Experiencing the merging of the past into the present in Chiang Mai where locals are proud of the city's 700-year history. Its rich traditional heritage and unique culture is a perfect foundation for the development of the city. Chiang Mai is one of the few places in Thailand where it is possible to find in the heart of the city centuries-old chedis and temples next to modern convenience stores and boutique hotels. The original city layout still exists as a neat square surrounded by a moat with vestiges of the fortified wall and its four main gates offering prime access to the old town.
For years, tourists have mistaken Chiang Mai as the northern junction and the base from which they can explore other provinces. The phrase "a day in Chiang Mai is enough to see things around" was common. Today, tourists are surprised by the fact that there is always something new to discover Chiang Mai. Intriguing diversity among ethnic tribes coupled with breathtaking scenery makes Chiang Mai one of Asia's most attractive tourist destinations. Two weeks in Chiang Mai may not be long enough for serious travelers.
The old city of Chiang Mai with its fascinating indigenous cultural identity such as diverse dialects, cuisine, architecture, traditional values, festivals, handicrafts and classical dances is a prime location in its own right. In addition, the presence of hill tribes and their wealth of unique cultures enhance Chiang Mai's distinctive diversity.
Chiang Mai is also blessed with pristine natural resources of mountains (dois), waterfalls, and other nature-based tourist attractions. At the same time, Chiang Mai residents are warm, gracious and congenial providing authentic hospitality making visits memorable and meaningful. Moreover, visitors from all walks of life can collect handicrafts of silk, silver and wood produced locally as timeless souvenirs. Chiang Mai is a place where both backpackers and luxury tourists can enjoy themselves to the fullest.
Most of Chiang Mai's mountains are oriented from north to south. Together they create a multitude of streams and tributaries including Mae Chaem, Mae Ngat and Mae Klang. One of Chiang Mai's distinctive features is Doi Inthanon, Thailands highest peak, which is 2,575 metersMai Mae Nam Ping (Ping River) which originates from the Chiang Dao mountain range. above sea level. In addition, the province boasts flat, fertile valleys, which spread along the banks of the largest and most important river in Chiang
Chiang Mai National Museum.
History
Chiang Mai National Museum is the Main regional museum of the north. The fine Arts Department has assigned this museum to be the centre of education and preservation of art and culture of Chiang Mai and upper north
ern Thailand, the old Lan Na Kingdom.
Their Majesties the King and Queen graciously presided over the opening of the museum on 6 February 1973. The museum is designed as a Thai style building with a traditional northern of Lan Na style rooftop.
On the occasion of the Celebrations of the Golden Jubilee of his Majesty the King's Accession to the throne, and the 700th Anniversary of the Esbablishment of Chiang Mai in 1996, the Chiang Mai National Museum has been under renovation. The museum building has been expanded to its original full plan and the permanent exhibition will be revised with new displays and additional information, enhanced by new technology. The revised exhibition will be divided into six topics.
Exhibition
The geological and paleontological section prepared by the Department of Ma\ineral Resources, the Ministry of industry
Topic 1 : The natural and cultural background of the Lan Na Kingdom including the geology, ecology, geography and prehistoric settlement of the north.
Topic 2 : The history of the Lan Na Kingdom from the establishment of Chiang Mai city, the peak of its glory, to its being controlled by Burman from 1558 to 1769.
Topic 3 : The city of Chiang Mai under the Kingdom of Siam, From the time Chiang Mai regained its freedom from Burma, to the reestablishment of Chiang Mai city in 1782.
Topic 4 : Trade and economy of the Lan Na Kingdom from 1782 to 1939.
Topic 5 : The modern way of life and social development: agriculture and industry, banking, international relations, education and public health.
Topic 6 : The development of the Lan Na Art Style, and the history of art in Thailand from the Dvaravati period to the present day.
Wat Phra That Doi Suthep
The temple of Wat Phra That Doi Suthep is certainly one of the most important temples in Chiang Mai, as well as one of the most revered among all Thais. The temple is a major pilgrimage destinations during the important Buddhist holidays of Makha Buja and Visak. Its importance, as well as its location, owes much to the legend of its founding.
According to this legend, a Buddha relic, which some say glowed, magically replicated just before it was about to be enshrined in the big chedi at Wat Suan Dok. The "cloned" relic was placed on the back of a sacred white elephant, which was all
owed to roam where-ever it wanted.
The elephant eventually climbed to the top of Suthep Mountain, trumpeted three times, turned around three times, knelt down and died. This was taken as a sign that this was the spot where the relic wanted to be, so King Ku Na built the original of the chedi on Doi Suthep at the end of 14th century.
The temple grew and changed in the 600 years since its founding. In particular, it was extensively renovated in the economic "boom" years of the early 1990's. From our admittedly western viewpoint, a lot of the charm has been lost as everything was covered in granite and gold. However, the temple remains an important sight that first-time visitors to Chiang Mai shouldn't miss.
The chedi sits in a rather small courtyard at the very peak of the mountain. The courtyard building sits on a larger plaza containing several buildings as well as a lookout point from which you can see, weather permitting, all of Chiang Mai and the surrounding plain.
Among the buildings on the plaza is a small museum displaying old pieces of temple wares as well as some of the more ancient or unique monetary donations to the temple. Note that before entering the courtyard containing the chedi, you must remove your shoes. You must also be dressed appropriately, although the temple can provide some clothing on loan to cover up your naughty knees and slinky shoulders.
Now for the bad news: To reach the temple itself requires a climb up a naga staircase of 309 steps. For the faint of heart, there's also a funicular cable-car to the top which has just been re-built after several fatal crashes. The fare for the new improved funicular is 20 Baht.
At the base of stairs, where cars and motorcycles park, there is a large market of food stalls, jade factories and endless relentless souvenir sellers.
Doi Inthanon National 
Park.
Doi Inthanon National Park covers the areas of Sanpatong District, Chomthong District, Mae Chaem District, Mae Wang District, and Toi Lor Sub-district of Chiang Mai Province within an approximate area of 482 square kilometers. The National Park consists of high mountains, including Doi Inthanon, which is the highest mountaintop in Thailand and the source of many rivers such as Ping River, where the Bhumipol Dam is situated and generating the electrical power. The National Park has beautiful natural scenery such as waterfalls, 
particularly Mae Ya Waterfall, which is one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Thailand.
Historically, the mountain of Doi Inthanon was refered to as Doi Ang Ka. Prince Intharawichayanon, the last ruler of Chiang Mai, realized the importance of the country’s forests, especially in the north, where the forest serve as the watershed for the country. He was interested in helping and supporting people who were investigating the history in his area. So he requested that his body must be placed on the summit of Doi Ang Ka. After his death, the mountain was renamed Inthanon, a short version of his name. Today, visitors can see the Inthanon Wichayanon stupa on the summit of Doi Ang Ka.
Since the National Park is located at 2,565 meters above the sea level, it has cold weather and high humidity throughout the year, particularly on the top of the National Park. In winter, the temperature at the National Park is below 0„ac. And in summer, despite hot weather in central Chiang Mai and nearby districts, it is still freezing on the top of Doi Inthanon and tourists should be prepared with thick clothes.
The forest in the park is one of the country’s very significance and valuable heritage. Forests include Moist Evergreen Forest, Pine forest and Mixed Deciduous Forest, worth in economic like teak and mountain pine. Dipterocarp spp. Xylia xylocarpa, Pterocarpus, macrocapus Terminalia sp. and Lagerstroemia sp. to name a few. In addition to these, there are many beautiful flowers including vanda orchid, phycastylis and rhododendron. Sphagnum Moss and osmanda fern are found at higher levels in the park. fifty years ago, the mountain peaks were home of hill tribe people. The biggest village was Ban Khun Klang, whose agriculture method was often destructive to the forest ecosystem. Currently the several Royal Projects, assists the villagers in growing cold-climate fruit such as strawberries, grapes and apples as well as flowers. The number of wild animals in the park is decreasing the encroachment. The animals are hunted and their habitats are destroyed for agriculture. The remaining animals include serpent, gibbons, tigers, deer, wild boars, Siamese hares and Red Jungle fowls.
Because of its broad altitudinal range and the cool climate of its upper reaches, the park supports the largest number of bird species of any site in Thailand. The Center for Wildlife Research at Mahidol University records a present total of 362 species and expects addition many at the summit are migrants from northern Asia. Species restricted to Doi Inthanon are Ashy-throated Warbler and an endemic race of the Green-tailed Sunbird; the park is the only site where the Chestnut-bellied Rock-Thrush and the Yellow-bellied Flower pecker are known to over summer and probably breed.
Doi Chiang Dao.
Chiang Dao is the ridge of mountain of Doi Chiang Dao and Doi Pha Daeng. This is the same area of Chian Dao Wild Animals Protection Area and Sri Lanna National Park which namely the Pha Daeng National Park (Chiang Dao). The forest of the northern part of Thailand is the source of Ping river and Mae Tang river or so called "Khun Nam Ping and Khun Nam Mae Tang" which are located in the National Conservation Forest of Chiang Dao, Amphur Viang Haeg, Amphur Chiang Dao and Forest Conservation of Mae Fang river in Amphur Fang, Chiang Mai province. Geographic here is the complexity of mountains and has the fertile forest. The natural highlights of this national park are Sri Sangwan waterfall, Pang Tong waterfall, Nivet Hold of Water, Krab cave, Tab Tao cave, Doi Pha Tang and Doi Bha Dang which you can make a sightseeing at the top of mountain. Additional, this area also had been found the interesting historical evidence. The national park covered area tota
lly about 1,123.336 square kilometers or 702,085 rais was established on November 2, 2000.
The area, in general, consists of complicated mountains. The main mountains in the east part, almost sedimentary rock, are Doi Thumglab, Doi Huatoe, Doi Khunhuay Sai, Doi Phadang, Doi Thum Ngob and Doi Danfak. The main mountains in the west part, covered by forest, are Doi Khampra, Doi Pukphukka, Doi Lekjee, Doi Sankiew-khompra, Doi Kiew Who Lom, Doi Tuay and Doi Yang klor. In the middle of the high mountain ranges, north and south between Huay Mae Jok and Hnong Kheaw Village, is the low-land which has low mountains, for examples, Doi Thummyung and Doi Khunpao. And in the west part, the highest area about 400-1,800 meters1,794 meters above sea level, be the highest mountain. There is heavy rain because the area is influenced by southwestern monsoon. above sea level, has Doi Pukphukka, about
The temperature is quite hot in summer and cold in winter with the lowest temperature about 7.5 degrees Celsius, and the highest temperature about 26.7 degrees Celsius. There is heavy rain in rainy season approximately 1,838.5 mm. of rain all the year round with the heaviest rain in August.
The area has not been suffered by the weather except some time in winter which has heavily windy rain come with hail in which can destroy the local orchard and cause wild water blowing down heavily. The wild water is too much so that can damage the communication in the area and the nearby area.
The area consists of complicated mountain range and productive forest which is the source of water. In the semi-evergreen forest, montane forest and pine forest has the valuable plants such as wild champak, Yang, Malabar ironwood, baleric myrobalan, cinnamon tree, pine, Heang (a kind of Dipterocarpus obtusifolius) and eng. And in the mixed forest and deciduous forest has the valuable plants such as Burmese ebony, ironwood, Tabak (a kind of Lagerstroemia), Yorpar (a kind of Rubiaceae), Sela (a kind of Lagerstroemia), Chittagong wood, ingyin, Siamese sal, myobalan wood, Tiew (a kind of Catoxylum), many kinds of bamboo and grass, etc.
The area is in the same forest of Chiang Dao Animal Reservation, Chiang Dao District, so that make it be the habitat of valuable animals such as goral, wild boar, barking deer, banteng, guar, porcupine, langur, palm civet, squirrel, chipmunk, many kinds of bird and reptile. And the amphibians found near river are many kinds of frog, toad.
Baan Bor Sang.
Baan Bor Sang is noted for its famous umbrellas. This village will attract you by their unique hand-painted colorful paper umbrellas which are very popular as souvenirs among both Thais and foreigners. If you have the chance to visit this place, bring some lovely products of this village for souvenirs and you won't regret giving them to friends.
Phuket is one of 
