Thailand: The warm smile

Author: Meng Fei
Publisher:
Publishing Date: Not available
Features: The Cool World of Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai holds a position in Thailand akin to Xi'an's in China. This ancient city with a population of only 170,000 is Thailand's second-largest city and has a history spanning over 700 years. It became the capital of the ancient Lanna Thai Kingdom in 1296 and is located more than 700 kilometers south of Bangkok, near Yunnan in China. It is truly a border city, isolated and self-sufficient for seven centuries. It only joined the central government of Thailand after the death of its last king in 1932. If Bangkok, with its 200-year history, is a dazzling kaleidoscope, then Chiang Mai is a delicate rose blooming on the northern Thai plateau. As an independent kingdom within Thailand's borders, the locals call themselves "Lanna," meaning "a million paddy fields," reflecting the region's former prosperity. Interestingly, ancient China referred to this area as the "Land of Eight Hundred Wives," likely due to its abundance of beautiful women.
Half a century ago, traveling to Chiang Mai was extremely inconvenient. One had to travel along rivers by boat or ride elephants, spending weeks crossing dense jungles and mountains. This natural isolation did not make Chiang Mai an isolated and desolate place but rather a gift from the heavens, allowing it to retain its rich ancient charm despite the winds of time. The kings of Lanna Thai were devout Buddhists who built numerous temples, striving for perfection, resulting in this ancient city, which is only one-seventh the size of Bangkok, housing over 300 temples. Thus, Chiang Mai earned the nickname "City of Temples." These temples are densely scattered throughout the streets and alleys, always catching one's eye. The of their roofs and the moss-covered carvings and painted beams always evoke thoughts of the past, inviting one to explore further. The morning and evening bells of the temples remind people of the hustle and bustle of the mortal world, helping them to quiet down and enter the cool world of Buddhism.
The ancient city of Chiang Mai is square and rectangular, with a river flowing around its ancient walls. The temples within the city, some glistening in gold and jade, others aged and dilapidated, tell stories of different eras of prosperity or decline. The city is dotted with walls and deep moats, bearing witness to the heavy memories of times of chaos and turmoil. Rhododendrons bloom vibrantly in the courtyards of temples and residential homes, adorning every corner with their elegance. Next to the rhododendrons, small lotuses float in water jars, beautiful yet solitary.
At an altitude of over 3,000 feet, Chiang Mai is a high plateau compared to Bangkok, which sits at only 3 feet above sea level. Its refreshing and pleasant climate is something Bangkok, with its hot and humid conditions, cannot imagine. This favorable climate is due to its location in the center of a large plain called the Menam Plain, which stretches for 560 kilometers. The plain follows the river as it winds around the city, with its banks lined with pine and bamboo trees, farmlands, and corn climbing the slopes, swaying in the wind like green silk being dried.
Bangkokites yearn for Chiang Mai's cool world and consider it Thailand's "Shangri-La." During the hot summer months, they flock to Chiang Mai to escape the heat and relax. Chiang Mai is the center of northern Thailand, and the northernmost point of Thailand's railway system ends here. Chiang Mai's geographical advantages are evident—just a few steps away, you can reach the drug heartland of Chiang Rai, the Golden Triangle, or explore the adventures in the mountainous tribal areas of Chiang Dao and Nan.