Chinatown

 Yaowarat Road, the Bangkok's Chinatown

Yaowarat Road, in Samphanthawong district, houses Bangkok's Chinatown. It is one of the most popular attractions in the capital. The small area is located along the east bank of the Chao Phraya River, to west of Silom area and southeast of Rattanakosin Island. Yaowarat area has the highest population density among all districts of Bangkok. Here lives one of the oldest Chinese communities in Thailand, a settlement precedent the founding of the Thai capital in the city. The history of this Chinese community dates back to the late 1700s, when poor peasants from Chaozhou region migrated to find work in Thonburi, on the west bank of Chao Phraya River, which in those days was Siam's capital. They became great traders soon, and they operated most of maritime junk trade between Siam and China throughout the Rattanakosin period. Subsequently, King Rama I asked to the Chinese traders to move to Rattanakosin Island, on east bank of river, where he had begun the construction of the new Kingdom's capital. At the end of 1891, King Rama V ordered the construction of many roads, among them, the Yaowarat Road. The modern Chinatown covers a large area around Yaowarat Road and includes Charoen Krung Road, Mungkorn Road, Songwat Road, Songsawat Road, and Chakkrawat Road. Yaowarat's Sam Peng Market is the center of this area. A massive door in classic Chinese style, delimits the entrance in the district, which is the center of any business done by the Chinese population of Bangkok. Streets are full of shops selling gold, garments, textiles, stationery, souvenirs, second-hand goods and equipment, electric goods, computer parts, antiques, imported musical instruments and local delicacies. Bangkok's Chinatown is a true heaven for shopping lovers and for those that come here to enjoy the Chinese street food cuisine. More