1. Chiang Mai has a longer history than Thailand itself.

Praya Mung Rai established Chiang Mai as the Lanna Kingdom’s capital in 1296 AD. The area was chosen because it has plenty of fertile ground for farming and is bordered on one side by mountains and on the other by the Ping River. Later, the Thon Buri Monarchy, a newly formed kingdom that will eventually become Thailand, conquered Lanna. Even though Chiang Mai is a province of Thailand but our historical culture dates back more than 700 years, we have our own language, writing system, culture, cuisine, and way of life, so visiting Chiang Mai will undoubtedly provide you with a unique experience compared to visiting other regions of Thailand.
Thapae Gate

2. Our moat that surround the old city was suppose to be a square with each length at 1.63 km.

While the moat isn’t exactly square, it came close with each side measuring between 1.62 and 1.67 kilometers. In contrast to the bricks used now, the moat was originally constructed with soil scooped to form the cannel that encircled it and bricks to enclose it. The moat was constructed when Chiang Mai was being build to shield us from any form of assault from our neighboring Kingdoms. The moat has since been renovated numerous times, so while it no longer exists in its original shape, it has been reconstructed in a way that is much more contemporary and is still a stunning site to see. It also recounts the history of our past, which included ongoing conflicts and invasions by the Thai Kingdom and the Burmese kingdom.
Moat

3. The Lantern festival was just created a few years ago.

The lantern festival is celebrated during Loy Krathong or what we call Yee Peng Festival where we thank the goddess of water for bringing water to our crops and fields. Releasing lanterns was original meant to The lantern celebration takes place during Loy Krathong, also known as Yee Peng Festival, when we honor the water goddess for providing water for our farms and crops. Lantern releases were originally intended to be a time when we would release the lantern along with any negative energy or ill luck and let it soar away. Along with lighting lanterns, we would also place traditional candles outside our homes and decorate them accordingly. In the past, we would commemorate the Yee Peng holiday by lighting a small number of lanterns. But recently, the lantern festival has emerged, where thousands of lanterns are dropped simultaneously and mix with the full moon’s nighttime illumination to create an incredible spectacle sight not to be missed.
Moat

4. Chiang Mai is the best place to celebrate the Songkran Festival, period.

Thailand celebrates the Songkran event, which was originally held to mark the beginning of the Thai year. In the past, we would pour a small amount of water over the hands of our elders as a sign of respect; however, in more recent years, this custom has evolved into a full-body splashing festival. Because of our distinctive culture and the way our city is laid out, Songkran is especially exceptional in Chiang Mai. With the manner we observe this occasion, our tradition is more historically rich (since we are many hundred years older than Thai-Bangkok). All of the temples and locals will be showcasing our tradition through decorations, attire, and other cultural practices that are unique to Thailand. The Moat is another significant element that contributes to Chiang Mai’s appeal as a Songkran celebration location. We stroll around the Moat during Songkran and use the water from the cannons surrounding the Moat to splash water at each other while wishing each other “Sawadee Pee Mai” or Happy New Year.
Moat

5. Chiang Mai is fulled with stunning temples.

We have more than 30 temples just in the 1.63 square km. of the old city where the Moat surrounds us. If you’re wondering why there are so many, it’s mostly because we used to think that constructing a temple in front of our homes would result in good deeds, a quiet existence, and a display of wealth. Many of our predecessors built temples in front of their homes because they believed that once something is built, it cannot be taken down. We have so many temples because doing anything with it can only result in terrible karma. In the present, Chiang Mai’s temples are a breathtaking sight and an integral part of what make us a place you shouldn’t miss.
Moat