Chiang Mai General Information
Today Chiang Mai is the economic, cultural and communications hub of northern Thailand with excellent infrastructure, good roads, and reliable communications infrastructure.
At an altitude of approximately 310 meters above sea level, Chiang Mai is located approximately 700 kilometers from Bangkok on the Mae Ping River basin. Surrounded by high mountain ranges, the city covers an area of some 20,107 square kilometers and is Thailand's second largest province. Chiang Mai borders Myanmar on the north, Lamphun and Tak Provinces to the south, Chiang Rai, Lampang and Lamphun Provinces to the east and Mae Hong Son Province to the west. The terrain is comprised of jungles and mountains, which are home to the hundreds of hill tribes. Plenty of wildlife and exotic flora may be found in the national parks.
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 main attractions is Doi Inthanon, Thailand’s highest peak, which is 2,575 meters above sea level. The province also boasts flat, fertile valleys, which spread along the banks of the largest and most important river in Chiang Mai Mae Nam Ping (Ping River) which originates from the northern Chiang Dao mountain range.