Chiang Mai

The Wat Chedi Luang, also known as Chedi Dragon Temple, is a particularly famous temple in the city of Chiang Mai. It is located in the heart of the ancient city of Chiang Mai. This square shaped Lanna style sacred stupa was built in 1411 and is nearly 80 meters high. A major earthquake once happened in Chiang Mai, and the spire of the stupa collapsed overnight. After the rebuilding of the stupa, the apex could not be completed because no one knew its original appearance. The stupa has four sides, only one side has steps, and the other three sides have been restored into slopes. The stupa is engraved with exquisite guardian spirit snakes on all sides, and there are six elephant sculptures on the tower. The building is magnificent. But the atmosphere is very natural and leisurely.

Part of the eastern wall, Tha Phae Gate is a highly intact city gate. Originally, the ancient city of Chiang Mai was surrounded by a wall about 2 meters high enclosed in red brick walls. Later, most of the buildings disappeared over the years. The surviving Tha Phae Gate became a very well-known attraction in Chiang Mai and a landmark. The red wall and blue sky are beautiful in the morning or at dusk when few people are around. Photographers from all over the world have come here to capture the beautiful scene of the city gate from different angles. On Sunday, the market stalls start here. When the market is closed, tourists and locals feed the pigeons in the square in front of the Tha Phae Gate. The environment is very comforting.

Warorot Market is located on the northeastern corner of Chiang Mai Old City near the Mae Ping River. This market primarily sells fruit, dried goods, cooked food, miscellaneous daily goods and fresh flowers at quite a reasonable price. Many Chiang Mai local specialties can be bought here. Visitors can buy fresh fruit or deep fried pig skin at this authentic market. Nearby is also a flower market. You can buy a garland of flowers to wear around your neck to experience an exquisitely fragrant stroll along the streets.

The Phra Singh Temple, the Ssangyong Temple and the Great Buddhist Pagoda Temple are called the “Three Great Temples of Chiang Mai” and are located at the western end of the ancient city of Chiang Mai. The temple was built in 1345 by King Phayu to commemorate his father. It was later expanded several times and is known for its awe-inpisiring Buddha statue. The decorations in the temple are splendid, with many exquisite wood carvings and murals narrating Buddhist stories. They are detailed, exquisite and lifelike and worthy of careful viewing. Phra Singh Temple are full of lush trees and rich with incense. There are many tourists here. If you visit here in the morning and evening during scripture time, you will see the monks chanting the Buddhist scriptures. They look very devout.