Chiang Mai
When in Chiang Mai
In Thailand, there are two primary city destinations, one of which is Bangkok and the other is the culturally diverse and significant city that is Chiang Mai. Although the former is the country’s identifying city, the latter, through the years, has grown to become equally as renowned among travelers.
Chiang Mai stands for “New City”, which the destination culturally is, if one is to think of its place in the country’s history. It is the new city capital that was adopted centuries ago for the Kingdom of Lanna. Today, it is a developing city center that has been able to adopt modern practices without compromising olden cultures, traditions, and infrastructures. Chiang Mai is currently applying to gain the recognition of UNESCO as a creative city.
What differentiates Chiang Mai from Bangkok is that the former presents Thailand in its cultural entirety. What is seen here reflects what the country and its people are all about. Surrounded by the Ping River and foothills of the glorious mountainside of Northern Thailand, hundreds of temples and other places of worship can be found here. There is also an old moated town that will give visitors an insider’s look into what the city once was.
Apart from the historical elements and destinations, Chiang Mai is a city that is also reflective of new world influences including a youthful burst of energy that can be experienced in the ever popular nightlife district of Th Nimmanhaemin.
If time spent temple-hopping, moat city exploring, and going from one bar to the next is not enough, visitors can also enjoy the food scene in Chiang Mai, which is not only home to local delicacies and famed Burmese dishes but also offers tastes from different parts of the world. There are plenty of sites to see and things to experience in Chiang Mai, making it an ultimate destination in Asia to consider.