Chiang Mai's must-visit temple: Doi Suthep's Wat Phra That Doi Suthep

Thailand is a country of thousands of Buddhas with numerous temples, and Chiang Mai is no exception. This ancient city, surrounded by many temples, is represented by the Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, the largest temple in Chiang Mai. Located on the top of Suthep Mountain, it is a legendary temple selected by white elephants and built by the royal family. It is about 15 kilometers away from the old city of Chiang Mai and can be reached by songthaew or charter. There are many songthaews at the entrance of Chiang Mai University, and the fare is 40 baht per person with a minimum of ten passengers. The temple itself is full of highlights. First, on both sides of the temple gate, there are multi-headed dragons made of colored glass and glazed tiles, with six small dragon heads on each dragon head looking up to the sky. The two long dragons are named after the sitting and lying on both sides of the steps. Second, the golden pagoda in the Buddhist temple still enshrines the relics of Sakyamuni, and the crystal lotus flower presented by the ninth emperor is placed on the top of the pagoda. Third, the statue of Sakyamuni Buddha in the main hall is exquisitely carved and solemn. Fourth, the architecture of the Twin Dragon Temple is particularly magnificent, with yellow glazed tiles that were only used in royal buildings at that time. Even the ground of the authentic Thai temple is covered with tiles, making it one of the most magnificent temples in Thailand. In addition, due to the high location of the Shuanglong Temple, the temple platform is the best viewing point for the panoramic view of Chiang Mai. Admission fee is 30 baht, cable car is free for locals and 20 baht for foreigners. If you don't want to climb more than 300 steps to the mountain, you can take the cable car. When visiting the temple, it is advisable to visit in a clockwise direction from the left entrance, because in Thailand, people go counterclockwise around the temple for the purpose of crossing over.