon of Mueang Chiang Mai District, in Chiang Mai Province, Thailand. In 2005 it had a total population of 8,466 people. The tambon contains 9 villages.... |
สันผีเสื้อ | 9 | 8,466 |
Climate
Chiang Mai has a tropical wet and dry climate (KoppenKöppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by Crimea German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen himself, notably in 1918 and 1936...
Aw), tempered by the low latitude and moderate elevation, with warm to hot weather year-round, though nighttime conditions during the dry season can be cool and are much lower than daytime highs.
Emblem
The city emblem depicts the chediStupa
A stupa is a mound-like structure containing Buddhist relics, typically the remains of Buddha, used by Buddhists as a place of worship....
at Wat Doi Suthep in its center. Below it are clouds, representing the moderate climate in the mountains of northern Thailand. There is a naga, the mythical snake said to be the source of the Ping River
Ping River
The Ping River , along with the Nan River, is one of the two main contributaries of Chao Phraya River. It originates at Doi Chiang Dao in Chiang Dao district, Chiang Mai Province. After passing Chiang Mai town, it flows though the provinces Lamphun, Tak, and Kamphaeng Phet...
, and rice stalks, which refer to the fertility of the land.
Religious sites
Thai Temple Art and Architecture
This article on Thai temple art and architecture discusses Buddhist temples in Thailand. A typical Thai Wat, which is loosely translated as monastery or temple, has an enclosing wall that divides it from the secular world.-Wat architecture :The architecture of a Wat has seen many changes in...
(called "wat
Wat
A wat is a monastery temple in Cambodia, Thailand, or Laos. The word "wat" means "school".- Introduction :...
" in Thai). These include:
- Wat Phrathat Doi SuthepWat Phrathat Doi SuthepWat Phrathat Doi Suthep is a Theravada Buddhist temple in Chiang Mai Province, Thailand. The temple is often referred to as "Doi Suthep" although this is actually the name of the mountain it is located on. The temple is located 15 km from the city of Chiang Mai and is a sacred site to many Thai...
, the city's most famous temple, stands on Doi Suthep, a hill to the north-west of the city. This temple dates from 1383. By tradition, its site was chosen by placing a relic of the Lord BuddhaGautama BuddhaSiddhārtha Gautama was a spiritual teacher from the Indian subcontinent, on whose teachings Buddhism was founded. In most Buddhist traditions, he is regarded as the Supreme Buddha Siddhārtha Gautama (Sanskrit: सिद्धार्थ गौतम; Pali: Siddhattha Gotama) was a spiritual teacher from the Indian...
on an elephant's back and letting it roam until it trumpeted, then circled, and finally laid down and died. The temple's location provides views of the city on a clear day. - Wat Chiang ManWat Chiang ManWat Chiang Man is a Buddhist temple inside the old city of Chiang Mai, in northern Thailand.-History:...
, the oldest temple in Chiang Mai, dates from the 13th century. King Mengrai lived here during the construction of the city. This temple houses two important and venerated Buddha figures, the marble Phra Sila and the crystal Phra Satang Man. - Wat Phra SinghWat Phra SinghWat Phra Singh is a Buddhist temple in Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand....
is located within the city walls, dates from 1345 and offers an example of classic northern Thai style architecture. It houses the Phra Singh Buddha, a highly venerated figure brought here many years ago from Chiang RaiChiang Rai-Demographics:Official Population count: According to the Thailand National Statistical Office, as of September 2010, Chiang Rai municipal district has a population of 199,699...
. - Wat Chedi LuangWat Chedi LuangWat Chedi Luang is a Buddhist temple in the historic center of Chiang Mai, Thailand. The current temple grounds were originally made up of three temples — Wat Chedi Luang, Wat Ho Tham and Wat Sukmin.-History:...
was founded in 1401 and is dominated by a large Lanna style chediStupaA stupa is a mound-like structure containing Buddhist relics, typically the remains of Buddha, used by Buddhists as a place of worship....
which took many years to finish. An earthquake damaged the chedi in the 16th century and only two-thirds of it remains. - Wat Chet YotWat Chet YotWat Chet Yot is a Buddhist temple in Chiang Mai in northern Thailand. It is a centre of pilgrimage for those born in the year of the snake.-Location:...
is located on the outskirts of the city. Built in 1455, the temple hosted the Eighth World Buddhist CouncilBuddhist councilsLists and numbering of Buddhist councils vary between and even within schools. The numbering here is normal in Western writings.-First Buddhist council Lists and numbering of Buddhist councils vary between and even within schools. The numbering here is normal in Western writings.-First Buddhist...
in 1977. - Wiang Kum KamWiang Kum KamWiang Kum Kam is the recently restored settlement along the Ping River, which was built by King Mangrai as his capital before he moved it to Chiang Mai...
is at the site of an old city on the southern outskirts of Chiang Mai. King MengraiMengraiKing Mangrai was the 25th King of Ngoen Yang and the first King of Chiang Mai , capital of the Lanna Kingdom .-Early years:...
lived there for ten years before the founding of Chiang Mai. The site includes many ruined temples. - Wat UmongWat UmongWat Umong is a 700 year old Buddhist temple in Chiang Mai, Thailand. It is located against the mountains of Doi Suthep and is south of Chiang Mai University....
is a forest and cave wat in the foothills in the west of the city, near Chiang Mai UniversityChiang Mai UniversityChiang Mai University is a public research university in northern Thailand founded in 1964 with a strong emphasis on engineering, science, and agriculture. Its instructional mission includes undergraduate, graduate, professional and continuing education offered through resident instruction...
. Wat U-Mong is known for its fasting Buddha, representing the Buddha at the end of his long and fruitless fasting period before he gained enlightenment. - Wat RamPoeng (Tapotaram), near Wat U-Mong, is known for its meditation center (Northern Insight Meditation Center). The temple teaches the traditional vipassanaVipassanaVipassanā or vipaśyanā in the Buddhist tradition means insight into the true nature of reality. A regular practitioner of Vipassana is known as a Vipassi . Vipassana is one of the world's most ancient techniques of meditation, the inception of which is attributed to Gautama Buddha...
technique and students stay from 10 days to more than a month as they try to meditate at least 10 hours a day. Wat RamPoeng houses the largest collection of Tipitaka, the complete Theravada canon, in several Northern dialects.
Wat Suan Dok
Wat Suan Dok
Wat Suan Dok is a Buddhist temple in Chiang Mai, northern Thailand. It is a Royal Temple of the Third Class. The temple is located along Suthep road, approximately one kilometre west of Suan Dok gate....
is a 14th century temple located just west of the old city-wall. It was built by the king for a revered monk visiting from Sukhothai for the rains retreat. The temple's large sala kan prian (sermon hall) is unusual not only for its size, but also because it is open on the sides instead of enclosed. There are many chedis which contain the ashes of the old rulers of Chiang Mai. The temple is also the site of Mahachulalongkorn Rajavidyalaya Buddhist University, where monks pursue their studies.
- First Church, Chiang Mai, was founded in 1868 by the Laos MissionLaos MissionThe Laos Mission was founded in Chiang Mai, northern Thailand by the Rev. Daniel McGilvary and Mrs. Sophia McGilvary in April 1867 as a mission of the Board of Foreign Missions, Presbyterian Church U.S.A. The original vision for the mission, however, came from Dr. Dan Beach Bradley, who himself...
of the Rev. Daniel and Mrs. Sophia McGilvaryDaniel McGilvaryDaniel McGilvary was an American Presbyterian missionary who played an important role in the expansion of Protestantism into northern Thailand. He was born 16 May 1828, in North Carolina, USA and, after a largely informal education, taught school until he entered Princeton Theological Seminary in...
. Chiang Mai has about 20 Christian churches
- Muslim traders have been travelling to north Thailand for many centuries, and a small settled presence has existed in Chiang Mai from at least the middle of the 19th century, with mosqueMosqueA mosque is a place of worship for followers of Islam. The word is likely to have entered the English language through French , from Portuguese , from Spanish , and from Berber , ultimately originating in — . The Arabic word masjid literally means a place of prostration...
s belonging to Chinese or Chin HawChin HawChin Haw or Chin Ho are Chinese people who migrated to Thailand via Burma or Laos. Most of them were from Yunnan, the southern province of China.- Migration :...
Muslims. In 2011, there were 16 mosques in the city. - Two gurdwaras (Sikh Temples) serve the city's Sikh community, Siri Guru Singh Sabha and Namdhari Sikh Temples.
- Hindu templeHindu templeA Mandir, Devalayam, Devasthanam, or a Hindu temple is a place of worship for followers of Hinduism...
Devi Mandir serves the Hindu community.
Festivals
- Loi Kratong (known locally as Yi Peng): Held on the full moon of the 12th month in the traditional Thai lunar calendarThai lunar calendarThe Thai lunar calendar , or Dai calendar , Tai calendar, is Thailand's version of the lunisolar Buddhist calendar used in the southeast Asian countries of Cambodia, Laos and Burma, for calculating lunar-regulated holy days...
, being the full moon of the 2nd month of the old Lanna calendar. In the western calendar this usually falls in November. Every year thousands of people assemble floating banana-leaf containers (krathong) decorated with flowers and candles onto the waterways of the city to worship the Goddess of Water. Lanna-style sky lanternSky lanternSky lanterns, also known as Kongming Lantern are airborne paper lanterns traditionally found in some Asian cultures. They are constructed from oiled rice paper on a bamboo frame, and contain a small candle or fuel cell composed of a waxy flammable material. When lit, the flame heats the air inside...
s (khom fai or kom loi), which are hot-air balloons made of paper, are launched into the air. The sky lanterns are believed to help rid the locals of troubles and are also taken to decorate houses and streets. - Songkran: Held in mid-April to celebrate the traditional Thai new yearThai New YearThe Songkran festival is celebrated in Thailand as the traditional New Year's Day from 13 to 15 April. It coincides with the New Year of many calendars of South and Southeast Asia....
. Chiang Mai has become one of the most popular locations to visit for this festival. A variety of religious and fun-related activities (notably the good-natured city-wide water-fight) take place each year, along with parades and a Miss Songkran beauty competition. - Chiang Mai Flower FestivalChiang Mai Flower FestivalChiang Mai, Thailand, is often known as the Rose of the North, but it really blooms into flower in February, towards the end of the cool season. Every year on the first weekend of February, the is opened. The flower beds in public spaces all around the town are especially beautiful at this time of...
: A three-day festival held during the first weekend in February each year, this event occurs when Chiang Mai's temperate and tropical flowers are in full bloom. The festivities include floral floats, parades, traditional dancing shows, and a beauty contest. - Tam Boon Khan DokTam Boon Khan DokTam Boon Khan Dok, the Inthakin Festival in Chiang Mai, Thailand, starts on the day of the waning moon of the six lunar month and lasts 6–8 days. In 2009, this is May 20-27. Centered around Wat Chedi Luang where the city pillar is housed, this is a celebration of Brahmic origin. Offerings are made...
, the Inthakin (City Pillar) Festival, starts on the day of the waning moon of the six lunar month and lasts 6–8 days. In 2009, this is May 20–27. Centered around Wat Chedi LuangWat Chedi LuangWat Chedi Luang is a Buddhist temple in the historic center of Chiang Mai, Thailand. The current temple grounds were originally made up of three temples — Wat Chedi Luang, Wat Ho Tham and Wat Sukmin.-History:...
where the city pillar is housed, this is a celebration of brahmic origin. Offerings are made to the city pillar as well as the many other Buddhist and Lanna-era icons. Dancing, musical performances, carnival games, and the ubiquitous Thai vendor food is present. This is a very large celebration in which the Chiang Mai citizenry participate.
Language
The inhabitants speak Kham Muang (also known as Northern Thai or Lanna) among themselves, though Central Thai is used in education and is understood by everyone. English is used in hotels and travel-related businesses and many educated people speak English. The Kham Muang alphabet is now studied only by scholars, and Northern Thai is commonly written with the standard Thai alphabet.Museums
Some of the museums in Chiang Mai:- Chiang Mai City Arts and Cultural Center.
- Chiang Mai National MuseumChiang Mai National MuseumThe Chiang Mai National Museum is a national museum located in Chiang Mai, northern Thailand. It highlights the history of the Kingdom of Lanna.- External links :* *...
highlights the history of the region and the Kingdom of LannaLannaThe Kingdom of Lanna was a kingdom centered in present-day northern Thailand from the 13th to 18th centuries. The cultural development of the people of Lanna, the Tai Yuan people, had begun long before as successive Tai Yuan kingdoms preceded Lanna...
. - Tribal MuseumTribal MuseumThe Tribal Museum is an ethnographic museum in Chiang Mai, northern Thailand, showing the life of Thailand's minority hill tribes.- Exhibits :...
showcases the history of the local mountain tribes. - Mint Bureau of Chiangmai or Sala Thanarak, Treasury Department, Ministry of Finance, Rajdamnern Road (one block from AUA) has an old coin museum open to the public during business hours. The Lanna Kingdom used leaf (or line) money made of brass and silver bubbles, also called "pig-mouth" money. Nobody has been able to duplicate the technique of making pig-mouth money, and because the silver is very thin and breakable, good pieces are now very rare.
Universities
Chiang Mai has several universities, including Chiang Mai UniversityChiang Mai University
Chiang Mai University is a public research university in northern Thailand founded in 1964 with a strong emphasis on engineering, science, and agriculture. Its instructional mission includes undergraduate, graduate, professional and continuing education offered through resident instruction...
, Chiangmai Rajabhat University, Rajamangala University of Technology Lanna
Rajamangala University of Technology Lanna
Rajamangala University of Technology Lanna is a science and technology university in northern Thailand. It offers Certificate , Advanced Certificate , undergraduate, and master's degrees.- History :...
, Payap University
Payap University
Payap University established in 1974, is a private institution founded by the Church of Christ in Thailand. Payap is a founding member of the Association of Private Higher Education Institutions in Thailand, and an active member of the Association of Christian Universities and Colleges in Asia, as...
, Far Eastern University, and Maejo University—as well as numerous technical and teacher colleges. Chiang Mai University was the first government university established outside of Bangkok. Payap University is the first private institution in Thailand that was granted university status.
Dining
- Khantoke dinner is an old LannaLannaThe Kingdom of Lanna was a kingdom centered in present-day northern Thailand from the 13th to 18th centuries. The cultural development of the people of Lanna, the Tai Yuan people, had begun long before as successive Tai Yuan kingdoms preceded Lanna...
Thai tradition in Chiang Mai. It is an elaborate dinner or lunch which is offered by a host to guests at various ceremonies or parties, e.g. at weddings, housewarmings, celebrations, novice ordinations, or funerals. It can also be held for temple celebrations such as celebrations for specific buildings in a Thai templeThai Temple Art and ArchitectureThis article on Thai temple art and architecture discusses Buddhist temples in Thailand. A typical Thai Wat, which is loosely translated as monastery or temple, has an enclosing wall that divides it from the secular world.-Wat architecture :The architecture of a Wat has seen many changes in...
and at Buddhist festivals such as Khao Pansa, Og Pansa, Loy KrathongLoy KrathongLoi Krathong is a festival celebrated annually throughout Thailand and certain parts of Laos and Burma .-Overview:...
, and Thai New Year (Songkran).
Nature
- The nearby national parks include Doi Inthanon National ParkDoi Inthanon National ParkDoi Inthanon National Park is located in Mae Chaem District, Chiang Mai Province, northern Thailand. It includes Doi Inthanon, the country's highest mountain. Established in 1972, is in size.-Geography:...
, which includes Doi InthanonDoi InthanonDoi Inthanon ) is the highest mountain in Thailand. It is located in Mae Chaem District. The mountain was also known in the past as Doi Luang or Doi Ang Ka, meaning the crow's pond top. Near the mountain's base was a pond where many crows gathered...
, the highest mountain in Thailand; Doi Pui Suthep; and Obkhan.- Doi Pui Suthep National Park is just outside town. From all over Chiang Mai you can see the Wat Doi Suthep Buddhist temple looking down on the town from Doi SuthepDoi SuthepDoi Suthep , is a mountain located in Chiang Mai Province, Thailand.-Description: Doi Suthep is one of the twin peaks of a granite mountain located west of Chiang Mai, the other peak is known as Doi Pui and is slightly taller .Doi Suthep is located 15 km away from Chiang Mai city centre.Most...
mountain.
- Doi Pui Suthep National Park is just outside town. From all over Chiang Mai you can see the Wat Doi Suthep Buddhist temple looking down on the town from Doi Suthep
- Elephant Nature ParkElephant Nature ParkElephant Nature Park is a sanctuary and rescue centre for elephants in the Northern Thailand, Chiang Mai Province, approximately from Chiang Mai City. Founded in the 1990s, the project's aim is to provide sanctuary for distressed elephants from all over Thailand...
: Approximately 60 km (37 mi) north of the city or about one hour drive, the Elephant Nature Park is home to approximately 30 rescued elephants. - Hill-tribe tourism and trekking: A large number of tour companies offer organized treks among the local hills and forests on foot and on elephant back. Most also involve visits to the various local hill tribes. These include representatives from the Akha, HmongHmong peopleThe Hmong , are an Asian ethnic group from the mountainous regions of China, Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand. Hmong are also one of the sub-groups of the Miao ethnicity in southern China...
, KarenKaren peopleThe Karen or Kayin people , are a Sino-Tibetan language speaking ethnic group which resides primarily in southern and southeastern Burma . The Karen make up approximately 7 percent of the total Burmese population of approximately 50 million people...
, and Lisu tribes. - Several venues located in the vicinity of Chiang Mai offer zip-lineZip-lineA zip-line consists of a pulley suspended on a cable mounted on an incline...
tours and canopy walks.
Night-life
The Chiang Mai night-life has many bars, several discotheques, live music venues and one street with hostess bars which cater to tourists, located along Loi Kroh Road. It includes a walk-in arcade with a Muay Thai boxing ring near the Imperial Mae Ping Hotel. The city maintains its liberal, laid back attitude with several areas and venues that accommodate the gay and lesbian scene. The Chiang Mai night-life is lively and goes well into the small hours.Bars and late-night restaurants are located all over the city, but many can be found on either side of the moat's eastern flank (in the Thapae Gate area), with some live music venues along the Ping River near Nawarat Bridge, along Immanent road in the western part of the city or in the vicinity of the night bazaar
Chiang Mai Night Bazaar
Chiang Mai Night Bazaar or just Night Bazaar is located in the heart of the city, on the Chan Klan road, between Tha Pae and Sri Donchai roads. It is famous for its handicrafts and portrait paintings. There are also jewelry, toys, clothing and high tech items such as, CDs and DVDs. The market is...
. The Playhouse Theatre off Chang Puak road in the old city offers nightly shows and entertainment performed by Thai national performers. They also offer a unique Lanna dining experience surrounded by mountains and waterfalls. At the Galare Centre, there is a free display of Thai cultural dancing and music. There is also a cluster of bars, American franchise fast food and coffee outlets together with more eclectic restaurants near the intersection of Chang Klan and Loi Kroh Road. Karaoke lounges can be found all over the city. Many are found at Chiang Mai Land Road, and some very large establishments along the length of Chang Klan Road, extending south from the famed night bazaar. There are only a couple of go-go bars in Chiang Mai.
Activities
- Shopping: Chiang Mai has a large and famous night bazaar for arts, handicrafts, and imported products of all descriptions, and a number of large, well-appointed modern shopping centres. The night bazaarChiang Mai Night BazaarChiang Mai Night Bazaar or just Night Bazaar is located in the heart of the city, on the Chan Klan road, between Tha Pae and Sri Donchai roads. It is famous for its handicrafts and portrait paintings. There are also jewelry, toys, clothing and high tech items such as, CDs and DVDs. The market is...
sprawls across several city blocks along footpaths, inside buildings and temple grounds, and in open squares. A handicraft and food market opens every Sunday afternoon till late on Rachadamnoen Road, the main street in the historical centre, which is closed to motorised traffic. Every Saturday evening a handicraft market is held along Wua Lai road, Chiang Mai's silver street on the south-side of the city beyond Chiang Mai gate, and which is then also closed to motorized traffic. . - Visitors seeking bargains can also find a thriving second hand "Thieves" market with lots of stalls under shady trees across the river to the east of the city beginning at the intersection of Kaeo Nawarat and Ratanakosin Roads.
- Thai massageThai massageThai massage is a type of massage in Thai style that involves stretching and deep massage. This form of bodywork is usually performed on the floor, and the client wears comfortable clothes that allow for movement. No oils are used in Thai massage...
: The back streets and main thoroughfares of Chiang Mai have an abundance and variety of massageMassageMassage is the manipulation of superficial and deeper layers of muscle and connective tissue to enhance function, aid in the healing process, and promote relaxation and well-being. The word comes from the French massage "friction of kneading", or from Arabic massa meaning "to touch, feel or handle"...
parlours which offer anything from quick, simple, face and foot massages, to month-long courses in the art of Thai massage. - Thai cookery: A number of Thai cooking schools have their home in Chiang Mai (see also Thai foodCuisine of ThailandThai cuisine is the national cuisine of Thailand. Blending elements of several Southeast Asian traditions, Thai cooking places emphasis on lightly prepared dishes with strong aromatic components. The spiciness of Thai cuisine is well known. As with other Asian cuisines, balance, detail and variety...
). - Central Plaza Chiang Mai AirportChiang Mai International AirportChiang Mai International Airport is located in Chiang Mai, Thailand.Chiang Mai International Airport is the major gateway to the north of Thailand, and currently the third busiest airport in the country. As of 2010, 17 airlines operate services and more than 3,000,000 passengers, 15,000 flights...
: An ultra-modern air-conditioned shopping mall located 10 minutes from the city centre near the international airport of Chiang Mai has the full array of western and Thai fashion, electronics, food franchises, coffee shops, a large Cineplex with an adjacent low cost food hall and restaurants. - A focal point of the Plaza is the unique Lanna style Northern Village shopping section featuring high quality local clothing handicrafts and furnishings over three floors. On the lower floor is a mouth watering array of typical Northern Thai Cuisine.
- Kad Suan Kaew Central mall, located on Huay Kaew road just 100–200 m from the old city moat, being even bigger than Central Airport Plaza, offers similar range of services and shopping/entertainment options.
- For IT shopping, there's Pantip PlazaPantip PlazaPantip Plaza is an indoor IT shopping mall located on New Phetchaburi Road in Ratchathewi district, Bangkok, Thailand. The sale of counterfeit software and DVDs is one of the reasons for its success and notoriety.-Trading hours:...
just south of Night Bazaar, as well as Computer Plaza near the northern moat and IT City department store in Kad Suan Kaew mall. - As a major Thai city, Chiang Mai has hypermarkets of all major networks represented in Thailand, including two Tesco LotusTesco Lotusthumb|right|200px|Tesco Lotus Hypermarket, Lat Phrao Branch]]Tesco Lotus is a hypermarket chain in Thailand, Cambodia and China . In Thailand, the stores are operated by Ek-Chai Distribution System Co., Ltd....
Supercenters (as well as three much smaller Tesco Lotus Express supermarkets), two Big C's, one CarrefourCarrefourCarrefour S.A. is an international hypermarket chain headquartered in Levallois-Perret, France. It is one of the largest hypermarket chains in the world...
, and one MakroMakroMakro is a Dutch chain of Warehouse clubs, also called cash and carries. The first one opened in 1968 in Amsterdam. In the following years more stores opened in the Netherlands and in several other countries within Europe. In the 1970s and 1980s Makro extended its business to the Americas and...
. Those are located on highways in the peripheral areas of the city and are highly popular among locals and expats.
Transportation
The state railway operates 14 trains a day to Chiang Mai Station
Chiang Mai Station
Chiang Mai Railway Station ) is the 1st class station and the main railway station in Chiang Mai Province. This station located in east bank of Ping River in the city of Chiang Mai. There are 14 daily trains, including 2 E&O trains servicing this station. There are also 4 to 6 special trains in...
from Bangkok
Bangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
. Most journeys run overnight and take approximately 12–15 hours. Most trains offer first-class (private cabins) and a second-class (seats fold out to make sleeping berths) service. A third-class offered is the most economical service, its lack of comfort makes it unsuitable for many tourists.
To get to cities such as Mae Hong Son
Mae Hong Son
Mae Hong Son ) is a town in north west Thailand, capital of the Mae Hong Son Province. It is located in the Shan Hills, near the border with Burma along the banks of the river Pai...
or Chiang Rai
Chiang Rai
-Demographics:Official Population count: According to the Thailand National Statistical Office, as of September 2010, Chiang Rai municipal district has a population of 199,699...
a plane or bus must be used. No trains are available to cities north of Chiang Mai.
Chiang Mai International Airport
Chiang Mai International Airport
Chiang Mai International Airport is located in Chiang Mai, Thailand.Chiang Mai International Airport is the major gateway to the north of Thailand, and currently the third busiest airport in the country. As of 2010, 17 airlines operate services and more than 3,000,000 passengers, 15,000 flights...
receives up to 28 flights a day from Bangkok (flight time about 1 hour 10 minutes) and also serves as a local hub for services to other northern cities such as Chiang Rai
Chiang Rai
-Demographics:Official Population count: According to the Thailand National Statistical Office, as of September 2010, Chiang Rai municipal district has a population of 199,699...
, Phrae
Phrae
Phrae is a town in northern Thailand, capital of the Phrae Province.The town covers the whole tambon Nai Wiang of the Mueang Phrae district. It covers an area of 9 km² and as of 2005 it has a population of 17,971....
and Mae Hong Son
Mae Hong Son
Mae Hong Son ) is a town in north west Thailand, capital of the Mae Hong Son Province. It is located in the Shan Hills, near the border with Burma along the banks of the river Pai...
. International services also connect Chiang Mai with other regional centres, including cities in other South East Asian countries.
The local preferred form of transport is personal motorbike and, increasingly, private car.
Local public transport is provided in four forms: tuktuks, songthaew
Songthaew
A songthaew , also known in English as a baht bus, is a passenger vehicle in Malaysia, Thailand and Laos adapted from a pick-up or a larger truck and used as a share taxi....
s, less frequently rickshaws
Cycle rickshaw
The cycle rickshaw is a small-scale local means of transport; it is also known by a variety of other names such as velotaxi, pedicab, bikecab, cyclo, becak, trisikad, or trishaw or, simply, rickshaw which also refers to auto rickshaws, and the, now uncommon, rickshaws pulled by a person on foot...
and the recently re-launched, though infrequent, Chiang Mai Bus service. Local Songthaew fare is usually 20–50 Thai baht
Thai baht
The baht is the currency of Thailand. It is subdivided into 100 satang . The issuance of currency is the responsibility of the Bank of Thailand.-History:The baht, like the pound, originated from a traditional unit of mass...
per person for trips in and around the city. If the group of people is larger, the fare per person will be less. Tuktuk fare is usually at least 20 baht per trip (comfortable for two, but some can squeeze in four passengers); fare increases with distance. Chiang Mai's local bus service was relaunched in 2006. It serves routes in and around the city, although the service itself lacks the frequency and route mass as is available in other major cities.
Air pollution
A continuing environmental problem facing Chiang Mai is the incidence of air pollutionAir pollution
Air pollution is the introduction of chemicals, particulate matter, or biological materials that cause harm or discomfort to humans or other living organisms, or cause damage to the natural environment or built environment, into the atmosphere....
which primarily occurs for a period of several weeks up to the beginning of April. This issue has been acknowledged for some time. Back in 1996, speaking at the Fourth International Network for Environmental Compliance and Enforcement conference, which was held in Chiang Mai in that year, the then governor of Chiang Mai, Virachai Naewboonien invited guest speaker Dr. Jakapan Wongburanawatt, the Dean of the Social Science Faculty of Chiang Mai University
Chiang Mai University
Chiang Mai University is a public research university in northern Thailand founded in 1964 with a strong emphasis on engineering, science, and agriculture. Its instructional mission includes undergraduate, graduate, professional and continuing education offered through resident instruction...
at that time, to discuss the state of Chiang Mai air pollution efforts. Dr. Wongburanawatt stated that back in 1994, there were already increasing numbers of city residents coming to hospitals suffering from respiratory problems associated with city air pollution. The Thailand Pollution Control Department of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment is actively engaged in finding solutions with public awareness campaigns and other initiatives. During this period, unlike the majority of the year, air quality in Chiang Mai often remains below recommended standards with fine-particle dust levels reaching twice the standard.
The northern centre of the Meteorological Department has reported that low-pressure areas from China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
trap forest-fire smoke in the mountains along the Thai-Myanmar
Myanmar
Burma , officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar , is a country in Southeast Asia. Burma is bordered by China on the northeast, Laos on the east, Thailand on the southeast, Bangladesh on the west, India on the northwest, the Bay of Bengal to the southwest, and the Andaman Sea on the south....
border. Chiang Mai’s air quality has been perceptibly deteriorating over the past ten years. This is being addressed by a number of initiatives, and in part, is often seen in cities with increasing economic growth at the expense of a strong corresponding programme to counteract the negative effects of environmental impact. The city is often shrouded in smog during this period leading up to the rainy season. Fine particulate dust levels have sometimes been tested between 190 micrograms and 243 micrograms per cubic meter. (The standard acceptable level is 120 milligrams per cubic meter.)
Amongst the minor sources of particulate matter pollution in Chiang Mai is the prevalence of burning in the city, with cremation
Cremation
Cremation is the process of reducing bodies to basic chemical compounds such as gasses and bone fragments. This is accomplished through high-temperature burning, vaporization and oxidation....
s, burning garbage
Incineration
Incineration is a waste treatment process that involves the combustion of organic substances contained in waste materials. Incineration and other high temperature waste treatment systems are described as "thermal treatment". Incineration of waste materials converts the waste into ash, flue gas, and...
, or vehicular emissions
Emission standard
Emission standards are requirements that set specific limits to the amount of pollutants that can be released into the environment. Many emissions standards focus on regulating pollutants released by automobiles and other powered vehicles but they can also regulate emissions from industry, power...
from poorly maintained diesel vehicles contributing. Added to these minor causes is dust raised during building and excavations.
Main cause
The majority cause of air pollution however as proven by recorded satellite imagery, is the age-old practice of burning-off undergrowth in forests in the mountainous regions, especially along the Thai-Myanmar border.Chiang Mai’s problems are exacerbated by the fact that the city, like other areas such as Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
and Salt Lake City, is located in a natural geographic bowl surrounded by mountains. The result is a slowing of air movement, picking up more particulates as they are released by cars and burning trash. Also as a result of this inversion effect
Inversion (meteorology)
In meteorology, an inversion is a deviation from the normal change of an atmospheric property with altitude. It almost always refers to a temperature inversion, i.e...
, as air rises in the bowl, it effectively turns over and settles back down over the city until a welcome wind shift or rainstorm cleans the air. The Thailand Pollution Control Department of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment is actively engaged in finding solutions to this hazardous problem and has been for several years as Chiang Mai's air quality index numbers are ever decreasing. Exacerbating this problem, one the most popular modes of convenient low-cost public transportation in Chiang Mai—as in the rest of Thailand—is provided by differently coloured pick-up trucks called 'Songtheouw'. Red Songtheouws (Red Cars or Rod Daeng) provide passenger requested journeys whilst other colours operate on fixed routes. People ride in the back of these trucks which are equipped with diesel engines. The exhaust systems on all of these trucks are bored out in order to increase horse power which then increases the amount of carbon emissions and heavy metals
Heavy metals
A heavy metal is a member of a loosely-defined subset of elements that exhibit metallic properties. It mainly includes the transition metals, some metalloids, lanthanides, and actinides. Many different definitions have been proposed—some based on density, some on atomic number or atomic weight,...
which get ejected out of the back of the vehicles. As a result, the streets of Chiang Mai are increasingly difficult to ride on when using a motorcycle. It is a very common sight to see motorcyclists protecting their breathing passages as they follow these trucks. The same can be said from the famous Tuk tuks which are ubiquitous in Thailand. The city authorities are well aware of this issue and have enacted a campaign to replace all of the older, poorly tuned offending vehicles with modern yellow and blue metered passenger taxis. As these older, air quality offenders are slowly retired, it remains to be seen if the regulating bodies will be able to effect change in Chiang Mai in the face of resistance the drivers of these vehicles who have traditionally made their living in this way for many years. It should be said that Chiang Mai is not the only Thai city with this problem as Songtheow and Tuk Tuk is the major mode of low cost transportation in Thailand. Unfortunately, because of Chiang Mai's inversion effect as the result of it being situated in a geographic bowl, the carbon emissions emitted from vehicles is made an even more troubling problem.
For several years, as Chiang Mai's air quality index has become more and more troublesome, in relation to the rest of the region, the recognition of the problem has been growing locally. Doctors in Chiang Mai have been noticing an increase in people coming to see them with upper respiratory difficulties. Chiang Mai has now enacted stringent regulation of emissions standards for all vehicles. Since 2008, police sometimes set up roadblocks to test exhaust emissions on the spot and officers will enact the law to ban offending vehicles as Chiang Mai continues to work actively towards a cleaner environment.
See also
- Chiang Mai Creative CityChiang Mai Creative CityChiang Mai Creative City Chiang Mai Creative City is an initiative to develop Chiang Mai into a Creative City. A Creative City is a city where cultural and creative activities are an integral part of the city's economic and social functioning...
- Chiang Mai Metropolitan AreaChiang Mai Metropolitan AreaThe Chiang Mai Metropolitan Area is the urban sprawl of the twin cities of city of Chiang Mai and town of Lamphun. It has an area of around 2,905.13 km² in 2 Province, 2,302.88 km² in Chiang Mai and 602.25 km² in Lamphun. There are 1,099,473 inhabitants in the metropolitan area. The population...
- Royal Flora RatchaphruekRoyal Flora RatchaphruekThe Royal Flora Ratchaphruek was a flower festival held 1 November 2006, to 31 January 2007, in the Thai city of Chiang Mai that drew 3,781,624 visitors...
- Chiang Mai UniversityChiang Mai UniversityChiang Mai University is a public research university in northern Thailand founded in 1964 with a strong emphasis on engineering, science, and agriculture. Its instructional mission includes undergraduate, graduate, professional and continuing education offered through resident instruction...
- Prince Royal's CollegePrince Royal's CollegeThe Prince Royal's College is a private Christian school serving the educational needs of over 6,000 students per year in grades kindergarten through 12th grade located in Chiang Mai, Thailand.-History:On March 19, 1887, Rev. David G...
- Chiang Mai InitiativeChiang Mai InitiativeThe Chiang Mai Initiative is a multilateral currency swap arrangement among the ten members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations , the People's Republic of China , Japan, and South Korea...
- Child's DreamChild's DreamChild's Dream is a non-profit charity organization for helping underprivileged children in the Mekong subregion, incorporated in Canton Zurich, Switzerland, and based in Chiang Mai, Thailand...
- Buddhist temples in Chiang Mai
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Chiang Mai
External links
- City of Chiang Mai (English)
- City of Chiang Mai (Thai)