Bangkok, Thailand Travel Guide
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Bangkok’s Chinatown
Chinatown in Bangkok
Overview: A merchant settlement of the Chinese a few centuries back, Chinatown is one of the most bustling areas in Bangkok. Traffic is gridlocked on the streets and sometimes the sidewalks with people. It’s certainly worth a visit to see fresh food markets, fresh seafood stalls and of course, the myriad of the arts and crafts and other aspects of the area that reflect the preserved Chinese heritage. Most interesting are the locals who make Chinatown’s engine run.
Location: Bangkok’s Chinatown is located on Yaowarat Road and the Yaowarat area is located a couple of blocks east from the Chao Phraya River. Chinatown officially starts at the circular intersection of Yaowarat Road and Charoen Krung Road, where the Chinatown Gate or archway is located. This gate is not hard to spot; it’s huge.
Accessibility: The sidewalks are a bit inconsistent as ramps go. Vendors line the sidewalks and there are a lot – A LOT – of people in Bangkok’s Chinatown. Surprisingly, a lot of the streets (sois) branching off Yaowarat are easy to wheel on and maneuver around.
Getting There: My recommendation is to find a tuk-tuk or a cab to get you through the traffic. Then again, you’ll be dealing with a lot of smog.