Located
in the Mae Ping River Basin, 710 kilometres from Bangkok, and 305 metres above
sea level, the original city layout still exists as a neat square surrounded by
a moat, and vestiges of the fortified wall. Four main gates offer principal access
to the old town, which is criss-crossed by main roads, and veined by charming
narrow lanes with traditional teakwood houses and lovely everyday images of Northern
Thailand, all begging to be admired. There are more than 30 temples in this area,
some venerable sites dating back to the founding of the city in 1296 Chiang Mai
Mai is Thailand's principal northern city and the provincial capital of a largely
mountainous province, also called Chiang Mai.
Chiang Mai city, 700 kilometres
north of Bangkok, was founded in 1296, and is located in a fertile valley 300
metres above sea level.
Chiang Mai was the capital of the Lanna Thai (Kingdom
of One M i l l i o n Ricefields) the first independent Thai kingdom within the
fabled Golden Triangle.
Chiang Mai flourished as a major religious, cultural
and trading centre until 1556 when a Burmese invasion reduced it to a vassal state.
The Burmese were expelled in 1785, and Lanna Thai again became part of northern
Thailand.
Many lowland Thais regard Chiang Mai as being something of a
national Shangri-la. The province has a reputation for beautiful women, distinctive
festivals, historic temples, scenic beauty, temperate fruits such as apples peaches
and strawberries, and a cool season climate.
On
the east, Chiang Mai is bordered by the provinces of Chiang Rai, Lampang, and
Lamphun. The Mae Tuen River, Ream Mountain, and Luang Mountain separate Chiang
Mai's South from the province of Tak. Some portions of Chiang Mai's South also
border the Lamphun province. West of Chiang Mai is Mae Hong Son province.
To
the north, a 277 kms. (141.82 miles) stretch of mountains divides Chiang Mai's
northern districts of Fang and Mae Ai from Myanmar's (Burma's) Chiang Tung (Shan)
State. In certain areas, the Kok River also acts as a border between Chiang Mai
and Myanmar.
A large part (69.31 %) of Chiang Mai's land is covered by mountains
and forests.
Chiang Mai's largest and most important river is the Ping,
which starts in the mountains of Chiang Dao and flows south for 540 kilometres
(337.5 miles). It is along the banks of this river that Chiang Mai's flat, fertile
valley area lies.
Chiang Mai is also home to Doi Inthanon, a mountain 2,575
metres (8,448 feet) above sea level which is Thailand's highest mountain.
Chiang Mai province has a
population of around 1,547,085 with 170,348 currently living in Chiang Mai's city
area
80% of the people in Chiang Mai are locals by birth, and speak a dialect
that is a slight variation of the central Thai language. The remaining 20% are
Thai nationals and foreigners who have moved to Chiang Mai to work, study, or
retire.
There are many hilltribe people living in the mountainous districts
surrounding Chiang Mai such as Omkoi, Mae Jam, Chiang Dao, and Mae Ai.
Statistics
reported by the Tribal Research Institute of Chiang Mai stated that in the year
1992 there were 1,049 hilltribe villages in the Chiang Mai province, constituting
a total of 174,195 people. Of this amount, 106,116 were from the Karen tribe,
27,392 from the Lahu (Musur) tribe, 17,198 from the Hmong (Meo) tribe, 10,873
form the Lisu tribe, 8,862 from the Lua tribe, 2,609 from the Akha tribe, 1,145
from the Mien (Yao) tribe, and 485 from the Palong tribe.
The hilltribe
people are agricultural; planting fields, raising animals, and hunting for a living.
Each tribe has its own culture and language, they provide the province with an
interesting diversity.
The majority (80%) of the Chiang Mai people earn
a living through agriculture and agricultural related professions. Tourism and
its related jobs is second and rising. General commerce and cottage industry-mainly
in the form of handicrafts, and of processing agricultural products.
