Chiang Mai (เชียงใหม่) is the gateway to Northern Thailand. With a population of over 170,000, Chiang Mai is Thailand's second-largest city after Bangkok. Located on a plain surrounded by mountains, surrounded by lush countryside, and with a cosmopolitan air and a significant expat population, it is much greener and quieter than the capital, factors which have led many from Bangkok to settle permanently in this "Rose of the North".