Chiang Mai is Thailand’s second city – but with only 300,000 people it comes a long way after Bangkok and its 8 million. It’s a less visited spot in Thailand than Bangkok and the southern islands and beach resorts, up in the north, a 14-hour sleeper train or 1.5-hour plane journey from Bangkok. But it’s worth the trip. It has a charming, relaxed feel, with a huge number of temples (approx. 300), and with a rule in place within the old city moat (yes, it has a moat) that a high-rise can’t be built within 93m of a temple, the old city has a very different feel from Bangkok. Here’s our pick of some of the highlights of the area.