Among the most popular products for sale are drawings and paintings, clothing, furniture, as well as jewelry items. The Lanna design influence can also be seen in other mediums, such as interior design.

If you're visiting the city on the weekend, it's also well worth a stroll along the city's Rachadamnoen Sunday night market if you're interested in picking up some interesting hand-crafted, Lanna-influenced items. The market provides a venue for several local artists, young and old alike.

A growing number of young artists have turned the city into an increasingly trendy 'art hub', with Nimmanahaeminda Road Soi 1 playing host to numerous art, boutique clothing, jewelry and textile stores. When it comes to class and style, this soi (street) definitely comes out on top, although the walking street also features plenty of bargains, particularly if you're good at the game.

Nimmanahaeminda Rd Soi 1: Chiang Mai's 'boutique' central

For the best of 'Lanna-chic', hop into a songthaew ('pick-up taxi') and tell the driver “neem-man-hea-meen soi neung [one]”. While the reading of Nimmanahaeminda seems a bit formidable in terms of pronunciation for non-native speakers, I recommend you give it a try, then have a native speaker 'drill' it in.

The day I went there were around three or four other persons strolling about. Although Nimmanahaeminda is a fairly busy road, Soi 1 doesn't get much traffic, either on foot or motorized, leaving you in peace to breezily stroll about this lush and leafy lane.

The lane's boutique shops are fairly small, giving them all a relaxed, personal feel. As of September 2008 the lane hosted a total of eleven shops. A personal favorite is Meo Jaidee Studio and Gallery (+66 [0]53 33 1214, 8.30 am–5.30 pm daily), which features unique paintings in the Lanna style, in addition to small hand-crafted ornaments, plus other items. Exhibitions by local artists are also featured here throughout the year.

Most shops along the lane close around the same time as Meo Jaidee. For a taste of Nimmanahaeminda Road Soi 1's atmosphere and shop items, see our gallery below.

PHOTO GALLERY

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The Rachadamnoen Sunday walking street: 'JJ, Chiang Mai-style'

The Rachadamnoen Sunday walking street market is located, surprisingly, along Rachadamnoen Road, which is in the center of Chiang Mai's 'old city'. Vendors begin setting up their stalls around 3 pm and generally remain open until midnight.

Rachadamnoen is a fairly wide and long road, so visitors shouldn't worry about tight, packed spaces, such as those found at other markets in the kingdom. Walking at a slow pace and browsing at a few stalls, it should take about an hour and 10-15 minutes to get from one end to the other. Many vendors are friendly if you're up for a chat. And after a few hours of shopping and bargaining (which is a must here), the road features a very cheap outdoor foot massage service.

Items found along the road are generally less expensive than those at Nimmanahaeminda Road Soi 1, meaning that the quality (and sometimes, creativity) isn't exactly the same either. Still, there are excellent bargains to be had here on silver jewelry, clothing, hand-made items for the home, as well as local art creations.

To get a feel for the night market, view the gallery below.

PHOTO GALLERY

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