The Pa-Oh; also known as Taungthu and Black Karen; are an ethnic group in Burma; comprising approximately 600;000. They form the second largest ethnic group in Shan State; and are believed to be of Tibeto-Burman stock. They are ethnolinguistically related to the Karen and populate Shan State; Kayin State; and Kayah State.

King Mengrai founded the city of Chiang Mai (meaning 'new city') in 1296; and it succeeded Chiang Rai as capital of the Lanna kingdom. Chiang Mai sometimes written as 'Chiengmai' or 'Chiangmai'; is the largest and most culturally significant city in northern Thailand.