Chinatown: What to see & do

Close to the Charoenkrung and Yaowarat Road junction is Chinatown's star attraction, Wat Traimit (the Temple of the Golden Buddha). At first glance, the 3-meter high Buddha image looks rather average and undeserving of the busloads of tourists that flock here every day. The big attraction is the remarkable fact that it's made of 5.5 tonnes of solid gold, with an equally fascinating story behind it.

In 1957 a large stucco Buddha image was being moved by crane during development of a port. To the sheer horror and shock of everyone, the crane operator accidentally dropped the image, sending it crashing towards the ground. Instead of smashing, the stucco covering merely cracked, and in the process revealed the solid gold image hidden underneath. It is thought to have been covered like this during the early Ayuthaya or Sukhothai periods to protect it from the invading Burmese.

Although there are many things to see in Chinatown, one of the biggest sights is the experience of the place as a whole. The best way to explore the area is to pick a starting point and wander around. With about 14% of the buildings in the district designated as historical landmarks, Chinatown is home to many fine examples of the architecture of Bangkok's early years. A good example is the Tang To Gung gold shop on Sampeng Lane, around Mangkon Road.

Sampeng Lane, Chinatown's original main street, is a narrow alley which runs from the Pahurat Textile Market all the way down to Songsawat Road. The lane is too small for cars, and is now a crowded market selling mostly inexpensive household and all kinds of other interesting items.

Near the Tang To Gung gold shop is a very old Chinese pharmacy that is also worth a look. The Chinese temple of Wat Mangkon Kamalawat - known in Chinese as Wat Leng Nui Yee - is the center of festivities during important festivals like Chinese New Year and the Vegetarian Festival. Another interesting temple is Wat Kanikaphon, with its main claim to fame being the fact that it was founded by a former madame who owned a brothel. And then, the charming and historical sights of the riverside and Old City areas are not too far away.

Learn More About Chinatown: Where to Stay, List of Hotels, Shopping, Where to Eat, Nightlife, Getting Around, Wat Traimit, Wat Mangkon Kamalawat, Sampeng Lane, Pahurat Textile Market, Dim Sum

Learn about other City Sights: Sukhumvit, Chidlom-Ploenchit, Siam, Silom, Ratchaprasong, Sathorn, Khao San Road, Old City (Rattanakosin), Chinatown, Chatuchak, Pratunam, Ratchadapisek

Nestled in the heart of Chinatown, Bangkok's most important and largest Chinese-Buddhist temple is the hub of festivities during festivals like Chinese New Year and contains spectacular Buddhist, Taoist and Confucian shrines. It dates back to 1872, and was called Wat Leng Nui Yee until King Rama V changed it to Wat Mangkon Kamalawat (which means Dragon Lotus Temple).

You enter via a decorative passageway from Charoenkrung Road and into a large courtyard. The low-slung temple complex within is decorated in typical Chinese style, intricately carved dragons and other familiar motifs throughout. Inside the various rooms are altars to Buddha as well as Taoist deities. Explore its passages and you'll find a small cloister with cases of gilded Buddha images in the double 'abhaya mudra', or 'Buddha teaches reason' position.

Where: Charoenkrung Road, Chinatown

An option to get to Pahurat, though a bit exhausting, is to walk south along Sampeng Lane from Chinatown down to Chakraphet Road and Pahurat. Several sub-sois and shopping blocks can be explored this way, not to mention Sampeng Lane's deals on wholesale items. Wholesale goods such as flip-flops, toys, household items, and herbs can be bought here. An added feature to the area are circus-like acts of balancing and maneuvering performed by men transporting an astonishing amount of wholesale goods (sacks, boxes, etc) with small dolleys while weaving in and out of traffic - an interesting feat. To save yourself from over-exhuastion, and to explore Chinatown in a more thorough manner, try staying at nearby Chinatown hotels. Also while in the area, don't forget to visit the covered market lane between Ratchawong and Mahachak Roads.

Once crossing Chakraphek Road and entering Pahurat, stores selling formal dresses, gowns, and even (royal-like) crowns glitter and sparkle for young ladies aspiring to become hi-so princesses. Crowns aside, within these first few blocks lay Pahurat's textile selling action, so choose one of the many small alleyways and dive into the heart of it all. Within you'll find a labrynth of shops and vendors selling all kinds of colourful textiles - enough to cause a mild panic attack to those caught unprepared or already fatigued.

Making your way through one of these alleys and towards the other side of the block, shops selling posters of Hindu Gods alongside various Indian paraphernalia slowly begin to appear. A few cafes filled with Indian men chatting away, not to mention mouth-watering smells of Indian cuisine, confirm you're in 'Little India'. On the other side of the block more gastronomical delights await as cafes and a few food hawkers along Soi ATM provide delicious north Indian cuisine.

How to get there: Take the subway to MRT Hualompong station. From there, bus number 40 passes through Pahurat and Chinatown. Several taxis and tuk-tuks are also available for hire (35-40 baht).
What to buy: At Sampeng Lane, wholesale goods such as rubber items (flip-flops, baskets, etc) and herbs; at Pahurat, textiles, Indian foods and gifts.
Open: Around 09:00 - 18:00 weekdays (every day)