Exploring Bangkok Chinatown
Exploring Bangkok ChinatownBangkok Chinatown just has be one of the most fascinating and captivating districts in what is possibly and probably equally considered as one of the most exciting and vibrant cities in the world. This particular area of Bangkok was once the financial center of the city but today and every other day for that matter, it is a thriving and bustling market place if not somewhat flirtatiously overcrowded, noisy and frequently horrendously traffic congested at the very best of times. In other words this could be the place to either lose or find yourself in the moment.Chinatown in Bangkok is located between the two traffic-chocked thoroughfares of Yaowarat Road and Charoen Krung Road where you'll find a labyrinth of narrow alleyways which for the most part are packed with lively market stalls. The most accessible being the wholesale fabric market on Sampeng Lane and the diverse offerings provided by the vendors along Soi Lsara Nuphap. There are three other major markets around Chinatown but I will get to them shortly. They are namely the Pak Khlong Market, the Phahurat Market and the Nakorn Kasem Market.
Songwat Road in Bangkok Chinatown
Exploring Bangkok ChinatownA Brief HistoryDuring the 18th century the Chinese community and their merchants who had settled in Bangkok originally occupied land in the old royal city where you will find the Grand Palace today. In 1782 King Rama I decided to establish the capital on the site once inhabited by the Chinese and asked the traders to move. They then settled to the east of this new city along the Chao Phraya River around Songwat Road and Sampaeng Lane. It may be hard to believe that the narrow street of Sampaeng Lane was once the main road in Chinatown. There's not much room for a car to get through let alone pedestrians.In 1863 King Mongkut built the new Charoen Krung Road. It was to become the first paved street in Bangkok and this allowed the local community to amplify northwards towards it. Charoen Krung Road runs about 6 kilometers or 4 miles from the Grand Palace southwards towards the river where it terminates, just south of the Krung Trep Bridge. In 1902 the foreign community, who had settled on the river further east of Chinatown, petitioned the king for a larger road. As a result, Thanon Yaowarat was built between Charoen Krung Road and Sampeng Lane, becoming the principal road of Chinatown and also the name by which this area is frequently known, Yaowarat. Chinatown is home to many examples of the architecture of Bangkok's early years. About 14% of the buildings in the district have been designated as historical landmarks. Most of them are off on side streets.
Charoen Krung Road
Bangkok ChinatownGetting ThereBangkok Chinatown lies south of the Dusit area, east of the old royal city and on the north side of the Chao Phraya River. Getting there is fairly effortless. You can take a taxi or if you sense a need for adventure, a bus to Charoen Krung Road. Stop anywhere along the route and spend your day wondering around the stalls. You can also take a leisurely riverboat ride on the Chao Phraya Express and ask to disembark at the Ratchawong Pier or catch the train to Hua Lamphong Station.The district around Chinatown also runs along Yaowarat Road from Odeon Circle, where you'll see a huge ceremonial Chinese gate unmistakably signifying a grand entrance and then right up to the Khlong Ong Ang Canal which marks the outer boundaries of this royal region. Yaowarat Road is also one of main traffic arteries here and the bustling street is packed with gold shops, herbal sellers, cafe's and restaurants and just about anything and everything else too. It you are looking to buy some gold jewellery albeit Asian gold, then this is the best place to shop. Devote a whole day in Chinatown, interact and chat amongst the locals. You'll be pleasantly surprised how friendly the atmosphere is here and you need not have to worry either, it's perfectly safe too. Precautionary assurance is all you require. Remember that pickpockets are everywhere and in every major city so it's always wise to keep your valuables close at hand. Thai food is in abundance so if you are feeling a little peckish and just want to snack on something, then go ahead and sample the delicious variety that abounds. There are also lots of restaurants for you to enjoy both local as well as international cuisine. There really is no rush.
Pahurat Market in Bangkok Chinatown
Exploring Bangkok ChinatownPak Khlong MarketPak Khlong Market is situated on the outskirts of Chinatown on Soi Tha Klang and is open 24 hours every day. This market provides the city with a vast array of fresh flowers and vegetables. It's a one stop florist's dream and is well known for offering the best flowers in all of Thailand. Here you will find a display of the freshest roses, orchids, Jasmine and lotus as well as some exquisite Dutch tulips.The right time to catch these blooms at their best is during the early morning hours before 9:00 am. You can purchase single units, bouquets, floral baskets or whatever else takes your fancy. There is just no limit to what you will find here. Phahurat MarketPhahurat Market is predominately an Indian market submitting sights and sounds of a typical Bombay street scene. Market stalls around here are in a permanent flux of hustle and bustle with the main bazaar spilling out around Phahurat and Chak Phet roads. Apart from being the main wholesale fruit and vegetable market in Chinatown, many merchants here appear to specialize in apocryphal fabrics.The diverse street level traders sell everything from table cloths to wedding saris. If you should step upstairs and wander around the dimly-lit sections, you will find loads of traditional Indian accessories from ornate jewellery to delicate sandals. Need something to eat... No problem! There's certainly no shortage of food here. In the surrounding streets there are plenty of hole-in-the-wall Indian Restaurants and samosa stalls creating an array of appetizers to suit all sorts of taste buds.
Bead Sellers in Bangkok Chinatown
Exploring Bangkok ChinatownNakorn Kasem MarketNakorn Kasem Market is situated on Charoen Krung Road on the western edge of Chinatown and popularly known as the Thieves Market because stolen goods were once allegedly traded here. A few decades ago, householders would go in search of their stolen goods in this area after being robbed, as it was the most likely place they might recover their items for a much more reasonable price.Believe it or not householders who had their stuff snatched also had no way of identifying their stolen property so in order to retrieve their goods, they had no alternative but to repurchase them. Seems a little crazy doesn't it. Anyway there is scant need for concern as this market has since discarded it's illicit past and now has a miscellaneous collection of Chinese Shop-Houses* selling everything and anything from antiques, metal-ware, musical instruments and a whole range of ornaments and prosaic household goods. Hopefully all these goods are legal. *Chinese Shop-Houses are a common feature in Chinatown. Families run their businesses from the ground floor while living above their shops on the first floor. Saphan Han MarketAn interesting market near Nakorn Kasem is Saphan Han Market. It's a covered market situated on both sides of the Khlong Ong Ang (a narrow water-way off the Chao Phraya River). Specialties here are electrical goods of every description as well as a variety of household items and last but inescapably not least, lots of pirated goods, far too many to mention. This area is frequently filled with mainly locals who come here to pick up bargains at the vast variety of stands and stalls. It is also where good cheap food is aplenty and most noticeably, you cannot but help gasp the aroma wafting from all the copious noodle bars found around here.Black Jelly Seller in Bangkok Chinatown
Exploring Bangkok ChinatownMarketsThe photo above shows a young Thai lady scooping up what appears to be some sort of sticky stuff that closely resembles that of tar. What she is doing in fact is preparing to make a refreshing black jelly drink known as Chao Kuai. This tar like substance is made from grass jelly, a dessert served with crushed ice and syrup.Grass jelly is formed when one blends slightly aged oxidized stalks and leaves from a member of the mint family called Mesona Chinensis with potassium carbonate and a little starch. The black matter you see here is the end product produced by boiling all the ingredients together for several hours and then allowing it to cool. The translucent black jelly can be cut into cubes or various other forms and then mixed with water and brown sugar to produce a drink thought to have cooling properties. It is ideal to consumed during the hot weather in Thailand. Chao Kuai has a slight bitter taste and a light iodine lavender flavour but with a little added sugar it becomes refreshingly palatable. It can also be served with fruit such as the Jack-fruit or mixed with soy milk to produce a milky white liquid. Chao Kuai is often served in clear plastic bags as are many other cool drinks that are sold in the markets of Bangkok. This is a preferred Thai take-away option but you can request your drink be accommodated in a plastic cup should you so wish.
Golden Buddha at Wat Traimit Temple
Exploring Bangkok ChinatownTemplesWat Traimit is a white and gold temple well worth visiting while in Chinatown. Seated in the grand temple's interior is the world's largest solid Golden Buddha weighing five and a half tons. The Buddha was discovered purely by accident in 1955 at a nearby riverside temple during construction to extend the dock there.The temple is situated just east of the point where Yaowarat and Charoen Krung roads meet. It is also within walking distance from Hualamphong Railway Station, the railway link that connects Bangkok with the rest of the country. The temple is open daily from 8:00 am until 5:00 pm with an entrance fee of only 20 baht.
Wat Traimit
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