Chiang Mai Island images

Chiang Mai, is the largest and most important cultural city in northern Thailand . It is the capital of Chiang Mai province, which is the former capital of the Kingdom of Lanna (1296-1768) and was a tributary of the Kingdom of Chiang Mai from 1774 until 1939. It is located about 700 km (435 miles) north of Bangkok , among the highest mountains in the country. The city is along the Ping River, the main tributary of the Chao Phraya River. Chiang Mai means "new city", which is so named because it was the new capital, founded in 1296, succeeding Chiang Rai (started in 1262) was founded in the capital of the Kingdom of Lanna.

Capital in northern Thailand, Chiang Mai is the second city in Thailand and most visited city, but in terms of size, it does not compare to Bangkok, the population is younger. Accept the Chiang Mai a lot of tourists and travelers alike, from the city's glittering center of one of the excellent restaurants and shopping markets expansionary and can easily walk to reach on foot.

There are many in Chiang Mai and the top of the hill to Wat Doi Suthep and the crown jewels of the living collection of traditional - so popular Thai temples Thai temples, there are luxury hotels, such as Chiang Mai.

Chiang Mai by a prestigious university, and the city was filled with the places Altrfaith, also offers some of the best cuisine in the north of Thailand. But most of tourism programs for foreigners organizers, do not prefer to go to temples and restaurants and recreational places, but accept in Chiang Mai in the mountainous Kabylie trips. For decades it formed the base of Chiang Mai in northern Thailand trips. While there are some excellent tour companies in the city and, unfortunately, there are still companies not matching the specifications - so be sure to do your research before you go to remote areas.

Tourism Authority of Thailand office in Chiang Mai expects to increase the number of tourists from China to 20 per cent for at least the year 2012, due to the success of the Chinese film "Lost in Thailand", which was filmed in the northern province.
Chiang Mai has more than 33,000 hotel rooms and the Chengmaa International Airport is the third largest airport in Thailand, after the Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang in Bangkok.

There are places for conferences and exhibitions in Thailand Office (TCEB), which aims to market Chiang Mai as a global MICE (meetings, conferences, exhibitions), the city is part of the MICE Five-Year Plan. In 2012, the total value of exhibitions and conferences industry amounted to Chiang Mai 3.9 billion, of which contributed approximately 3.8 billion with 46,826 travelers from foreign exhibitions and conferences.

However, the influx of tourists may put pressure on natural resources in the city. To face the rampant development and non-planned, with air and water pollution, and waste management problems and traffic congestion, the city launched (NMT) system to third parties to the transport. Initiative, developed by the partnership of experts with support from the Knowledge Network of environment and development, which aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and creates jobs for the poor in urban areas. Compatible development strategy has gained the support of climate policy-makers and citizens alike, as a result of the many benefits.

In recent years, Chiang Mai has become a modern city that received an increase in the number of visitors to attract more than 5 million visitors a year, to reach between 1.4 million to 2 million foreign tourists (by year). Chiang Mai gained prominence in the political sphere in May 2006, when he entered in the Chiang Mai initiative of the ASEAN nations and the "+3" countries (China, Japan, and South Korea). Chiang Mai was one of three Thai cities in a bid to host the World Expo 2020.