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.