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Chiang Mai is Thailand’s principal northern province.
It is some 700 kilometers north of Bangkok and covers
an area of 20,000 square kilometers. The city is
located in a fertile valley some 300 metres above
sea level.
Chiang Mai was founded as the capital of Lanna Thai
(Kingdom of One Million Rice fields) in 1296. It
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, whereupon Lanna Thai once again became
part of northern Thailand.
Many lowland Thais regard Chiang Mai as being something
of a national Shangri-La, thanks to its distinctive
festivals, historic temples dating from the 1300s,
arresting scenic beauty, temperate fruits and a
crisp, invigorating cool season climate.
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