It's a city with a beautiful cultural personality of its own. In addition, it's been blessed with much majestic beauty in nature.

The original city layout still exists as a neat square surrounded by a moat with vestiges of the fortified wall and its four main gates offering prime access to the old town.

With an altitude of about 310 meters above sea level, Chiang Mai is about 700 kilometers from Bangkok on the Mae Ping River basin. Surrounded by high mountain ranges, the city covers an area of approximately 20,107 square kilometers and is the country's second largest province. The city borders Myanmar on the north, Lamphun and Tak Provinces on the south, Chiang Rai, Lampang and Lamphun Provinces on the east and Mae Hong Son Province on the west. The terrain is mainly comprised of jungles and mountains, which are home to the hill tribes.

One of Chiang Mai's distinctive features is Doi Inthanon, Thailand's highest peak, which is 2,575 meters above sea level.

Handicrafts of silk, silver and wood are timeless souvenirs for visitors. The people themselves are an unforgettable part of Chiang Mai. They are proud of the city's 700-year history.