Book A Bangkok Hotel and Visit Chinatown |
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Chinatown, or Yaowarat, was started in 1782, when King Rama I decided to establish the capital on the eastern bank of the Chao Phraya River. The Chinese immigrants who were originally settled there, in what is now the Grand Palace, had to move out to a strip of land two km down the river. If you are staying in one of our five star hotels in Bangkok, either ask the hotel to arrange a trip to Chinatown or jump in a taxi or Tuk Tuk and explore this exciting part of the city. If you would like to be right in Chinatown, The Shanghai Mansion Hotel is a great 4 star option.
Over the years the settlement grew. Today, Chinatown covers an area of approximately 2 sq km and is the oldest district in Bangkok with Chinese merchants having moved here in the early 1780's when the city was founded during the Ratanakosin period, almost 300 years ago. You'll still see the old buildings and architecture and you still smell the Chinese tradition all around.
If you are looking for a great selection of street food, bars, restaurants, gold shops, souvenir shops and many other interesting sights and items, including some great Bangkok accommodation, this is definitely the right place! Yaowarat or Chinatown is a street of life. It is a nice way to experience the lifestyle of local Chinese while walking along the street and trying different kinds of food and desserts. The street is lined with ubiquitous goldsmith shops, shark fin and birds nest restaurants, shops and vendors selling Chinese herbal medicine, dried mushrooms, salted fish, roast meat, Chinese calendars, almanacs and of course, lottery tickets. The avid bargain hunter would have a ball of a time browsing through the shops and stalls.
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