Chiang Mai, Thailand

Chiang Mai's ancient "old city" is still perfectly square, encircled by a well-preserved moat and remnants of its original defensive wall, making its 700-year-old urban plan strikingly visible today.

Chiang Mai was the independent capital of the Lanna Kingdom for over 500 years (1296-1768), maintaining its own distinct language (Kam Mueang), culture, and administrative system separate from the central Siamese Kingdom.

It holds the prestigious title of a UNESCO Creative City for Crafts and Folk Art, recognized for its vibrant living traditions in lacquerware, silverwork, wood carving, and textiles.

Within the compact 1.6 square mile area of its ancient city walls, Chiang Mai is home to over 100 Buddhist temples, including the iconic Wat Chedi Luang and Wat Phra Singh.

Every November, Chiang Mai hosts the spectacular Yi Peng Lantern Festival, where thousands of illuminated lanterns are simultaneously released into the night sky, a breathtaking ancient Lanna tradition.

The magnificent Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, a gilded temple perched high on Doi Suthep mountain, offers panoramic views of the entire city and houses a sacred Buddha relic.

Chiang Mai is the birthplace of the famous northern Thai dish Khao Soi, a creamy coconut curry noodle soup, which has become a culinary icon and a must-try for visitors to Thailand.

The primary mode of local public transport is the "Songthaew," distinctive red pickup trucks with two benches in the back, where passengers simply flag one down and negotiate their fare.