CHIANG MAI- Many visitors stay in Chiang Mai longer than planned because of the high quality and low cost of accommodation, variety of cuisine and shopping, cool nights, international atmosphere and friendly people. With the increasing number of cultural and spiritual learning experiences available to visitors, Chiang Mai has become more than just a quick stop on the tourist trail.

Chiang Mai is Thailands second largest city, covering some 20,000 square kilometers. With a population of only 250,000 in the city, however, it does not even come close to the size of Bangkok.

It lies about 800 kilometers north of Bangkok on a mountainous plateau 310 meters above sea level. The city stands along the Ping River, a major tributary of Bangkoks Chao Praya River. Chiang Mai City also serves as the capital of Chiang Mai Province, which is home to around 700,000 people.

The province of Chiang Mai contains over 300 ancient temples, and some of the countries oldest. Although rich with history and legendary, mystical attributes, Chiang Mai has developed into a modern, cosmopolitan city of friendly people and manageable size. Its central location makes Chiang Mai an excellent base for exploring the north of Thailand.

Getting there is relatively easy. There are flights and trains from Bangkok daily as well as a good bus service. If your stay in Thailand is a short one, its only an hours flight from Bangkok to Chiang Mai.

Many people flock to Chiang Mai to do some trekking into the mountains or rafting down rivers. Others come purely for the fantastic shopping for handicrafts and furniture. Chiang Mais' elegant hotels tucked in valleys and hillsides provide perfect romantic getaways or soul-searching retreats. As everywhere in this country, Thai cooking is superb and you're sure to find a restaurant to suit your tastes.

The mountains are taller here than anywhere else in Thailand. Mt. Inthanon, located 106km from Chiang Mai at 2565 meters is the tallest peak in the country. The cooler plains provide fertile soil where fruits, vegetables and tobacco are grown.

It would be difficult to find a city that reflects more of the country's diverse cultural heritage than Chiang Mai. Tour buses crowd stunning temples, ablaze with the colour of saffron and humming with the chanting of monks. Hill tribe groups sell their wares in the busy market and local villages. Narrow streets lined with ornately carved teak houses lie in the shadow of contemporary skyscrapers.

Chiang Mai's heart is its Old City, an area surrounded by remnants of ancient walls and moats originally constructed for defence; yet Chiang Mai is a modern city with a growing infrastructure of modern shopping malls, international restaurants and condominiums. The contrast is part of the town's charm.

Whether you plan on a long visit or short, you will be touched by the friendliness of the people and the beauty of the Chiang Mai.