Chiang Mai is the hub of Northern Thailand. With a population of over 170,000, it is Thailand's fifth-largest city. Located on a plain at an elevation of 316 m, surrounded by mountains and lush countryside, it is much greener and quieter than the capital, and has a cosmopolitan air and a significant expat population, factors which have led many from Bangkok to settle permanently in this Rose of the North. Chiang Mai's historical centre is the walled city (chiang in Thai, hence Chiang Mai - New Walled City). Sections of the wall remain at the gates and corners, but of the rest only the moat remains. As of March 2008 the moat has been drained and repairs are underway. http://wikitravel.org/en/Chiang_Mai