Chiang Mai City (Thai: เทศบาลนครเชียงใหม่) is part of Mueang Chiang Mai District, the capital of Chiang Mai Province, and serves as the political, economic, and cultural centre of Northern Thailand. With a population of approximately 1.2 million, it is the second-largest city in Thailand. Notable tourist attractions: The Chiang Mai Old City, built in 1296, is square-shaped, with each side about 1.5 kilometres long, surrounded by walls and moats that remain well-preserved today. The platform of Wat Phra That Doi Suthep on Doi Suthep Mountain (1,053 metres above sea level), and the old palace of the Queen of Chiang Mai, though not large, is filled with the sounds of birds and fragrance of flowers, with butterflies fluttering around, making it exceptionally beautiful. Chiang Mai also hosts various festivals such as: Yi Peng (Loy Krathong) held on the full moon of the 12th month of the Thai calendar (usually in November in the Gregorian calendar), and the Chiang Mai Flower Festival held during the first week of February each year, lasting for 3 days, coinciding with the blooming season of tropical flowers in the Chiang Mai region.