Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai
เชียงใหม่ ᨩ᩠ᨿᨦᩉᩲ᩠ᨾ᩵ | |
|---|---|
| Chiang Mai City Municipality เทศบาลนครเชียงใหม่ ᩅ᩠ᨿᨦᨩ᩠ᨿᨦᩉᩲ᩠ᨾ᩵ | |
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Flag Seal | |
Interactive map of Chiang Mai | |
Chiang Mai Location within Thailand Chiang Mai Location within Asia Chiang Mai Location within Earth | |
| Coordinates: 18°47′43″N 98°59′55″E / 18.79528°N 98.99861°E | |
| Country | Thailand |
| Province | Chiang Mai |
| District | Mueang Chiang Mai |
| Founded | 1296 |
| City municipality | 29 March 1935 |
| Districts | 4
|
| Government | |
| • Type | City municipality |
| • Mayor | Atsani Puranupakorn |
| Area | |
| 40.216 km2 (15.527 sq mi) | |
| • Urban | 405 km2 (156 sq mi) |
| • Rank | 11th |
| Elevation | 304 m (997 ft) |
| Population (2019) | |
| 127,240 (Municipal area) | |
| • Rank | 8th in Thailand |
| • Density | 3,164/km2 (8,190/sq mi) |
| • Urban (2022) | 1,198,000 (Principal city area/เขตเมือง) |
| • Urban density | 2,958/km2 (7,660/sq mi) |
| • Metro | (To be announced) |
| Time zone | UTC+07:00 (ICT) |
| Postal code | 50000 |
| Calling code | 052 & 053 |
| Airport | Chiang Mai International Airport |
| Inter-city rail | Northern Line |
| Website | cmcity.go.th |
| Chiang Mai | |
|---|---|
| Thai name | |
| Thai | เชียงใหม่ |
| RTGS | Chiang Mai |
| Northern Thai name | |
| Northern Thai | ᨩ᩠ᨿᨦᩉ᩠ᨾᩲ᩵ [tɕīaŋ màj] |
Chiang Mai is the largest city in northern Thailand, the capital of Chiang Mai province and the second-largest city in Thailand by urban population. It is 700 km (435 mi) north of Bangkok in a mountainous region called the Thai highlands, and has a population of approximately 127,000 within the city municipality and an urban population of about 1.2 million as of 2023.
The heart of the city is commonly defined by a square area about 1.6 km x 1.6 km. It is bordered by ancient red brick walls (now only remnants) and has a moat surrounding it.
However, the greater urban area, including surrounding districts such as Hang Dong, San Sai, and Saraphi, forms a metropolitan region with an estimated population exceeding 1 million. At the provincial level, Chiang Mai had a projected population of 1.8 million in 2023, according to Thailand's National Statistical Office.
Chiang Mai (meaning "new city" in Thai) 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.
The city municipality of Chiang Mai (thesaban nakhon) officially only covers 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, namely Hang Dong in the south, Mae Rim in the north, Suthep in the west and 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.
Chiangmai was declared by the UNESCO Creative Cities Network for the City of Crafts and Folk Arts in 2017.