Yaowarat : Bangkok's Chinatown

The largest Chinese community in Thailand, Yaowarat, or Bangkok's Chinatown, came into existence in 1862 when King Mongkut (Rama IV instructed the construction of a new road near the Chinese community in the Sampheng area, which became rather small. The new road made it more convenient for traveling around this area.

Yaowarat Road starts at Khlong Ong Ang in the outer City Wall, near Saphan Han, and ends at Wat Traimit, or Wat Sam Chin. King Mongkut named this new road Yaowarat.

Interestingly, good Chinese restaurants offering every kind of delicacy and food are found along the two sides of Yaowarat Road. Magnificent lanterns are decorated in front of the restaurants at nighttime. Popular dishes in this area include barbecued piglet, shark's ear soup, and dimsum.It was fashionable for wealthy young men in those days to frequent Chinese restaurants there. For lower-income earners, they might have noodles, dried fish maw soup, or other dishes in the same compound.

Yaowarat was known for striptease dance in the past. Chalermburi was the most modern cinema where movies were shown every evening. Anyone wishing to have recreation might visit a teashop there for both tea and a relaxing massage.

For generations, numerous gold shops located along this road have made a name for Yaowarat, which still retains its reputation for gold trade. Gold products here are recognized for their high standard and quality.

Today, Yaowarat remains a major economic road in Bangkok and the largest Chinese cultural center in Thailand.