Chinatown in Bangkok

Description of the Chinatown district and what makes it interesting for tourists

Chinatown (Chinatown) – is one of the interesting districts for tourists in Bangkok, located in the historic part of the city on the island of Rattanakosin, along with the popular tourist district Khaosan Road (Chinatown on the map). However, compared to the Khaosan area, there are very few hotels here, and there is almost no tourist infrastructure such as travel agencies. But if you stay here, you will be living, perhaps, in the most colorful and interesting place in the city, which retains the hustle and bustle, crowdedness, and deep-rooted traditions inherent in any traditional Chinatown.

It cannot be said that this is a very cozy and spacious district for tourists: one wide street, Yaowarat road, runs through it, and all other streets, as befits a real Chinatown, are either very narrow or crammed with shops and workshops so that it is impossible to walk or drive through. Some streets are occupied by craftsmen and artisans who are constantly repairing or creating something, while others are completely commercial. The main shopping street is Sampeng Lane, which runs parallel to Yaowarat road. You won't find anything special here, only ordinary Chinese consumer goods, but the prices are very low. On the main street, there are several jewelry workshops with currency exchange offices with very good exchange rates, perhaps the best in Bangkok.

Chinatown is home to several interesting temples in Bangkok: the Temple of the Golden Buddha, the Crocodile Temple Wat Chakrawatrachawat Woramahawihan, and the most important and largest Chinese temple Wat Mangkon Kamalawat (Wat Leng Noei Yi). Also, this district is visited as an attraction or entertainment in the evenings to try exotic Chinese cuisine.

There are very few hotels in the Chinese district, mostly they are concentrated near the Hua Lamphong railway station. And, honestly, there is not much point in staying in Chinatown, as tourist infrastructure is very poorly developed here, i.e., there are practically no travel agencies, tourist transfers are not offered on every corner, and so on.

Nevertheless, if you really need to, you can book hotels in Chinatown on these trusted sites:

• 🛌 Search hotels in Bangkok on Trip.com (👍 Mir cards work)
• 🛌 Hotels in Bangkok on Yandex.travel
• 🛌 Search hotels on Ostrovok.ru

Map of Chinatown district with attractions, hotels, transport

How to get to Chinatown district

Chinatown is home to the former main railway station of Bangkok, Hualamphong, and the MRT underground metro station of the same name. They are not in the center of this district, but it is easy to walk. The Hualamphong metro station can be reached directly or with transfers from any place in Bangkok where there is underground or elevated metro, as well as from Suvarnabhumi Airport on the airport metro with a transfer at Makkasan / Phetchaburi station.

On regular boats along the Chao Phraya River you can sail to the Rajchawongse or Marine Depot pier, and then 10 minutes to Yaowarat road.

From Don Mueang Airport to the district, you can take city buses 4, 27, 78, 108. Buses depart from the bus stop on the main road near the terminal. After exiting the terminal, you need to walk a little to the left following the signs, the stop is on the road on the airport side. Travel time, depending on traffic, from one and a half to two and a half hours.

Another option from Don Mueang is by train. Right across from the terminal, via an overhead crossing, is Don Muang Railway Station, from which at least 30 trains a day depart to the center of Bangkok to the main railway station Hualamphong, including night trains. They take just under an hour and cost only 5 baht. Train schedule here - railway.co.th, and more about how to get from Don Mueang Airport to Bangkok by train here.

If you decide to go to Chinatown by taxi, then it is important to use trips by meter, not at a fixed price. It's even better to use the Grab app, as you will immediately see the cost of the trip when ordering and avoid possible surprises with rigged meters, double rates for night trips, etc. However, keep in mind that you will have to pay extra for toll roads in addition to the meter or Grab calculated amount. For reference, the cost of a taxi trip to the Chinatown district:

• From Suvarnabhumi Airport – from 400 baht (4.45 USD)
• From Don Mueang Airport – from 450 baht (4.45 USD)
• From the Pratunam district – from 130 baht (4.45 USD)
• From the Khaosan district – from 100 baht (4.45 USD)

If you want a car and driver to be waiting for you upon your arrival at the airport, meeting you with a sign, you can order a ready tourist transfer to any place in Bangkok through the search form:

What to see in Chinatown

Chinatown itself is a very colorful district and an attraction. It's worth coming here and wandering through its narrow winding streets, observing the life of the Chinese community, shopping at endless street markets, and in the evening having a feast on exotic street food courts. In addition, there are several interesting temples in the district that are worth visiting:

• Temple of the Golden Buddha (Wat Trai Mit)

  

  This otherwise unremarkable temple could be just one of thousands of temples if it weren't for the world's largest solid gold statue of a seated Buddha. Thais say it is entirely made of gold, but no one has verified this. The statue weighs 5.5 tons and is over 3 meters high. The pupils of the Buddha's eyes are made of black Thai sapphires, and the whites are made of pearls. The age is about 700 years.

  The complex consists of several temple buildings and even a museum, and there are also two more temples nearby: the Golden Dragon Temple and the Lotus Temple. The museum consists of two floors and is dedicated to the history of the statue, and the ground floor tells the history of the Chinatown district where the temple is located. More about the Temple of the Golden Buddha.

  🕐 Opening hours: daily from 09:00 to 17:00.

  💵 Entrance fee / ticket price: entrance to the temple with the Golden Buddha (to the 4th floor) - 40 baht, entrance to the museum (2nd and 3rd floors) - 100 baht (2.97 USD).

  🚶 How to get there: The temple is located in the Chinatown district (Temple of the Golden Buddha on the map). The easiest way to get here is by the underground Bangkok MRT metro to MRT Hualamphong station (also the Bangkok railway station Hualamphong), and then a 5-minute walk.

• Crocodile Temple Wat Chakrawatrachawat Woramahawihan

  

  Wat Chakrawatrachawat Woramahawihan, also known as Wat Sam Pleum or simply Crocodile Temple – one of the most unusual temples in the capital. It does not shine with beauty and architecture, and is generally little known, but as the name suggests, it is inhabited by crocodiles, and they are real, living. There are 4 reptiles in total, and every day around 5 pm the monks feed them. To be fair, besides crocodiles, there is something to see here, plus it is one of the oldest temples in the capital. More about the crocodile temple.

  🕐 Opening hours: from 08:00 to 16:00, no days off.

  💵 Entrance fee / ticket price: free.

  🚶 How to get there: the crocodile temple is located in Chinatown (temple on the map), and finding it on your own is not so easy. The dense buildings and narrow streets of the Chinese quarter hide the temple until the very last moment, until you enter its gates.

• Chinese Temple Wat Mangkon Kamalawat

  

  Wat Mangkon Kamalawat (also Wat Leng Noei Yi) – this is the largest and most important temple of the Chinese community in Bangkok, adhering to the Mahayana Buddhist branch. It was built at the beginning of the 19th century in a classic Chinese architectural style.

  During religious and other holidays, colorful festivals are held here. It is not worth going here specifically to visit this temple, but if you are walking through Chinatown, be sure to drop by, it will be interesting. You can freely walk around the temple without restrictions and enter any rooms. More about the Chinese temple.

  🕐 Opening hours: from 08:00 to 16:00, no days off.

  💵 Entrance fee / ticket price: free.

  🚶 How to get there: The temple is located among the dense buildings of the Chinese quarter, and it is best to look for it using a navigator (temple on the map). The entrance to the temple is from Charoeng Krung road.

• Wat Liap Temple

  

  Wat Ratchaburana Ratchaworawiharn or Wat Liap – a fairly large temple complex in the center of Bangkok, not far from the Chinese district (Chinatown) and the flower market. It does not stand out for anything special, except for an unusual green stupa in the Khmer architectural style, i.e., shaped like a corn cob. Another notable feature is the interior painting by the monk and talented artist named Krua In Khong.

  The temple was built by an influential Chinese merchant in 1793 with the approval of King Rama I to house 162 important Buddha statues. During World War II, the temple was almost completely destroyed and even removed from the list of official royal temples, but in 1960 it was restored again. More about Wat Liap Temple.

  🕐 Opening hours: during the daytime.

  💵 Entrance fee / ticket price: free.

  🚶 How to get there: the temple is located in the center of Bangkok (temple on the map). You can get here by taxi, buses, or by boat on the Chao Phraya River to the Memorial Bridge pier, or take the underground MRT metro to the new Sanam Chai station, and then walk 20 minutes.

• Flower Market (Pak Khlong Talat)

  

  This is the largest flower market in Thailand. The stalls here are piled with roses, lilies, chrysanthemums familiar to us, exotic orchids, and other unknown flowers. Under the same roof there is also a vegetable market.

  It cannot be said that this place is a must-visit, but if you have already seen everything in Bangkok or want something unusual, it is worth dropping by. More about Bangkok's flower market.

  🕐 Opening hours: around the clock.

  💵 Entrance fee / ticket price: free.

  🚶 How to get there: the market is located on the bank of the Chao Phraya River on the outskirts of the Chinatown district (market on the map). You can get here without a taxi only by city buses or boats on the Chao Phraya River. You need to take boats on the orange line or boats without a flag to Yodpiman Pier. Also, recently you can take the underground MRT metro to the new Sanam Chai station and walk a bit. A trip to the market from the tourist district Khaosan Road will cost about 50-80 baht.

• Yodpiman Riverwalk

  

  Yodpiman Riverwalk – this is a small tourist recreation area, something like a pedestrian street or promenade with a couple of restaurants and cafes, and a great view of the Chao Phraya River. It is little known, and you rarely see foreigners here, but if you have absolutely nothing to do in Bangkok, you can drop by and have dinner in one of the restaurants overlooking the boats sailing on the river and the opposite bank lit up with lights. There are probably no other such quiet and romantic places in Bangkok. More about Yodpiman Riverwalk.

  🕐 Opening hours: around the clock, it's better to visit in the evening. Attention! The riverwalk is temporarily closed for renovation.

  💵 Entrance fee / ticket price: free.

  🚶 How to get there: Yodpiman Riverwalk is located on the bank of the Chao Phraya River in the Chinatown district (riverwalk on the map). The easiest way to get here is by regular boat on the Chao Phraya River to Yodpiman Pier (boats without a flag), or to Memorial Bridge and Rajinee (on boats with an orange flag), and a 5-minute walk. However, keep in mind that boats only run until 7 pm, after which you can only leave by taxi. Also, recently you can take the underground metro to the new Sanam Chai station and walk a bit.