Chinatown

With 50% of the population being of Thai lineage and over 250,000 long term resident Chinese nationals, the Bangkok Chinatown is very alive and very real. This sprawling, crowded city-within-city guarantees a mega-buzz for those who enjoy feeling the real pulse of a city.

The main center of activity in Chinatown is around its main road Yaowarat Road and Rachawong road which runs off it. The easiest way to come to Chinatown is to take the subway to the Hua Lam Phong station, on the bank of the Phadung Krung Canal. Walk over to the Hua Lam Phrong railway station nearby.

Across the road from the train station is Traimit Road where the famous Wat Traimit or Temple of the Golden Buddha stands. This wat houses a 3 m high Buddha made of more than 5 tonnes of gold! Within the compound of Wat Traimit, is the Saphanthawong Museum a museum dedicated to the early Chinese immigrants.

Outside the main entrance of Wat Traimit stands the Odeon Gate, built in 1999 to mark the 72nd birthday of King Bhumipol. This gate marks the start of Yaowarat.

Built during the reign of King Rama V, Yaowarat Road winds through heart of Chinatown. The street is lined with goldsmith shops, sharks' fin and birds nest restaurants, shops and vendors selling Chinese herbal medicine, dried mushrooms, salted fish, roast duck, Chinese calendars, almanacs and of course, lottery tickets. A virtual paradise for the avid bargain hunter.

Temples in Chinatown have decidedly pagoda like elements to their exteriors. Some temples in the Chinese quarter follow the Thai Buddhist tradition, there are Taoist temples as well as followers of Mahayana Buddhism.
The Thieves Market and Pahurat market, which are within easy walking distance, are also worth a visit.

Everybody in Bangkok knows that you go to Chinatown for gold. Nearly pure, it's re-quoted in the shop windows every day and sold like any other commodity. You pay for it by the "BAHT" weight. That's about 15 grams in the Thai system or a little more than half an ounce. It?s almost pure and usually a good deal compared with European prices.

Every year during the Chinese New Year, Yaowarat Road is closed to traffic for street festivities, lion dances and food fairs. A member of the royal family attends the occasion every year much to the joy and pride of the Yaowarat community.

A one kilometer walk down Yaowarat Road will bring you to Ratchawong Road. Turn left here and at the end of this road, full of interesting sights and shopping, you will come to the Rachawong Pier on the Chao Phraya River. You can take a boat from here to the Thaksin Bridge pier from where you connect to the BTS (Saphan Taksin). For your return journey.