Thailand (Lonely Planet, 13th Edition) - China Williams [260]
Spicy ( Map; Th Chaiyaphum; 9pm-5am) Near Pratu Tha Phae, people pile into Spicy when everything else has closed for the night. Not the most salubrious place, it transforms from super-seedy to after-party cool around 2am. There’s also a nearby cocktail van that distracts some late-night zombies.
Cinemas
Major Cineplex ( Map; 0 5328 3939; Central Airport Plaza, 2 Th Mahidol; tickets 80-160B) and Vista Movie Theatre ( Map; Kad Suan Kaew Shopping Centre, Th Huay Kaew; tickets 70-90B) show mediocre Hollywood flicks and the latest Thai teenage movies.
Chiang Mai University Art & Culture Center ( Map; Faculty of Media Art & Design; admission free; 6.30pm Sun) Feed your art-flick hunger at the university’s weekly showings of foreign films, often showcasing a certain theme; screenings are in the main auditorium. Admission is free.
Thai Boxing
Thapae Boxing Stadium ( Map; 08 6187 7655; Th Moon Muang; admission 400B; 9pm Thu) Right in the heart of the backpacker scene, this stadium caters to foreign audiences complete with a cabaret.
Kawila Boxing Stadium ( Map; off Th Charoen Muang; admission 600B; 8pm Wed & Fri) Near Talat San Pakoy, this is the locals’ stadium for moo·ay tai (also spelt as muay thai).
SHOPPING
Chiang Mai is Thailand’s handicraft centre, ringed by small cottage factories and workshops. It is also a trading crossroads, much like Bali or Kathmandu, where antiques and textiles migrate from small villages in Laos, southern China, Myanmar and Vietnam. Some 20 years ago, old hill-tribe art and textiles were sold directly by villagers at ordinary markets in and around Chiang Mai, but today much of the old treasures have passed into the hands of dealers. The antiques world has also experienced a demographic shift. Most of the Thai antiques now reside in private collections, while old furnishings from Burma have replaced the retail stockpiles.
There are several shopping corridors throughout the city: the Chiang Mai Night Bazaar ( Click here), east of the old city; Saturday Walking Street on Th Wualai ( Click here); and Sunday Walking Street on Th Ratchadamnoen ( Click here). East of the old city on Th Tha Phae is the place to go for hill-tribe crafts. Th Chang Moi Kao is the city’s bookshop row (see Information, Click here). Th Nimmanhaemin, west of the old city near Chiang Mai University, has a handful of contemporary boutiques haunted by trend-conscious Thais.
Handicraft villages lie just outside of the city to the south and to the east. Hang Dong ( Click here) is widely regarded as the area’s furniture capital. San Kampaeng and Bo Sang ( Click here) are the places to go for everything else.
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Old City
Mengrai Kilns ( Map; 0 5327 2063; www.mengraikilns.com; 79/2 Th Arak) In the southwestern corner of the inner moat, Mengrai Kilns are particularly focused on keeping the old Thai celadon-pottery traditions alive.
HQ Paper Maker ( Map; 0 5381 4717; www.hqartgallery.com; 3/31 Th Samlan) Mainly an art paper retailer, this small shop sells handmade mulberry paper (sh), another Chiang Mai handcrafted speciality. There’s a variety of colours and designs, including sheets printed with the northern Thai alphabet. Also on display are paintings and woodcuts by Chiang Mai artists using this rough-textured paper.
Herb Basics ( Map; 0 5341 8289; Th Ratchadamnoen; 9am-6pm Mon-Sat, 2-9pm Sun) All of these good-smelling products – such as herbal lip balm, soap and shampoo – were made in Chiang Mai.
East of the Old City
Most stores along Th Tha Phae open at 9am.
Elements (Red Ruby; Map; 0 5325 1750; 400-402 Th Tha Phae) Located next to Roong Ruang Hotel, Elements stocks embroidered bags, a diverse collection of fun jewellery and other trinkets.
Angel ( Map; 0 5323 2651; 370 Th Tha Phae; 10am-6pm) Original and modern silver designs decorate this shop further bolstering Thailand’s reputation for fine silver jewellery.
Nova ( Map; 0 5327 3058; www.nova-collection.com; 201 Th Tha Phae; 9am-8.30pm Mon-Sat, 12.30-8.30pm Sun) For contemporary jewellery, this studio