Bangkok Chinatown tours: Yaowarat. Things to do & travel guide
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Chinatown or Yaowarat road is located in one of the oldest areas of Bangkok and about 1.5 km in length. Yaowarat leading westwards from near Wat Traimit, and Sampeng Lane. The path of road is said to be like a dragon's curvy body. And tourists or visitors can find gold shop, souvenirs, Chinese food, etc.Yaowarat Road also famous about delicious foods, and become foods street in the night. And then can make merit at Wat Traimit.
History of Chainatown is Chinese immigrants have made Bangkok their home even before the start of the Rattanakosin period. Chinatown itself, however, is a showcase of old Bangkok. It was founded in the late 18th century (1872) when King Rama I, the first Chakri Dynasty king, decided to move his capital from the Thonburi side of the river to Rattanakosin Island on the east bank. The Chinese merchants, at that time a small trading colony who lived there were made to vacate the area intended for the Grand Palace, and moved to the present location of Chinatown.
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By bus, There are public buses have air and non air-conditioned leaving from Bus Terminal no.1, 4, 25, 40, 85, 159, 21, 25, 172, 177, 529 and 542.
By Taxi, Take a taxi or a 'tuk-tuk', a motorbike, and go to Trimit Road, east of Yaowarat Road, or Charoen Krung Road, parallel to Yaowarat Road at its north. And then walk towards your destinations in the Chinatown.
By boat, Get on the boat on the Chaophraya River and alight at Ratchawong pier. And then walk up Ratchawong Road, passing Songwat Road and Sampeng Lane to reach Yaowarat Road.
Our half day cycle trip is a fascinating glimpse into the Bangkok of old. We take in some of the more popular Bangkok Landmarks: Chinatown, Wat Arun (Temple of the Dawn), and the Royal Barge Museum, but we also goes off the beaten path and show you some lesser known sites that are not on the tourist map. We start by exploring the bustling Chinatown area (Yoawarat) before crossing the Chao Phraya to the more serene and often less visited temples and sites of Thonburi. We ride along quiet back roads of this area stopping at the occasional market as we head to the Princess Mother Memorial Park and museum, although small, this is well kept and well worth a visit. Some lesser known temples, the Chao Praya river and a sampling of a local Thai dessert that has it origins from the Portuguese who settled here, Wat Arun (Temple of the Dawn) and the Royal Barge Museum are all part of this interesting and varied bike trip.
Food around Chinatown:
Chinatown is the paradise of food lovers who quest for Chinese cuisine. Both sides of its main street are flanked with restaurants and food vendors throughout the day. Local delicacies include Dim Sum, Teachew-style steamed Chinese mullet, shark fin in red sauce and various single noodle and rice dishes such as stir-fried noodles, casserole pork in noodles soup, rice with boiled chicken, rice with crispy pork or duck toppings, rice with curry and etc. Other appetizers and sweets are stuffed sheet noodles, pork sate, dumplings, bird's nest soup, soybean milk, lotus root juice and toasted chestnuts (locally called Kaolat). Ask for map of food shops and restaurants around the area from the tourist center on Petchaburi Road on Monday to Friday and Ratchadamnoen Nok Avenue everyday from 8.30am to 4.30pm
Shopping (Gold Shops):
There are more than 130 gold shops along Yaowarat Road. It is why it is called the Golden Road'. Originally, there were four tycoon gold shops: Seng Heng Li, Hua Seng Heng, Tung Jin Aeng and Tung Toh Gung even though new gold shops are still burgeoning on both sides of the road. Most shops are members of the Gold Merchants Association. Gold products here are not only recognized of high standard and quality with the purity of 96.5% or approximately 23 karat gold, but also of hand-made beautiful intricacy.
Talat Kao (The Old Market):
Talat Kao has been the marketplace for Chinatown for over a hundred years. It is the center of all kinds of specialties, ranging from fresh to preserved food. Chinese chefs from restaurants around Bangkok flock here each day to find the best ingredients. It can be said that it is the paradise for those who shop for fresh foods. Just right at the opposite is Talat Mai or Talat Krom Phu-tared (New Marketplace), selling the same kinds of food and products found in Talat Kao.
Wanit 1 (Sampeng):
The area is usually called Sampeng within which retailers and wholesalers of textile are located. Here is Bangkok's center of textile wholesalers that sell everything about clothing making such as buttons, zippers, laces, sewing equipment, gifts, souvenirs & stationery and children & teenager products.
Chiang Kong:
Chiang Kong is located in the area of Tala Noi (Noi Market). It is the hub of spare parts of cars, machinery and cheap second-hand steel products
Khlong Thom:
It is where shoppers can find a variety of electronic products and components of sound equipment, computers, game players, calculators and watches. Most sellers are vendors who sell their items at a fairly cheap price. Bargaining can be done here.
Nakhon Kasem Area:
The area is a cluster of antique shops and imported musical instrument shops. Also, other products include kitchenware such as coconut-grating machine, coconut milk squeezer, brass pans and water pumping machine.
What to see around Chinatown:
Chinese Shrines
There are numerous shrines in Chinatown. Among them, there are four oldest shrines of the area:
Leng Buai Eie Shrine. It is the Teachew Chinese shrine that houses the big bell constructed in the 23rd year of the Seng Phi Dynasty and the bell donated by King Rama V.
Bunyasamakhom Shrine (Rong Je Trokkrai) was named by King Rama V.
Ah Mha Geng Shrine is dated back more than 150 years. Inside, it houses Goddess Thapthim who is highly revered by local people.
Wat Mangkon Kamalawat or Wat Leng Nei Yi is the first Mahayana Buddhist sect temple in Thailand. It was constructed during King Rama V by donation from the Chinese living in Sampheng area.
