Hotels | Interesting
Places | Shopping | Eating | Nightlife | Nearby
Areas
 Overview
This colourful commercial district has more to discover
than its countless gold shops. For instance, there
are Chinese herbal medicine stores, shops selling
imported Chinese products and Chinese religious paraphernalia.
At nightfall, especially, the area around Yaowarat
and Charoen Krung roads is lively with Chinese restaurants
as well as food and fruit stalls that attract many
tourists and Thais. On the Chinese New Years Day,
Yaowarat Rd. is closed to traffic to celebrate the
festivity with Chinese food fairs and lion and dragon
dances.
Location
Lying southeast of the Rattanakosin Island, Yaowarat
or known as Chinatown is one of the oldest areas
in Bangkok. The approximate 2-sq km area is bounded
by Phadung Krungkasem Canal to the east, the Ong
Ang Canal to the west, Luang Rd. to the north and
the Chao Phraya River to the south. Main streets
in Chinatown are (a section of) Charoen Krung Rd.,
the first road in Thailand to be constructed in the
western style, and Yaowarat Rd., the main street
for gold shops. Besides, there are many small alleys
and backstreets which are Bangkoks significant business
communities. At night both sides of Yaowarat Road
are brightened up by the flickering neon signs from
gold shops and restaurants.
Easy access:
Even though the traffic in Chinatown
causes headaches to most Bangkokians, but we still
love to go there. Charoen Krung Rd. is one-way east
wards while Yaowarat Rd. is one-way west wards. There
are both ordinary and air-con buses in the area.
Chao Phraya Express Boat:
Get off at Ratchawong Pier
and walk through Ratchawong Rd. about 200 metres, then
you will get to Yaowarat Rd.
MRT Subway:
Get off at Hua Lumphong Subway Station
and walk across the Phadung Krungkasem Canal about
300 metres to the Odean Circle (the 6th Cycle Commemorative
Gateway).
For taxi: ไชน่าทาวน์ เยาวราช
Map
: Old town - Chinatown
Hotels in Chinatown
Area
Interesting
Places
 Odean
Circle
At the Odean Circle a Chinese style arch was built
to commemorate King Bhumibols 6th Cycle (=72nd) Birthday
in 1999. It is now one of the significant landmarks in
Chinatown. People are sometimes queuing up to absorb the
power of heaven and earth on the spot under the arch.
For taxi: วงเวียนโอเดียน
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Wat
Traimit (The Golden Buddha)
This temple is well known for its 3-metre tall, 5.5
tonne solid gold Buddha image, cast over 700 years ago
during the Sukhothai period. Originally the gold image
was covered with plaster to conceal it from the invading
Burmese and was just rediscovered accidentally about
40 years ago.
For taxi: วัดไตรมิตร วงเวียนโอเดียน เยาวราช
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Wat Mangkon
Featuring the most outstanding Chinese Buddhist architecture
in Thailand, the temple houses a great number of
Chinese Supreme Being statues to be worshipped. Each
day the temple is crowded with both local Thai-Chinese
and overseas Chinese who bring offerings to their
devoted divinities.
For taxi: วัดมังกรกมลาวาส ถนนเจริญกรุง |
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Sala Chaloemkrung Royal Theatre
Apart from being Southeast Asias first air-conditioned
cinema, Sala Chalermkrung, has been serving as a national
venue for staging breathtaking performances and exhibitions
to maintain the authenticity of Thai arts and culture
for more than 70 years. And now it is proud to present
Thailands exquisite masked dance drama to foreign visitors
with on screen subtitles.
For taxi: ศาลาเฉลิมกรุง ถนนเจริญกรุง |
Da Feng Zu Shrine (Po Tek Tueng Foundation)
The shrine is located opposite Phlapphlachai Police
Station. Throughout the year Thais of Chinese descents
throng here to worship the deity, to make merits
and to get rid of their bad fortune by donating money
to buy coffins and arrange cremations for unidentified
corpses.
For taxi: มูลนิธิปอเต็กตึ๊ง (ศาลเจ้าไต้ฮงกง) ตรงข้าม
สน. พลับพลาไชย
Hua Lumphong (Bangkok Railway Station)
Built before WWI in an Italian renaissance style, this
is the main railway station in Bangkok and a terminus
of the Eastern & Orient Express which runs from
Singapore through Malaysia to Thailand. The station
is now conveniently connected to MRT Subway by an
underground passage.
For taxi: สถานีรถไฟหัวลำโพง
Shopping
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Sampheng Lane (Soi Wanit 1)
Sampheng Lane or Soi Wanit runs parallel on the south
of Yaowarat Rd. This pedestrian street is the commercial
centre distributing clothes, toys, gift shops goods,
souvenirs and all other products countrywide.
For taxi: สำเพ็ง |
Old Market
The old market has all kinds of dried seafood, fresh
fruits and other Chinese cooking ingredients. Pushcarts
selling ready-to-eat meals line up at the entrance
in the evening. Walking down to the south, the old
market is connected to Sampheng Lane or Wanit 1 Rd.
where you can shop for toys, souvenirs and all kinds
of festival stuff.
For taxi: ตลาดเก่า ถนนเยาวราช
New Market (Leng Buai Yia)
This so-called new market (actually 90 years old) has
large selections of ingredients needed for cooking,
including fresh seafood, vegetables, fruits, ready-to-eat
food and gods sacrifices for various festivals. During
the weekends or Chinese festivals, the market is very
crowded.
For taxi: ตลาดใหม่เล่งบ้วยเอี้ย ซอยเจริญกรุง 18
Damrong Sathit Bridge (Saphan Lek Bon)
The area is crowded with shops and stalls selling game
players, toys, electronic utilities and miscellaneous
goods.
For taxi: สะพานเหล็ก
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Little India (Phahurat)
Little Indian town is located around the intersection
of Phahurat Rd. and Chakkaphet Rd. It is the best
place to buy fabrics and clothes as they have incredibly
large selections of merchandises and prices are bargainable.
Original Indian food, ingredients and household utensils
are sold at the deep end of the blocks
For taxi: พาหุรัด |
Ban Mo
Whether you are looking for quality jewellery or electronic
equipment, Ban Mo Rd. is the recommended place since
this busy small road is lined with jewellery stores
and shops selling electronic and audio devices.
For taxi: ถ. บ้านหม้อ
The Old Siam Plaza
The Old Siam Plaza is the old Bangkok style shopping
centre purveying Thai goods and souvenirs. In addition,
there are sections devoted to jewellery shops, gun
dealers and restaurants.
For taxi: ดิโอลด์สยามพลาซ่า
The Flower Market (Pak Khlong Talat)
A one perfect stop for every florist is here. Visitors
can also select their favourite bouquets and flower
baskets from this market. It is open 24 hours a day
7 days a week with the best array of flowers at wholesale
prices, but the best time is probably in the morning.
Apart from flowers, this large market features a
wide variety of vegetables and fruits as well.
For taxi: ปากคลองตลาด
Woeng Nakhon Kasem Market
Formerly known as the Thieves Market, this is a big
retail and wholesale market of machines, auto parts
and musical instruments. Thai and Chinese antiques
and second hand goods can be purchased as well.
For taxi: เวิ้งนาครเกษม
 Eating
Chinatown is the best place to dine out. The area is
famous for shark fin soup, birds nest soup, fresh
seafood, roasted duck and pork, Chinese desserts,
dim sum, noodles, etc. Food is available days and
nights whether on the Chinese style banquet table
of pricey restaurants or at the pushcarts along the
roads and in many of its small alleys. During the
vegetarian festival, it is harder to find normal
food in the area other than veggie dishes. If you
would like to try Indian food, Phahurat has many
good native restaurants at reasonable prices.
Nightlife
Night-time activity in Chinatown is limited to dining.
Nearby Areas
Rattanakosin
Island / Pinklao
Area / Banglamphu
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