By Staf Reporter Tan Xingyu

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Chiang Mai : Attractive Travel Destination

By Staf Reporter Tan Xingyu

Chiang Mai has an unusual attraction for Chinese tourists. It is geographically not far from home. One can drive there from Xishuangbana in Yunnan within a day. A direct fight from Beijing takes no more than four-anda-half hours.

Leaving the Doi Suthep Temple， we went downhill to the Khaomao Khaofang Restaurant at the foot of the mountain， also much favored by tourists. It was decorated with many tropical plants. Tall lush trees， beautiful butterfy orchids，gurgling water， and fresh air combined to create an impression of an ancient forest. The dishes here featured the traditional sour and spicy taste prevalent in Northern Tailand， which， together with the local refreshing beer will surely help travel tiredness.

Just as in the Doi Suthep Temple and Khaomao Khaofang Restaurant， visitors to Chiang Mai can not only appreciate traditional Thai culture， but also enjoy the leisurely pace of life and its modern facilities.

As the second largest city of Tailand， Chiang Mai differs from bustling Bangkok. It is famous for its beautiful natural scenery and time-honored historical tradition. Nestling on a plateau basin about 300 meters high and surrounded by emerald mountains， the city is home to numerous temples， royal palaces and other historical sites. Business has boomed since ancient times. It has long served as the political， economic and cultural education center in Northern Tailand.

Chiang Mai is a highly international city with complete tourist facilities. A large number of international exhibitions are held here annually. Tourists can be seen wandering in every corner of the city. Recent years have seen more Chinese visitors to Chiang Mai - about 500，000 in 2014 ofcially， although the real number may be even bigger. Furthermore， Chiang Mai is a hot destination for investment. Recently， Chinese businesses invested 600 million yuan （$94million） to build a wholesale center. Te number of airlines serving the city has jumped from 5 to 12. Economic growth has further boosted prosperity， with tourism providing a strong foundation.

Chiang Mai is really an attractive place for Chinese visitors. Geographically， it is not far from home. One can drive there from Xishuangbana in Yunnan within a day. A direct fight from Beijing takes no more than four-and-a-half hours. From the perspective of the travel experience， besides Thai culture， the ancient style of the city also appeals to those with a special taste for nostalgia. Buildings here are not high， and the streets are very clean. Tuk-tuk taxis can be seen everywhere. When night falls， roadside night markets and food stalls under bright lights become busy. Some do not close until the wee hours.

Speaking of Chiang Mai， one cannot help thinking of the Chinese film Lost in Thailand. This low-cost comedy was a great success in China while introducing Chiang Mai to millions of Chinese moviegoers. An ofcial of Chiang Mai Tourism Administration told me that after the Lost in Thailand was first shown in December 2012， the city witnessed a substantial growth of Chinese tourists， who are very popular in Thailand because of their high ability of spending. Quite a few Chinese tourists drive cars or ride motorcycles to Chiang Mai. Some middle school students from Xishuangbanna led by their teachers even chose to ride bicycles along the Kunming-Bangkok Road to the city.

Different from what we usually think of Thailand， Chiang Mai seemingly has nothing to do with the words like island， carnival， bustle… all those things highly relevant to the Southeast Asian tourist experience. Located in the mountainous area in Northern Tailand， the city is as calm and stable as the huge surrounding mountains. In tourist eyes， it is much more like a place for wandering in a trance to recharge the bodily batteries. Staying here， you will forget the passage of time.

In the city， people ofen say zaiyanyan （take it slowly in Thai）. The Chiang Mai Tourism Administration has developed different tourist projects for different customers， including golf tours for upmarket travelers； award tours for business tourists； health tours for seniors； and adventure tours for young backpackers. Te relatively low cost of living and slow pace of life in Chiang Mai also appeal to those normally living in big cities.

Given that， the Thai government has begun to issue a one-year visa， attracting many people to Chiang Mai for a long stay. After traveling back from Chiang Mai， a friend told me that he did nothing there， just enjoying the sunshine and strolling the streets every day. He forgot everything. Tat's right. A trip that can help forget everything can really relax you both physically and spiritually.

Wat Phra That Suthep is a must-visit temple for every tourist. Sitting on the mountain top， it provides a bird's-eye view of Chiang Mai. On hot days， the Doi Suthep Mountain is an ideal place to enjoy pleasant coolness. In addition， auspicious signs abounded here according to legends. Our guide said that， in the past， Buddhist pilgrims would spend two days trudging along the rugged mountain path to reach the temple. Nowadays，the tour bus can get there quickly. Terefore， the temple becomes a popular tourist destination.