Chiang Mai Zoo - the first and only in northern Thailand, where visitors can observe the animals in their natural habitat. It is located at the foot of Doi Suthep in the eponymous national park.

The history of the zoo began with the fact that Harold Mason Jr., an American missionary, born in Myanmar, was collecting injured wild animals and received in 1957 by officials of the province of Chiang May 24 acres of land near the mountain Doi Suthep to their contents. When Mason died in 1974, the zoo was transferred to Chiang Mai under the control of the zoological park of Thailand. At the same time the zoo area has been expanded to 200 acres. The official opening of the zoo Chiang Mai under the patronage of the King took place in 1977.

The Chiang Mai zoo features more than 400 species of animals, including koalas, penguins, rhinoceros, zebras, camels, llamas, giraffes, white tigers, lions and many more. It is noteworthy that most of the animals are in open-air cages. Safety of visitors is ensured by moats with or without water, but designed in such a way that the animals can not jump over them.

We should also be said about the main inhabitants of the zoo: the giant panda. Chiang Mai - the only town in Thailand and Asia, where you can enjoy live on these amazing animals. Since 2003, in Chiang Mai is home to two adult pandas Lin Hui and Chuang Chuang, and since 2009 and their baby Lin Bing. All the pandas belong to China and Thailand are on the lease contract. They are the main favorites of the whole country, and Lin Bing's birthday is celebrated with a special scale. In 2012, the Chinese Ambassador personally presented the baby-panda birthday cake. What is important is the fact that Lin Bing was born through artificial insemination and in captivity, this case made waves around the world.

The zoo is the largest aquarium in Asia, rich with all kinds of fish, as well as the world's largest tunnel aquarium of 133 meters long.

At the zoo you can visit the Snow House, a room where a constant temperature of -5 degrees Celsius.