Tips for Chinatown in Bangkok
Whoever visits Bangkok should definitely Chinatown put on the list. It is not for nothing that it is one of the most popular sights in Bangkok and it is one of the oldest and largest Chinese districts in the world.
The Chinese community, moved around 1782 from Rattanakosin (the old city), to the current location. The Chinese Quarter was once the financial center of Bangkok.
You will find the historic district in the old center near the train station. The district runs from Yaowarat Road to Odeon Circle, where a large Chinese gate marks the entrance to the Ong Ang canal.
Visit in Chinatown certainly also Sampeng Lane, a long narrow street where goods are sold. The street is very narrow and busy, but nowhere in Bangkok can you buy so cheaply.
You won't get hungry in Chinatown. According to experts, the 'fight food' is over Yaowarat road the best you can get. Especially in the evening it is very busy, but that is a good sign because the busier the stall, the tastier the food.
Chinatown is also home to the largest Golden Buddha in the world! Near Hua Lamphong Station is Wat Traimit with its beautiful interior and the huge golden Buddha. The neighborhood is dotted with Chinese shrines, incorporating elements of Confucianism, Taoism, Mahayana Buddhism, and Animism.
Golden Buddha (PixHound / Shutterstock.com)
Another tip: for panoramic views, head to the Grand China Princess on Yaowarat Road. For about 100 baht you get a beautiful view of Chinatown and the surrounding area, you can even see the Chao Phraya river. It takes about two hours for the Sky View 360 degrees restaurant to make a full circle. You can eat well and in addition to Thai, European and Japanese, there are of course also Chinese dishes.
The thieves' market is now called Nakon Kasem and no longer sells stolen goods (if all goes well). This market is mainly intended for second-hand products such as antique cameras, amulets and even second-hand shoes. The Nakon Kasem can be found between Yaowarat and Charoen Krung Road on the western side of Chinatown.
Do you want to see or taste even more? How about traditional Thai-Chinese sweets? For that you have to go to Old Siam Plaza, located in a beautiful art deco complex on the western side of Chinatown. At the top of the Old Siam complex you will find a range of shops specializing in Thai silk and wedding accessories. On the other side of the building you can even buy knives, shotguns and pistols.
Chinatown also has more gold shops per square meter than anywhere else in Bangkok. A great place to buy gold jewelry. Many shops display the daily gold price, chalked in white paint on the windows.
In short, Chinatown is a true journey of discovery with a maze of hundreds of narrow alleys, small shops and many market stalls.