The Chinatown district is one of the oldest areas of Bangkok as Chinese merchants were originally moved to this area in the early 1780's when Bangkok was founded. One of the main streets of this area, Charoen Krung. Chinatown remains a pretty interesting area to visit.
What to do
China Town : Walking Tour
The Lonely Planet guidebook for Thailand recommends two walking tours for Bangkok. This first route meanders through Bangkok's busy Chinese and Indian market districts and is best explored on foot since vehicular traffic in the area is in almost constant gridlock. Depending on your pace and shopping intentions, this lengthy route could take from one to three hours.
Yaowarat Road itself is lined with many gold shops, and Chinatown is indeed one of the better places to shop for gold. However, just off the road in either direction is a whole other world where, it is said, you can find just about anything.
Be forewarned that the journey should only be undertaken by those who can withstand extended crowd contact as well as the sometimes unpleasant sights and smells of a traditional fresh market. The reward for tolerating this attack on the sense consists of numerous glimpses into the 'real' day-to-day Bangkok, away from the glittering facade of department stores and office buildings along Bangkok's main avenues - not to mention the opportunity for fabulous bargains. (If you plan to buy anything, you'd better bring along either a phrasebook or an interpreter as very little English is spoken in these areas.)
The walking tour starts at Wat Mangon Kamalwat, a Chinese temple on Charoen Krung Road (New Road). Heading 100 metres south west down a small lane, you cross Yaowarat Road which is the main street for Chinatown. Keep going until you meet the famous Sampeng Lane. For this tour you turn right but there are plenty of other markets in the area to explore. Sampeng is a good place to buy a variety of cheap products. The tour finishes at Pahurat Clothes market.
What to see
Phahurat Indian Market
This is the place to come to buy fabrics and to enjoy Indian cuisine. Phahurat Market is a small Indian community on the fringe of Chinatown. Most of the merchants are Indian Sikhs who are involved in the textile trade.
They have a unique way of greeting female shoppers, calling each one Khunying which is a Thai royal title similar to the English Lady. Their selection of fabrics is the best in Bangkok, particularly the Indian cottons and silk.
There are many vendors selling ready made goods including shoulder bags which are at unbelievable low prices.
The Indian community in Thailand shops here for the essential wedding gowns and wedding souvenirs.
In every nook and cranny there is someone doing business. This may be selling trinkets, tour packages to India, household items, spices and delicious Indian desserts.
Wander off the main streets and into the many alleyways, you could come across surprisingly good Indian food.
The Thai Sikh community has a major temple, Siri Guru Singh Sabha close to the Phahurat area. How to get there: Bus routes 7, 25,40, 53, 56, 507
Wat Trai Mit
Have you ever seen five and a half tons of gold? Wat Trai Mit, near the Bangkok Railway Station at Hua Lamphong, is home to the famous Golden Buddha which is 3 metres high.
The Golden Buddha is believed to be 700 to 800 years old as it is in the Mara attitude, typical of the Sukhothai era. It was installed at Wat Phrayakrai in the Yannawa area of Bangkok during the reign of King Rama III where it stayed until 1931.
The temple had fallen out of use and was abandoned so the Ecclesiastical Commission had it relocated at Wat Trai Mit. At this time, no one seemed to know that it was made of pure gold.
Then in 1955, Reverend Phra Visutha-thibordee, the presiding abbot at the temple had supervised the construction of the temple building to house the Buddha. When it was being moved into its new position, the covering plaster was damaged revealing what was inside -Buddha image cast in 18 carat gold.
It is believed that the original Golden Buddha was disguised under the plaster covering to hide it from enemies during the Ayutthaya period. Photographs of different stages of the plaster removal are displayed in the Wihan. How to get there: Metro to Hua Lamphong Station.
Bus routes 4, 7, 21, 25, 501, 511, 513 Open: Daily from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Admission: 20 baht Tel: 0 2225 9775
Where to dine
Yaowarat, Bangkok's Chinatown never sleeps. The area houses some of the best and most expensive Chinese restaurants in the city, along with many of the best and cheapest food stalls, especially at night. The restaurants mostly specialise in southern Chinese cooking, withnoodles, seafood and, at lunchtime, dim sum dumplings dominating the menus. Large restaurants line the bustling Yaowarat Road, but venturing into sois, or lanes, will lead you to less impressive yet equally enjoyable establishments. At night the streets electricfies the almosphere of the streets. Ad Hoc seafood stalls line the sidewalks, drawing such crowds that late-comers have to wait for seats.
Subway goes to Hua Lamphong station which is the nearest station to Yaowarat in a walking distance or bus (routes 1, 4, 7, 25, 53, 501) runs through the road.
China Town : Walking Tour
Be forewarned that the journey should only be undertaken by those who can withstand extended crowd contact as well as the sometimes unpleasant sights and smells of a traditional fresh market. The reward for tolerating this attack on the sense consists of numerous glimpses into the 'real' day-to-day Bangkok, away from the glittering facade of department stores and office buildings along Bangkok's main avenues - not to mention the opportunity for fabulous bargains. (If you plan to buy anything, you'd better bring along either a phrasebook or an interpreter as very little English is spoken in these areas.)
Phahurat Indian Market 
The Indian community in Thailand shops here for the essential wedding gowns and wedding souvenirs.
Wat Trai Mit 
