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Chiang Mai

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Chiang Mai (/ˌæŋ ˈm/, from Thai: เชียงใหม่ [t͡ɕʰīa̯ŋ màj] (Loudspeaker.svglisten), Northern Thai: ᨩ᩠ᨿᨦᩉ᩠ᨾᩲ᩵, เจียงใหม่ [t͡ɕīəŋ.màj] (Loudspeaker.svglisten)), 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 called the Thai highlands and has a population of 1.2 million people as of 2022,[3][4] which is more than 66 percent of the total population of Chiang Mai province (1.8 million).

Quick facts: Chiang Mai, Thai name, Thai, RTGS, Northern T...
Chiang Mai
Lanna-_Thai_Chiang_Mai.svg
"Chiang Mai" in Thai language (top) and
Northern Thai with Tai Tham script (bottom)
Thai name
Thaiเชียงใหม่
RTGSChiang Mai
Northern Thai name
Northern Thaiᨩ᩠ᨿᨦᩉ᩠ᨾᩲ᩵
[t͡ɕīəŋ.màj]
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Quick facts: Chiang Mai เชียงใหม่ᨩ᩠ᨿᨦᩉ᩠ᨾᩲ᩵, Country, P...
Chiang Mai
เชียงใหม่
ᨩ᩠ᨿᨦᩉ᩠ᨾᩲ᩵
Chiang Mai City Municipality
เทศบาลนครเชียงใหม่
Panoramic_view_of_Chiang_Mai_City.jpg
0020-%E0%B8%A7%E0%B8%B1%E0%B8%94%E0%B8%9E%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B0%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%B4%E0%B8%87%E0%B8%AB%E0%B9%8C%E0%B8%A7%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%A1%E0%B8%AB%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A7%E0%B8%B4%E0%B8%AB%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A3.jpg
Chiang_Mai_-_East_gate_of_the_city_wall_-_0001.jpg
Wat_Phra_That_Doi_Suthep_%28I%29.jpg
Wat_Chiang_Man_%28I%29.jpg
From top, left to right: View of Chiang Mai City, Wat Phra Singh, Tha Phae Gate, Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, Wat Chiang Man
Map
Chiang Mai is located in Thailand
Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai
Location within Thailand
Chiang Mai is located in Asia
Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai
Location within the Asia
Chiang Mai is located in Earth
Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai
Location within Earth
Coordinates: 18°47′43″N 98°59′55″E
CountryFlag_of_Thailand.svg Thailand
ProvinceFlag_Chiang_Mai_Province.png Chiang Mai province
AmphoeMueang Chiang Mai
City
municipality
29 March 1935[1]
Districts
4
  • Nakornping District
  • Kawila District
  • Mengrai District
  • Sriwichai District
Government
  TypeCity municipality
  MayorAtsani Puranupakorn
Area
  City municipality40.216 km2 (15.5274844 sq mi)
  Urban
405 km2 (156.371 sq mi)
  Rank11th
Elevation
310 m (1,020 ft)
Population
 (2019)[2]
  City municipality127,240
(Municipal Area)
  Rank8th
  Density3,164/km2 (8,190/sq mi)
  Urban
 (2022)
1,198,000 (Expanded City Area)
  Urban density2,958/km2 (7,660/sq mi)
  Metro
1,198,000 (Same Area as Urban)
Time zoneUTC+07:00 (ICT)
Postal code
50000
Calling code053 & 054
AirportChiang Mai International Airport
Inter-city railNorthern Line
Websitecmcity.go.th
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Chiang Mai (meaning "New City" in Thai) was founded in 1296 as the new capital of Lan Na, succeeding the former capital, Chiang Rai.[5]:208–209 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.[6][7]

The city (thesaban nakhon, "city municipality") of Chiang Mai officially only covers most parts (40,2 km²) of the Mueang Chiang Mai district in the city centre and has a population of 127,000. This census area dates back to 1983 when Chiang Mai's municipal area was enlarged for the first and last time since becoming the first City Municipality in Thailand (then under Siam) in 1935. The city's sprawl has since extended into several neighboring districts, from Hang Dong in the south, to Mae Rim in the north, and Suthep in the west, to San Kamphaeng in the east, forming the Chiang Mai urban area with over a million residents.

The city municipality is subdivided into four khwaeng (electoral wards): Nakhon Ping, Sriwichai, Mengrai, and Kawila. The first three are on the west bank of the Ping River, and Kawila is on the east bank. Nakhon Ping District includes the northern part of the city. Sriwichai, Mengrai, and Kawila consist of the western, southern, and eastern parts, respectively. The city center—within the city walls—is mostly within Sriwichai ward.[8]