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Thailand: Buddha in front of the ubosot (ordination hall) and viharn, Wat Mahawan, Chiang Mai, northern Thailand

King Mengrai founded the city of Chiang Mai (meaning 'new city') in 1296, and it succeeded Chiang Rai as capital of the Lanna kingdom. Chiang Mai sometimes written as 'Chiengmai' or 'Chiangmai', is the largest and most culturally significant city in northern Thailand.