Notes from Chiang Mai|In the season when jasmine blooms, meet the gentlest little city
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As the plane slowly landed at Chiang Mai International Airport (Address: 60 Mahidol Rd, Suthep, Mueang Chiang Mai), the rose-gold dawn gently wrapped the entire city. The hazy outline of Suthep Mountain resembled the open palm of Buddha, devoutly holding this small city in northern Thailand🌄
The tuk-tuk carried me through the Old City of Chiang Mai (Address: Within the moat, Mueang Chiang Mai), and the jasmine garland hanging from the rearview mirror swayed gently with the bumps. The sweet floral scent mixed with faint exhaust fumes became my most unforgettable first impression of Chiang Mai🌸
🏯 Wat Chedi Luang
Address: 103 Road King Prajadhipok Phra Singh, Mueang Chiang Mai
Opening Hours: 6:00-18:00
In this ancient temple that has stood for seven hundred years, the towering pagoda among the ruins still stands majestic. The five-headed serpent naga sculpture on the south side has been smoothed by time, witnessing a blonde little girl tiptoe carefully to apply gold leaf onto the serpent’s body. Sunlight penetrates the broken top of the pagoda, just illuminating the Buddha’s faintly smiling lips on the mural🧡
🌞 Afternoon wandering into Warorot Market (Address: Chang Moi Sub-district, Mueang Chiang Mai)
Opening Hours: 6:00-19:00
Sticky rice wrapped in banana leaves sizzles over charcoal fire, and the enthusiastic shop owner hands me a piece of mango sticky rice, the fragrant sweet coconut milk flowing down my wrist. "Eat slowly," she says in Chinese with a Thai accent, "time here moves slowly." Next door, an elderly lady leisurely weaves flower garlands, an orange cat sleeps soundly on her lap, its tail tip gently swaying as if measuring the time in Chiang Mai🍚
🌄 Sunset at Doi Suthep (Address: Doi Suthep, Mueang Chiang Mai)
Admission: Free
The wind chimes in the mountains jingle, and the entire city of Chiang Mai gradually lights up with thousands of lights below. A Japanese backpacker beside me suddenly hums a tune, a Thai couple softly sings along, and a French elder accompanies with a harmonica. Though we don’t share a language, we become kindred spirits in the same twilight💫
🏡 Lanna-style old house
Address: Ratchadamnoen Road, inside the Old City
At night, the garden outside the wooden window wafts a faint fragrance. The lingering scent of lemongrass in the mosquito net, the chanting from distant temples mixed with the chirping of insects, weave a lullaby. Suddenly I understand why Teresa Teng loved this place so much—Chiang Mai’s beauty is not in the sights, but in every breath. It’s the wind passing through the pigeons in front of Tha Phae Gate, the eternally sweet Thai milk tea at the street corner that intoxicates the heart, the warm light in the eyes of strangers when they press their palms together🌙
Chiang Mai has long hidden gifts in my travel bag: it taught me that the practice of life is simply to sincerely feel every breeze, every bite of food, every beautiful encounter.
— In the Old City of Chiang Mai, in the season when jasmine blooms🌼
Pros1. Free parking but on the road side2. Entry ticket is about 40-50 THB3. The temple complex is big4. The older temple is similar to those in Ayutthaya. It might be as high as a 10 story building.5. There is a man only temple. The temple is quite intricate with details.6. Clean toilets7. Located inside the old city in Chiang Mai.Considerations1. Please wear full length clothes2. Might visit in the evening to avoid the Sun. Also have dinner at any nearby restaurant, there are several.
Stunning temple worth visiting.There a huge night market around here.You will get many perfect shot here and there will have small entry and you can rent out clothes if have to wear something appropriate.
Wat Chedi Luang, a revered temple in Chiang Mai, Thailand, captivates with its ancient grandeur. The towering pagoda, partially ruined by time, exudes a mystical aura. Intricate sculptures and stone elephants adorn the temple grounds, reflecting Lanna architecture's elegance. Visiting Wat Chedi Luang is a spiritual and historical odyssey, offering a glimpse into Thailand's rich heritage.
The Great Buddha Pagoda Temple is a very worthwhile place to visit. There are benches around the Great Buddha Pagoda. You can sit under the tree and traverse time and space quietly, talking to the Lanna Dynasty. Looking at the towering tower (42 meters high) in front of us, like the majesty of Chiang Mai's tallest tower (80 meters high), watching the wind and clouds change on the top of the tower and the vicissitudes of the world, the only thing in this scene is excitement and shock. Sakyamuni is offered in the temple. When you see the Buddha, you can't help wanting to creep under his feet and worship his sage, wisdom and bravery. That feeling is familiar and cordial. Yes, I saw a circle of temples. This temple is the most sensible one. In the morning and evening, I will come to visit you again.
Chidilong Temple is a famous temple in Chiang Mai, and it covers a large area. It is worth visiting carefully. There are temples and pagodas in the temples. 1. Introduce the temple first: Shuanglong gate guard is very common at the entrance of the temple. There is a dress requirement for entering the temple. I wear a short skirt and add the coat provided by the temple. The windows in the temple are very beautiful. It is not a simple window, but a work of art. There is a golden man in the temple, originally a local aristocrat, who helped solve the local internal strife and was deeply loved by the local people, so he was worshipped by the people in the temple. Chinese people like to throw coins into pools and Buddha statues. Thai people like to paste Buddha statues with gold foil to pray. 2. Introduce the pagodas in the temple. The tall Lana style Pagoda in the temple was built in 1441 and destroyed in an earthquake in the 16th century, but it is still the most magnificent building in the city. There are six elephant heads on the south side of the tower. Five of them are fakes later repaired with cement. Only the right one is made of real bricks. Unfortunately, after years of wind and sun, the nose and ears were damaged. Below the pagoda, there are twelve zodiacs worshiped. Find my zodiac and take a picture. Two tigers and two tigers walk around the square pagoda. There are two halls behind the square pagoda. In the glass cabinet in the middle of each hall sits the wax figure of a high monk dressed in a cape. His eyes are bright and lifelike. Let's not take pictures, but use research to feel. 3. There is a Buddha in the temple which is very interesting, very fat and ugly. The monk is said to have been a super-beautiful man. Because of his jealous beauty, he finally made himself fat and ugly in order to stay away from the harm caused by his beauty. Previously, in Bangkok did not row up the sleeping Buddha temple, did not expect to encounter the sleeping Buddha in Chaidailong temple, of course, there is no grand sleeping Buddha in Bangkok Grand Buddha temple, but you can see.
In Chiang Mai, all this is inherent, people will not feel confused living here, everything is a natural enjoyment. When you have more contact with Chiang Mai people, you will feel that the people here are basically from our southern identity, their ancestors are all China, but they are a group of Chinese people who love life and are skillful, they created a paradise on this land.
There are so many temples in Chiang Mai, especially in the old town. It feels like there is a temple every few steps. If you are not so interested in temples, you can ignore other temples and go straight to Wat Chedi Luang, because this is the most shocking and worth seeing temple, with its own style and characteristics, and it can be regarded as a landmark attraction in Chiang Mai. [Location] In the old town, opposite is a 711. If you take a tuk-tuk or a tuk-tuk, the driver can generally understand the Chinese of Wat Chedi Luang, or save a photo of Wat Chedi Luang on your phone and show it directly to the driver. Tuk-tuk rides in the old town are all within 20 baht, and outside the old town are generally no more than 50. If you are a little further away, you can bargain with the driver. [Tips] ① I personally feel that this is the most unmissable attraction in Chiang Mai, and it is really more impressive and shocking to see it on site than in the photos. ② Wat Chedi Luang will also turn on the lights at night, and the sky will not be completely dark in the summer night. The deep blue sky is illuminated by the lights, and the temple has another kind of beauty. There are very few tourists at night, and you can feel a sense of tranquility when you walk slowly. Or come in the early morning and evening to enjoy the sunrise and sunset, the scenery will also be beautiful. ③ Each side of the temple gives people a different feeling. It is recommended to walk around and stay slowly to feel it. There are 6 elephant head statues on the south side of the tower, 5 of which are fakes that were later repaired with cement. Only the one on the far right made of bricks is the real one. However, after being ravaged by wind and rain, the noses and ears of these elephants have been damaged to varying degrees. You must go in and see them, they are very realistic. ④ There are banana cakes for sale at the entrance of the temple, 25 baht, and the taste is simply too good.
It is worth it and is applying for World Cultural Heritage! The collision of new and old is very exciting!