A family trip to the ancient city of Chiang Mai, featuring the Tha Phae Gate

The Tha Phae Gate is the only remaining relic of the ancient city of Chiang Mai and is also a landmark building of the city, located within the old city walls. It is the only wooden gate in Chiang Mai that has been preserved relatively intact and serves as the main entrance to the inner part of the ancient city. To this day, the gate has stood here for hundreds of years, making it one of the few ancient buildings that can witness the developmental history of the city. The ancient city was built in 1296, and at that time, Chiang Mai was said to be the capital city of the Lanna Kingdom in Northern Thailand. Chiang Mai was once extremely popular, with its majestic ancient city walls and the crystal-clear moat. Despite the passage of time, the one constant is the Tha Phae Gate. To the east of the Tha Phae Gate is a small square, which is the real destination that visitors aim to reach. The square is filled with pigeons that seem as though they have been trained. Although there are many pigeons, they never fly away from the square and are not afraid of people. If you have food in your hand, you will be surrounded by a flock of pigeons. As an important landmark of Chiang Mai, the Tha Phae Gate with its recognizable orange-red brick walls and the square filled with pigeons in front of it, has also become a popular spot for taking photos. Here, visitors can feed the pigeons, take photos as souvenirs, or sit by the city walls to watch the passersby and enjoy a leisurely time. Moreover, the Tha Phae Gate is not only the main starting point for strolling through the ancient city but also the starting point for many local events, such as the annual Chiang Mai Songkran Festival and Lantern Festival, where people gather here as the main venue. If you plan to travel to Chiang Mai, consider including the Tha Phae Gate in your itinerary to experience its unique charm.