Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai (/ˌtʃæŋ ˈmaɪ/, from Thai: เชียงใหม่ [tɕʰīəŋ màj] (audio speaker iconlisten), Northern Thai: ᨩ᩠ᨿᨦᩉ᩠ᨾᩲ᩵, เจียงใหม่ [t͡ɕīəŋ.màj] (audio speaker iconlisten)), sometimes written as Chiengmai or Chiangmai, is the largest city in northern Thailand, the capital of Chiang Mai Province and the second largest city in Thailand. It is 700 km (435 mi) north of Bangkok in a mountainous region.

Chiang Mai was founded in 1296 as the new capital of Lan Na, succeeding the former capital, Chiang Rai.  The city's location on the Ping River (a major tributary of the Chao Phraya River) and its proximity to major trading routes contributed to its historic importance.