Bangkok - Chinatown

Day 2 PM

For me, whenever I go to a country, Chinatown is a place not to be missed. Nearly there is one in each country, so it is a good experience to visit each to have a look at the similarity as well as compare on the differences.

After visiting the Grand Palace, took a ferry and disembarked at Rachavongse Pier to get to Chinatown.

.

.

Rachavongse (Ratchawong) Pier



Map of Chinatown area
.

Chinatown district is one of the oldest areas of Bangkok. The Chinese merchants were originally moved to this area when Bangkok was founded on the eastern bank of the Chao Phraya River. This area has a somewhat seedy historical reputation for large numbers of opium dens, brothels (namely the Green Light district), pawnshops and a fondness for gambling.

.

Unmistakeably it's Chinatown, with all the Chinese signage around :)



Quite a busy place

Today, gold shops and pawnshops are still very popular in Chinatown. The busy Yaowarat Road, Chinatown's main street, has great concentrations of gold shops anywhere. Was told that you can get quite good prices on gold here, however, not having the intention to shop, did not step into any of the gold shops.

.

Stalls selling fruits and foodstuffs in Chinatown


.

Food stall

.

It's not only all about gold in Chinatown. For gastronomic lovers, there are plenty of restaurants here, where you can get bird nest soup, dim sum, shark fin soup and other traditional Chinese delicacies at good reasonable price. As for me, wanted to have something light, I went for the bird nest soup only :)

.

Bird nest soup :p~



Condiments to come with the bird nest

.

There are actually some other attractions at Chinatown area, such as Wat Traimit, the Temple of the Golden Buddha, which is located at the end of Chinatown's Yaowarat Road, near Hualampong Railway Station. Didn't have much time left, thus have opted this out.

Getting there :

Easiest way of getting there is via ferry. Alight at the Rachavongse (Ratchawong) Pier and walk up Ratchawong Road to Sampaeng Lane or Yaowarat Road, which is just a few hundred metres away.

.

Next ~ Wat Arun ...

.