Best Things To Do in Chinatown Bangkok

Bangkok's Chinatown is absolutely fascinating, full of life and culture. Here you can find the largest Chinese community in all of Thailand. Enjoy the best things to see and do in Bangkok, from exploring ancient temples, colourful markets and restaurants to shops that have been in the same place for generations. Bangkok's Chinatown is also an ideal place to learn about the rich history of Chinese culture in Thailand.

This neighbourhood has been home to the Chinese community in Bangkok for over two centuries and is considered the epicentre of Chinese culture and tradition in the country. As you walk through the streets of Chinatown, you will see the Chinese influence in the architecture of the buildings, food, religion and cultural celebrations. So if you are looking for an authentic and exciting experience in Bangkok, Chinatown is the perfect place to start.

The Kwan Yin Shrine is a real hidden gem in the heart of Chinatown, and although it is not often mentioned in the guidebooks, it is one of the most picturesque places in the area and one of the best temples in Bangkok.

Kwan Yin is the Chinese Goddess of Mercy, this deity is honoured here with a 900-year-old statue that stands on a beautiful altar. At festive times, the shrine is filled with incense and smoke, creating a mystical atmosphere that will leave you in awe. The Kwan Yin Shrine is part of the Thien Fah Foundation, which is the oldest charity group in Bangkok, and the surrounding buildings house facilities that provide free medical care to the poor and homeless.

If you wish to visit the shrine, an easy way to get there is to take the MRT underground to Hualamphong Station. From there, walk to Odeon Circle, past the temple of the golden Buddha, Wat Traimit. Then turn right onto Yaowarat Road and you will find the shrine just to your left. Don't miss this wonderful temple if you are passing through Bangkok's Chinatown.

The vibrant Yaowarat Road, located in the heart of Chinatown, is lined with restaurants and is considered a culinary epicentre. This place offers a wide variety of dishes, especially seafood.

The neon lights, traditional Chinese red lanterns and the crowds that gather here to eat, drink and stroll create a lively and vibrant atmosphere. At night, Chinatown transforms into a completely different scene from the bustling market during the day. One thing to note is that the small side streets are home to some of the best restaurants in the area.

If you're looking for the best combination of atmosphere and delicious food, it's definitely worth visiting Yaowarat Road in Chinatown at night. And if culinary interests interest you, don't hesitate to join one of Bangkok's best food tours.

Wat Mangkon Kamalawa, also known by its original name Wat Leng Noei Yi, is the most revered and significant temple in Bangkok's Chinatown. This temple worships Buddhist, Taoist and Confucian deities, and is packed with worshippers during major festivals such as Chinese New Year and the Vegetarian Festival.

On a visit here you will see lotus flowers floating in small ponds, and devotees waving incense sticks and forming long lines to receive blessings from the monks. Although the temple appears modest from the entrance on the busy Charoen Krung Road, it reveals its beauty once you enter. Admission is free.

To reach the temple, it is recommended to take Padungdao or Pleng Nam Road to Charoen Krung from Yaowarat Road. The temple is on the right side of Charoen Krung, but you may need to ask locals for help, as it doesn't look like a temple from the outside.

Another highlight of Bangkok's Chinatown is Trok Issaranuphap, a market away from the malls and modern skyscrapers. It is located on a narrow lane connecting Chinatown's main thoroughfares, Charoen Krung Road and Yaowarat, and starts just south of Mangkon Kamalawat Temple.

At Trok Issaranuphap market you'll find all kinds of food and ingredients. It's also a great place to take some amazing photographs, full of colour and local atmosphere.

If you're interested in discovering and buying some strange products and foods, this place is worth exploring. You may also be interested in taking one of Bangkok's best cooking classes, as many of these include a visit to the markets prior to the class.

Trok Issaranuphap is an entertaining place and a representative sample of what Chinatown is all about. Don't hesitate to visit if you are interested in international cuisine.

Sampeng Lane is a narrow alley that runs parallel to Yaowarat Road, and is known for its cheap clothing and accessories market that attracts crowds of young people. In the past, this lane, also known as Soi Wanit 1, used to be lined with brothels and opium dens.

A walk down Sampeng Lane is an experience not for the claustrophobic as it is excessively narrow. Motorbike traffic and the sheer number of people make it even more chaotic.

Despite this, the market is neatly divided into sections, with the eastern end focusing on accessories such as jewellery, shoes and watches, while the central section offers ceramic toys, lanterns and all manner of Chinese goods. The west end of the market has Indian stalls selling silk and other fabrics.

Sampeng Lane is a must-visit if you want to experience a traditional Chinese market in the back alleys of Bangkok. To avoid the crowds, I recommend going early in the morning when it is not so crowded.

In Chinatown you have the opportunity to attend a performance of authentic Chinese opera. This is indeed an artistic and cultural experience, with roots dating back to the Tang Dynasty.

Chinese opera is one of the oldest performing arts in the world, combining literature and musical performance to offer a truly engaging spectacle. With astonishing attention to detail a vital part of the show, performers spend hours elaborately creating and characterising characters. These shows can last several hours, combining myths, morals and ancient entertainment.

For the best experience, I recommend attending Chinese opera during the Vegetarian Festival, Chinese New Year or other religious holidays in and around Chinatown. On these special dates there are performances that are even more remarkable.

At Wat Traimit, a curiously designed modern museum has recently been added , detailing the history of Chinese migration to Thailand.

Presentations in the museum use a variety of ingenious audio-visual and high-tech displays to make the historical journey of the Chinese and the rise of Bangkok's Chinatown an interesting and informative experience.

Here you will see old photos of the early years of the neighbourhood, scenes of typical Chinese houses, model depictions of scenes, and many life-size models doing hard labour of the time, giving you a very realistic picture of the difficult life of the early immigrants.

So if you are interested in learning about the history of the Chinese community in Thailand as well as the rise of Chinatown, the Heritage Centre Museum in Yaowarat is definitely the best choice.

A secret and surprising place in Chinatown is the Sou Heng Tai Villa. The site has remained in the original owner's family until the eighth generation. This Bangkok treasure boasts stunning teakwood architecture, which is one of the last examples of a traditional Chinese Hokkien mansion in Bangkok city.

The best time to visit is after dark, when the lights come on and the house comes alive with its nostalgic charm and exquisite handicrafts. There is also a swimming pool in the garden, which is used for the owner's diving school. Admission is free, but you can help by buying a drink or a snack at the small café they have opened to help maintain this wonderful place.

To access Sou Heng Tai, I suggest you take the Chao Phraya River ferry to the Department of Marine pier, walk to Soi Wanit 2 and turn left. Then, head to your right on San Chao Rong Kueuak and continue parallel to the river. After the other block, you will find the villa on the right hand side

.

Visiting the Wat Traimit temple in Chinatown will give you the opportunity to admire the seated golden Buddha, which is the largest image of this deity internationally, and at the same time the largest gold statue in the world, worth an estimated US$250 million and weighing five and a half tons. Although the origins of the statue are unclear, it is believed to be from the Sukhothai period in the 14th century.

This temple attracts thousands of local worshippers every day, and there is a truly mystical atmosphere inside , especially during festive events such as the Chinese New Year or the Vegetarian Festival. During these celebrations, the temple becomes even more impressive, with colourful altars, papier-mâché dragons and crowds of people coming to pray and make wishes to the Buddha.

If you are interested in delving deeper into Thai culture and the Buddhist religion, Wat Traimit is the perfect place to do so. The architecture and decor of the temple are exquisite, offering a glimpse into Thailand's history and heritage. It has beautiful architecture and opulent décor, with features including intricate wall frescoes and hand-painted ceilings.

Chinatown is a perfect place to enjoy the most colourful and original street art. Years ago, Bangkok was a rather drab and artless capital, but the 2016 BUKRUK Urban Arts Festival brought artists from all over the world to the city as part of a project to visually enhance the city and make it stand out as the capital of Asian art.

So stroll through some of Chinatown's small alleyways and you can enjoy many of these works of urban art, which enhance the surroundings. Among these, don't miss Trok San Chao Rong Kueak, located near the river off Soi Wanit 1 Road, where you'll see realistic murals that blend in perfectly with the neighbourhood. The windows, doors and bicycles painted on the walls are very difficult to distinguish from the real thing.

Also, on Charoenkrung Soi 28, 30 and 32, which end at the river, you will find works by Korean artist Daehyun Kim. There the painter has depicted a beautifully detailed black and white traditional oriental scene from his Moonassi series. In the same region, Romanian-born illustrators and muralists Saddo and Thai artist Bon have created two huge murals, including the iconic Pukruk bird on a unicycle.

All in all, the streets of Chinatown are filled with street art that enhances what is already one of Bangkok's most enjoyable areas to stroll around. Don't forget to take your camera with you, as well as the desire to enjoy some good food, as there are plenty of street food stalls, as well as excellent Thai and Chinese restaurants to visit after your tour!