Essential Guide to Chiang Mai's Weekend Markets Before You Go

If I had to pick a reason to keep coming back to Chiang Mai, browsing the markets would definitely be one of them. I've organized this guide to Chiang Mai's weekend market tours for you, remember to save and bookmark it. 🚶🏻‍♀️ 1️⃣ On Saturday, visit the JJ market in the morning. There are many handmade cotton and linen products, including clothes, bags, shoes, earrings, etc. The craftsmanship and materials are generally good, and the prices are a bit higher compared to other places. 2️⃣ At noon, head to the Coconut Grove Market, which closes at two in the afternoon. However, Coconut Grove Market is more of a photogenic spot with duckweed and coconut trees that make for great pictures; 3️⃣ In the afternoon, visit the Warorot Market, which is Chiang Mai's wholesale market. You can find some of your favorite cotton and linen clothing, bags, and decorations at very cheap prices here. 4️⃣ In the evening, it's definitely time for the Saturday Night Market! It's all about strolling, eating, shopping for Chiang Mai's unique trinkets as souvenirs, and ending the night with a 150 baht per hour Thai massage. ♡ 5️⃣ On Sunday, visit the Rainforest Market in the morning. It's a quaint, retro market a bit away from the city center. You can also find many treasures here, and meet interesting souls selling coffee. 6️⃣ In the afternoon, head to the White Market on Nimman Road. There are also many cotton and linen handmade products, but the styles are not as nice as those at the JJ market. There's also a food court inside where you can have dinner, with live singers making it a lively place. 7️⃣ In the evening, visit the Sunday Night Market, which is also the largest night market in Chiang Mai. Every time I visit the Sunday Night Market, I get lost, but getting lost also leads me to delicious food stalls or finding earrings I like. These are the unexpected surprises of travel!

Freely go to Chiang Mai in Thailand.

Chiang Mai is a foreign city that is particularly suitable for independent travel. The travel services on Ctrip are comprehensive, with airport pick-up and drop-off services for only 10-30 RMB, half-day tours to "Doi Suthep Temple" and "Bhubing Palace", family-friendly activities such as "Mae Wang Elephant Camp" and "Night Safari", and the most recommended one-day tour to the White Temple and Black Temple in Chiang Rai. On the day of departure, there will be a special car to pick up and drop off at the hotel. Even if your English is poor, there will be a Chinese tour guide accompanying you throughout the journey. I chose to depart on Friday because as a foodie, I didn't want to miss the most famous Saturday and Sunday night markets in Chiang Mai, where there are various cheap and delicious snacks and exquisite handmade products for sale. Chiang Mai is the second largest city in Thailand. It not only has a leisurely pace, but also is full of ancient and profound cultural heritage. You can walk around in slippers on the streets and alleys, and if you get tired, you only need to take a tuk-tuk or songthaew for 20 baht (5 RMB) as transportation. Strolling through any street or alley in the ancient city of Chiang Mai, you can encounter magnificent or peaceful Buddhist temples. This small city with a population of 500,000 surprisingly has over 300 temples of all sizes, and you may get confused. However, there are several particularly famous temples that you must visit. The first "Wat Phra Singh". It is the largest Buddhist temple in Chiang Mai, built in the 14th century, and is a perfect example of Lanna-style architecture. The first thing that catches your eye when entering the temple is the glittering golden Buddha statue, and the murals in the hall depict the ancient local costumes and customs. In the center of the temple is a 20-meter golden white tower, which is a strong representative style of Thai temples. The second "Qidilong Temple", also known as the Big Buddha Temple, is decorated with snakes and peacocks at the temple gate. There is a huge Buddha statue in the main hall, and the sense of space and the golden decorations inside the temple are very magnificent and exquisite. Along the path to the back square, there is a big Buddha pagoda. Although the ancient pagoda has been weathered by time and earthquakes, it appears majestic and magnificent under the reflection of the golden lotus flowers, with a simple and rustic charm. The third "Wat Chiang Man", the first temple in Chiang Mai, was built in 1300 and is the oldest temple in Chiang Mai. The best building in the temple is the stupa of the main temple, which is surrounded by 15 elephants at the base, giving it a simple and vicissitudinous appearance that contrasts sharply with the dazzling golden elephant spire. Not far from the city, the "Double Dragon Temple" on the Suthep Mountain, also known as the Suthep Temple, is named after two long dragons sitting and lying on both sides of the steps. It is a famous Buddhist summer resort in Thailand. The Thai royal summer palace is also built on Suthep Mountain. The Phuping Palace can be opened to the public when the royal family is not there from April to December. The palace has beautiful white walls and yellow tiles, and is located in the green mountains and trees, with its own beauty of coolness and peace. The two breathtaking temples in Chiang Rai, the White Temple and the Black Temple, are the highlights of a trip to Chiang Mai. The White Temple was built by designer Cheler Mchai at his own expense and was first established in 1997. The entire complex is pure white and lustrous, with only small pieces of polished glass as borders or decorations, which is quite different from the usual temples. The details, such as the flying birds on the eaves, the standing statues on the roof, the reclining turtles on the pillars, and the flowing clouds on the flags, all reflect the exquisite and delicate design, which is a masterpiece of art. The White Temple tells the story of how one can reach the Buddhist paradise by crossing the Naihe Bridge and avoiding the temptation of hell with a single-minded focus. Next to the White Temple is a "glittering" golden building, which is actually a toilet and is probably the most beautiful toilet in the world. The Black Temple is located in a forest of lush grass, consisting of many intricately constructed Thai temples made of original logs. The theme of the Black Temple is hell and death, with water buffalo skulls lined up on the ground, animal skins and large shells on the table, and a complete elephant skeleton and dried snake specimens on display. The creator, Mr. Thawan Duchanee, spent 36 years gradually designing and building this huge open-air, garden-style private art museum. His disciple and friend, a Buddhist artist, was inspired by him to create the still unfinished White Temple. In Chiang Mai, magnificent temples can be seen everywhere, filled with the mysterious charm of Eastern Buddhist culture. With cheap prices and convenient transportation, it is definitely a perfect place for you to temporarily escape from the hustle and bustle of the city and people you see with your eyes open or closed, and let yourself fly. Take some beautiful photos that will make you want to cry and savor them slowly.

First-time visitors to Chiang Mai, here are the must-stay places.

Upon arriving in Chiang Mai, you will naturally feel happy and slow down. Thailand is indeed chill 🍃 and the accommodations are very comfortable. 🇹🇭 Chiang Mai Accommodation Guide 1⃣ Old City of Chiang Mai 【Accommodation Advantages】Quiet amidst the hustle and bustle, a gathering place for attractions and temples, convenient transportation 【Main Attractions】Wat Phra Singh, Wat Chedi Luang, Sunday Night Market, Tha Phae Gate 【Suitable For】Everyone 【Recommended】Makha Hotel 2⃣ Chiang Mai University and Nimman Road 【Accommodation Advantages】A gathering place for literary youth, with many niche shops, cafes, etc. 【Main Attractions】Chiang Mai University, Nimman Road 【Suitable For】Quiet, artistic tourists 【Recommended】AT Nimman Conceptual Home 3⃣ Chang Klan Night Market 【Accommodation Advantages】A great place for shopping, a paradise for foodies, 2 kilometers from the Old City, excellent location 【Suitable For】Eating, drinking, playing, and strolling 【Recommended】Ping Nakara Boutique Hotel and Spa 4⃣ Riverside 【Accommodation Advantages】Enjoy the riverside scenery, visit Warorot Market 【Suitable For】Quiet living environment, affordable prices 【Recommended】Anantara Hotel 5⃣ Doi Suthep and Wat Phra That Doi Suthep 【Accommodation Advantages】Overlooking the panoramic view of Chiang Mai. Fresh air, pleasant climate 【Main Attractions】Doi Suthep, Wat Phra That Doi Suthep 【Suitable For】Leisure vacation 【Recommended】Chiang Mai Gate Bed & Breakfast

Chiang Mai - Enjoying Slow Time with Buddha

If Bangkok has given me a dynamic city where day and night alternate, then Chiang Mai is about enjoying slow time with Buddha. There are more than 270 temples here, and as you walk through the city streets, you won't go far without seeing one. Most of them are free to enter, and inside, you'll find more devout Buddhists praying than tourists. The slowness of this city is evident in many places. I stayed in Chiang Mai for six days, and every day when I went out, there were cars, tuk-tuks, songthaews, and a lot of motorcycles on the road, but I never saw a traffic accident. When crossing pedestrian lanes, many without traffic lights, passing vehicles often voluntarily slow down and wait for you to cross. There's no speeding or road rage; people often wait quietly or simply yield. Chiang Mai's night markets are also a major part of the city, with the Chang Khlan Road night market being the most famous. The entire market is connected by several scattered but interconnected stall areas, with clothes, toys, souvenirs, and various food stalls spread out in each area. After six o'clock, it's usually packed with people of all skin colors from around the world. Smoking is not allowed in any of the stall areas, and if you're eating, you're expected to clean your table and dispose of your utensils in the trash after your meal, leaving a clean table for the next customer. I've never seen such a night market in any other city in my country. But the real highlight is the weekly Sunday night market, starting from Tha Phae Gate, it seems like the whole city pours in here. Many stalls from the usually crowded Chang Khlan Road night market also move here. Just walk around, and even thick legs will get slimmed down . Into the artsy vibe? I recommend visiting Nimman Road! Love ancient architecture? There's the Doi Suthep with its twin dragon temples, and Wat Chedi Luang! Bringing kids? You must visit the night safari or see the elephants! Or join me, let's go to the night market!

Chiang Mai Citywalk, wandering around the streets and alleys of the old city

💄Hot mom says: The romance of Chiang Mai's old city needs no further introduction. Here it is quiet, elegant, and the air is fresh. You can wander aimlessly in the old city, cross the jungle and wade through the water, or go crazy shopping at the night market... 📍Tha Pae Gate: 🔹The most popular attraction in Chiang Mai, it is the best preserved of the four city gates of Chiang Mai. The red brick walls and flocks of pigeons add to the romance here! When there are fewer tourists in the early morning or at dusk, you can feel its sense of vicissitudes and age. 🔹On both sides of the city gate is the moat, in front of the gate is a small square, where you can feed pigeons. There are vendors selling pigeon food, corn for 10 baht a bag. 🔹If you want to take pictures, you can pay 100 baht to ask locals to take them. It is recommended to wear a white long skirt, which is more photogenic. 📍Chiang Mai Night Market: 🔹There are two night markets near Tha Pae Gate, both a 10-minute walk away, which can be visited together. ✅Sunday Market 🔸The Sunday Market is the largest night market in Chiang Mai. Every Sunday, from the square outside Tha Pae Gate on the east side of the old city of Chiang Mai, along Ratchadamnoen Road and several nearby branches, it crosses the main road in the center of the old city of Chiang Mai, all the way to Wat Phra Singh. There are food, daily necessities, clothes, handicrafts, etc. on the night market. ✅Saturday Walking Market 🔸The Saturday Night Market is located outside the south gate of Chiang Mai, separated from the Chiang Mai City Gate Night Market by a road. The Saturday Night Market goes south along the moat, with all kinds of snack stalls, fruit stalls, and handicrafts along the way. The scale is smaller than the Sunday Night Market, and there are relatively fewer people. 💯Restaurant recommendations: ✅Mr. Kai's Restaurant 🔸Located in the old city, close to the Saturday Night Market. The restaurant serves Northern Thai cuisine, is cheap, and the dining environment is quiet. 🍝Recommended dishes: Various fruit juices and shaved ice, curry stir-fried seafood, mango sticky rice, tom yum soup noodles, pineapple fried rice, cashew chicken ✅Wishing Tree Scenic Restaurant 🔸The location is a bit off, it is recommended to use Grab to call a car. Authentic Thai food, large portions, and the price is a bit high. 🍝Recommended dishes: Curry crab, mango shaved ice, pineapple rice, BBQ shrimp, mango sticky rice

Chiang Mai, Thailand

Chiang Mai is a great place for family trips, surrounded by green mountains and rivers, with a variety of jungle outdoor activities and a wide range of wild animal species. The locals are simple and you can see ancient temples that are hundreds of years old everywhere, with a strong religious and cultural atmosphere. Attraction guide ①Tapei Gate Chiang Mai's ancient city has experienced the vicissitudes of wind, rain, and time, leaving only the red brick walls and white pigeons for future generations. 2. Pashin Temple Located in the ancient city, it is the largest Buddhist temple in Chiang Mai. When visiting the temple, pay attention to your attire and you will also encounter many monks. ③ Sunday night market Located in the ancient city, it is the largest night market in Chiang Mai. Starting from Tha Phae Gate, it spans the ancient city all the way to Wat Phra Singh, nearly 1 kilometer long, offering a one-stop experience of eating, drinking and entertainment. ④Nimman Road Nimman Road is located between Chiang Mai Old City and Chiang Mai University. It is a famous small fresh and artistic district in Chiang Mai, gathering many unique cafes and restaurants with a strong sense of petty bourgeoisie. You can choose to take a songthaew or tuk-tuk to get there. 5. Chiang Mai University A comprehensive public university located in Thailand, with unique Thai characteristics, worth a visit. ⑥Su Tie Mountain & Shuanglong Temple "In Thai, 'Suthep' means 'friend of the gods'. Doi Suthep has an altitude of 1667 meters and there is a Wat Phra That Doi Suthep temple halfway up the mountain." ⑦Baan Kang Wat Art Village Chiang Mai's emerging artistic sanctuary, a hidden gem in the city. Here, the traditional way of life of the Chiang Mai people is preserved, and the founder has turned it into a creative community filled with classical wooden houses, numerous handicraft shops, art studios, and other delightful surprises. ⑧Chiang Mai Night Safari During the day, if you're not too tired from playing, you can visit the Chiang Mai Night Safari located at the foot of Doi Suthep. The Chiang Mai Night Safari is the best night safari I've ever been to. Sitting in the sightseeing car, cute animals walk around you, such as giraffes, zebras, antelopes, kangaroos, hippos, and more. Sometimes they even come to ask for food. Of course, fierce animals like tigers and lions are separated by safety nets.

There are many night markets in Chiang Mai. The most famous ones are the three night markets, the Changkang Night Market, the Saturday Night Market, and the Sunday Night Market. The niche night market has the Grasshopper Night Market and the Chiang Mai University Night Market. Chiang Mai Night Market The large Sunday night market is one kilometer long, the night market has everything, snacks, handicrafts, Thai horse killing chicken, street sketching, street performers... is listed as the world's top ten night market The Sunday Night Market attracts thousands of visitors every year. The local specialties of snacks and small items are the most attractive and distinctive in the night market.