A young girl prepares to take the stage as part of a Chinese New Year celebration. Chiang Mai has deep historical and cultural ties with southwestern China.

Chiang Mai was once the capital of the Lanna Kingdom (the kingdom of a million rice fields), which enjoyed a golden age throughout the 15th century.

During this time the Lanna  Kingdom came to control most of what now constitutes northern Thailand, north-western Laos,  Myanmar and Xishuangbanna in southern Yunnan Province, China.

More Thailand stories and Chiang Mai pictures.