Chiang Mai, capital of the Northern Thailand, is located at the edge of the Ping river. It is an animated city which seems to count as many motorbikes than inhabitants. Chiang Mai was founded into 1296 by king Rama Khamheng and by Mangraļ, first sovereign of the kingdom of Lan Na. Chiang Mai was the capital of Lan Thai Na (kingdom of a million rice plantations), the first independent kingdom in the Gold Triangle.