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Fun Times Ahead at the Hard Rock Cafe

The Hard Rock Cafe has been ramping up its activities, promotions and products recently as it enters its second year as a Chiang Mai entertainment landmark.

Bangkok Hospital Invites World Class Physicians to Chiang Mai

Physicians spend their lives in study and in practice. With hundreds of years of medical research and knowhow to learn and comprehend, as well as daily breakthroughs in research and technology, it is imperative to constantly maintain as well as expand knowledge and skills.

Curing Pain With The Quantum Resonance System

Quantum Resonance System (QRS) is a cutting edge medical technology that uses electromagnetic fields to stimulate cells metabolism, increase oxygen assimilation and accelerate the removal of toxic chemicals and waste.

Normalising Beauty: How Thai consumers are turning towards beauty influencers and ignoring corporate advertising

It is easy to be overwhelmed by the number of beauty cosmetic posters, adverts for nips and tucks, skin whitening products and make-up brands seen all over this country.

Chiang Mai’s Startup F**kups

When I first heard the word startup, I rolled my eyes thinking it was another digital nomad buzzword used to seek investment to fund their entitled nomadic lifestyle. My theory was that, like bitcoin (which I’m probably wrong about too), these startup bubbles would soon burst, leaving the big businesses to mop up the money, as usual. I had given into ‘the man’ and I was happy he was paying my wages. But in recent months, I’ve been witnessing a growing community brimming with exciting new ideas, innovative business models and intriguing opportunities that could, with the right community and the right investment, become the next leaders of the business world.

More Than Just a Border Run: Why you should really explore Udon Thani

There is no doubt that some of us, at one time or another, have had to make that arduous journey to Laos to renew a visa or do a border run. For those who have been lucky enough to avoid such hassles, maybe Udon Thani and the nearby Vientiane, Laos’ capital, have been mostly off the radar.

Laze Like a Local

If you have guests coming to visit soon here are a few exciting new hotels that you could consider checking them into.

The Slow Birth of Thailand’s Alternative Films

Chiang Mai is just like most other cities when it comes to cinema, with a few large chains dominating the scene, often found on the top floor of shopping malls. Their mobile apps pings us to attention when the next Hollywood blockbuster hits the screens and people book tickets, almost like drones, eager to see the poorly produced twelfth instalment of a franchise still trying to make a profit.

A Day Around Town on a Mobike

With the introduction of Mobike bikes that you can scan to unlock, cycle around and then leave on the roadside for another person to pick up, we thought we’d find seven places to visit in a day, all on the saddle of a Mobike! Just don’t forget your smog mask…

Damage Undone: Chiang Mai Women’s Prison Taking a Lead in Reform

In late January, a scoop of journalists were invited to join Her Royal Highness Princess Bajrakitiyabha in her capacity as the United Nation’s Office of Drugs and Crime’s (UNODC) Goodwill Ambassador, on her visit to the Chiang Mai Women’s Correctional Institution. We were there because Chiang Mai prison is one of ten prisons in Thailand piloting the ‘Bangkok Rules’, or guidelines for the treatment of female prisoners adopted by the United Nations’ General Assembly in 2010. Citylife had last visited the women’s prison over a decade ago at its old city location and was impressed by the efforts by then-director Nawarat Tanasrisutarat who, through her own initiative, was spear-heading reform by offering a plethora of vocational training as well as opportunities for prisoners to save money by working pre-release. While our visit showed us an institution with numerous progressive agendas being implemented, there was an obvious lack of space, and eventually the overcrowding was so critical the old location was abandoned and inmates moved to its current location opposite the Provincial Hall in 2013. Since then we have been sending periodical letters requesting access, to no avail.

Editorial: March 2018

Justice is a loaded word isn’t it? Does it mean the Old Testament’s eye for an eye or today’s kinder progressive reforms and rehabilitations? The word itself implies a sense of righteousness belied by its application throughout history. An act that can essentially extinguish, or certainly diminish, someone’s entire life in one country or at one time could be an acceptable norm, even lauded, across a border or a few years later — gay marriage, anyone? The confounding duel standard of crime and punishment for the rich and the poor is also a long running and depressing global theme.

Cave Troll: Boardgame Review

Deep inside the dark unending forest and within the high mountains live the trolls. They are huge and strong and surrounded by vast riches. Once the sun has set, it is the trolls who hold sway.

Client Spot March 2018

Introducing our featured clients this month.

CityBuzz Misfits

We’ll be honest with you, we wanted to include these three places but they clearly don’t work as a theme so have them as they are – three random places we thought you should check out this month!

One Man’s Vision for Chiang Mai: An Interview with Narong Tananuwat

Over the past quarter of a century, this magazine has featured and referred to Narong Tananuwat countless times, whether it’s to talk about any of his 14 business ventures, ranging from his family’s property and furniture businesses, to his ownership of Modernform, Meechok Plaza and Index in Chiang Mai, Lamphun’s Nikhom Plaza and numerous developments in Vientiane, or his position as a Director of the Thai Chamber of Commerce.

Auntie Spoon’s Selection

This month Citylife follows our sister publication Spoon&Fork, the north of Thailand’s only dedicated food magazine, and visits three exciting food destinations.

Stay Healthy with Ocare Home Health Checks

Good health, for those who enjoy it, is something often taken for granted. We all know that we need to have regular checkups, because however good we feel, there is always the possibility that our body isn’t quite right and may need some medical attention.

More From Citylife

Giant branch of 200 year old yang tree crashes down at Wat Chedi Luang

Sat 18th Apr

  CCTV footage has captured the dramatic moment a massive branch from a centuries-old yang na tree at Wat Chedi Luang snapped and fell without warning on the evening of 16th April — Phaya Wan, the most auspicious day of the Songkran period. Seconds before the branch came down, a person had walked directly beneath it, a near-miss that could easily have ended in tragedy. No injuries or fataliti … Continued

CMU doctor warns after tourist develops acute lung inflammation

Sat 18th Apr

Thick unhealthy air continues to blanket Chiang Mai this morning (18th April), with PM2.5 levels recorded at 360 micrograms per cubic metre at Chiang Mai University. Visibility across the city centre has dropped sharply, with 27 active wildfire hotspots still burning in the region despite a slight reduction from previous days. The Faculty of Medicine at Chiang Mai University has issued a fresh war … Continued

Warorot market falls quiet as post-Songkran souvenir sales disappoint

Fri 17th Apr

Traders at Warorot Market — Chiang Mai’s most popular souvenir hub — say this year’s Songkran was unlike any they can remember. As the festival wound down, stalls that would normally be mobbed with last-minute buyers sat largely empty, with vendors reporting that the few visitors who did pass through mostly browsed without buying. Nongkul Warisuppawut, owner of the Sri Phan shop, attributed the sl … Continued

Giant drones deployed to combat fires in Chiang Dao

Fri 17th Apr

Giant drones have been deployed to battle Chiang Dao wildfires as air pollution levels spike. Chiang Mai’s wildfire crisis showed no sign of letting up, giving firefighters no rest as 270 hotspots were recorded across the province on Wednesday, with Chiang Dao district bearing the worst of it at 92 points. Officials and volunteers mobilised to contain the rapidly spreading fires. At the Chiang Dao … Continued

Thousands flocked to Mae Kuang Dam to cool off this Songkran, open until 25th April

Fri 17th Apr

With temperatures soaring, thousands of residents and tourists descended on the Mae Kuang Dam in Doi Saket over the holidays, turning the popular water release point into one of the season’s busiest Songkran spots. Families and groups of friends gathered to picnic and splash in the flowing water, making the most of the long holiday weekend. The site is open to the public from 13th-25th April, with … Continued

World Songkran Tha Pae Chiang Mai 2026 returns for third year with 130 metre water tunnel

Sun 12th Apr

Chiang Mai Municipality has announced the third edition of “World Songkran Tha Pae Chiang Mai 2026,” to be held along Tha Pae Road and Tha Pae Gate, with the event positioned as part of ongoing efforts to raise the profile of the Thai new year festival on the international stage while sustaining tourism and economic activity in the city’s historic centre. The headline attraction this year is a 130 … Continued

“Ton Kwen: Roots Rewired” Transforms Historic Lanna Heritage into Contemporary Comic Art Landmark

Sun 12th Apr

Chiang Mai welcomes a bold new cultural highlight as the 168-year-old Wat Ton Kwen is reinterpreted into a striking comic art installation, “Ton Kwen: Roots Rewired,” standing over six metres tall. Inspired by the temple’s iconic viharn, the work reimagines traditional Lanna architecture through contemporary line art by Chompoonuch Chomphurat. Presented at Central Chiang Mai Airport in collaborati … Continued

Netflix Lights Up Chiang Mai’s Songkran at Tha Phae Gate

Sun 12th Apr

Songkran, Netflix is bringing entertainment to the heart of Chiang Mai, transforming Tha Phae Gate into a lively hub of water festivities and star appearances. Running from 11–15 April 2026, the “Songkran: Enjoy Thai Content to the Fullest on Netflix” activation features a vibrant booth and parade around the city moat, alongside appearances by Nattawin Wattanagitiphat, Chakelyn Muench, Arak Amorns … Continued

MAYA Hosts Major Songkran Festival, Aiming for Global Recognition

Sun 12th Apr

MAYA Lifestyle Shopping Center, in collaboration with the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Chang Phueak Municipality, and private partners, has launched the “SF and SINGHA LIFE Present SINGHA SUMMER CLUB SONGKRAN FESTIVAL 2026” — one of Chiang Mai’s largest Songkran concert celebrations. Held at MAYA Square from April 11–15, the festival brings together top Thai artists including INDIGO, GETSUNOVA, … Continued

Chiang Mai’s moat comes alive ahead of Songkran

Sun 12th Apr

Residents and tourists have begun gathering along Chiang Mai’s moat to splash water and beat the heat, even before the festival’s official start — and crowds are expected to swell further this evening. Although today, 12th April, marks Wan Long Fai, the lead-in day to Songkran — or the Chiang Mai New Year, Pee Mai Mueang Chiang Mai 2026 — large numbers of people have already taken to the streets w … Continued

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