Explore Bangkok’s Chinatown district

Bangkok’s Chinatown (known locally as Yaowarat) is one of the city’s oldest and most atmospheric neighbourhoods. Established in the late 18th century, this historic district blends Thai and Chinese heritage in a dense grid of shophouses, gold shops, temples, markets and neon-lit food streets.

By day, you’ll find incense curling through temple courtyards and merchants trading in traditional herbal remedies. By night, Yaowarat Road transforms into Bangkok’s most electric culinary strip, with woks firing, seafood grilling and crowds gathering under glowing red signs.

Creative Chinatown

In 2019, Bangkok was listed as a UNESCO Creative City of Design. Wandering around the streets and sois of Chinatown and nearby areas like Talad Noi, Bang Rak and Charoen Krung, you can experience creativity around almost every corner. Tasteful street murals brighten up walls, heritage homes have been restored, and artisan coffee shops and eateries make for the ideal refreshment stop.

The southern entrance to Chinatown is marked by an ornate gate erected in 1999 in honour of HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX). The gate sits on a roundabout known locally as Wongwian Odeon and makes for a good photo opportunity before walking to nearby Wat Traimit or Yaowarat Road.

Part of the Chinatown experience is walking around the sois and stumbling across fabulous street art. Authorities in Bangkok have invited local and international artists to create the murals that can be found at locations in and around Chinatown, including Talad Noi, Songwat Road, Charoen Krung, and the walls outside the Portuguese Embassy and French Embassy.

Look out too for the Chinatown Transformers (see locations in the map below). These quirky additions to the area have been cleverly created from scrap metal by local artists.

Take a break from the heat in the Thailand Creative & Design Centre (TCDC). Located in the historic Grand Post Office building, the space hosts exhibitions, a library and a co-working area.

Warehouse 30 is another interesting venue with the 1940s warehouse buildings repurposed as a community arts space featuring galleries, food and a variety of vendors. If you’re taking the Chao Phraya River boat, you can also call in to River City at the Si Phraya ferry pier. Alongside places to eat and drink, you can explore art galleries and exhibitions in air-conditioned comfort.

15 of the best museums and art galleries in Bangkok

Spiritual Chinatown

The Chinatown district is home to several shrines and temples worth exploring, with Wat Mangkon Kamalawat being the spiritual heart of Bangkok’s Chinese-Thai community. During Chinese New Year and the Vegetarian Festival, devotees gather here to pray and make offerings.

Wat Traimit is home to the world’s largest solid gold Buddha statue. Weighing 5.5 tonnes, the statue dates back to the Sukhothai period, but its true value was hidden by a stucco covering. When the statue was moved in 1955, the plaster covering was accidentally broken, and the gold statue beneath was revealed. The temple is home to a museum which details the history of the statue. You can also visit the Chinatown Heritage Centre at the temple with exhibitions detailing the history of early Chinese immigrants in the Yaowarat area.

Just to the south of Chinatown, the Holy Rosary Church (also known as Kalawar Church) is a Catholic church that was originally established on this site in 1769 by Portuguese Catholics who had moved here after the fall of Ayutthaya. The church building seen today was constructed in the 1890s.

The creativity and contrast of this district is neatly summed up on the roundabout outside the church. This is where you will find the Bumblebee Transformer. The striking metal sculpture may not be spiritual in the traditional sense, but it does show the creative spirit of this area.

Foodie Chinatown

In a city renowned for its food, Chinatown is regarded by many local experts as the best area in Bangkok for foodies. While there are upscale venues to dine, the charm of eating in Chinatown is the street food. Expect plastic stools, shared tables and limited English menus. Bring cash, arrive hungry and embrace the energy.

Dishes to look out for include:

• Guay jub: Peppery rolled rice noodle soup with crispy pork.
• Khao man gai: Hainanese-style chicken and rice.
• Hoi tod: Crispy oyster omelette cooked in a blazing hot wok.
• Grilled seafood: Prawns, squid and crab sold by weight.
• Dim sum: Cantonese-style steamed baskets.
• Chinese herbal desserts: Sweet soups and cooling jelly-based treats.

You can wander around Chinatown at any time of the day and enjoy street food. Evenings get busy along Yaowarat Road, but there are plenty of food options to choose from, so it’s just a case of pulling up a seat wherever takes your fancy and ordering the dish you like the look of. If it’s your first time in Bangkok, this can be a little intimidating, but try not to worry and just go with the flow.

Whether you’re visiting Bangkok for the first time or the tenth time, joining a food tour is a great way to sample local dishes and discover places you may otherwise have missed. There are several companies to choose from, including:

• A Chef’s Tour
• Bangkok Street Food Tour
• Expique

And for a bus ride with a difference, sample Michelin-style fine dining on board a luxury ‘bustaurant’ while cruising through Chinatown:
Bangkok Bustaurant
Thai Bus Food Tour

Nightlife Chinatown

While many people head to Chinatown in the evening just for the food, there is a small but lively nightlife scene. Centred around Soi Nana (not to be confused with the other Soi Nana in Sukhumvit), this area is home to classy cocktail bars, gin joints and live music.

Teens of Thailand is a popular gin-focused bar, while Asia Today creates innovative cocktails using Thai ingredients like honey and herbs. For a quirky experience with lots of local flair, don’t miss TEP Bar, where you can listen to traditional Thai music in an upbeat contemporary setting. A short walk away, the always enjoyable Brown Sugar showcases a mix of jazz, blues and popular tunes. Other venues worth a visit include:
Bar Near Me
Independence Cocktail Bar
Wallflowers Cafe

7 of the best live music venues in Bangkok

Where to stay

Staying in Chinatown places you within walking distance of food, temples and the MRT metro. While there isn’t the same choice of hotels you will find in areas like Sukhumvit or Silom, the hotels you do find here tend to have more character and charm.

For an upmarket stay, The Mustang Blu is a stylish choice and places you close to the MRT metro at Hua Lamphong and Soi Nana for music and drinks. In the heart of Chinatown on Yaowarat Road, Shanghai Mansion is another option for a comfortable stay in a boutique heritage hotel, while Loy La Long on the river is another boutique hotel packed with character. Other solid options include:
Baan 2459 Hotel
Hotel Royal Bangkok @ Chinatown
The Unforgotten B&B

6 of the best areas to stay in Bangkok

Travel tips

The Chinatown area can be reached by MRT metro or river ferry. Taking the metro, you can use the MRT Blue Line and get off at Hua Lamphong (Station BL28) for Wat Traimit and Soi Nana or Wat Mangkon Station (Station BL29) for the central Chinatown area. Wat Mangkon station features colourful artwork that pays homage to the heritage of the area.

Travelling along the Chao Phraya River is a scenic option. Catch the boat from the central Sathorn Pier (adjacent to Saphan Taksin BTS Skytrain station) for the short trip north to Chinatown. The main pier for Chinatown is Ratchawong (Pier N5), but you can also get off at Si Phraya (Pier N3) or Marine Department (Pier N4) to explore Charoen Krung and Talad Noi before walking to the main Chinatown district.

Best ways to travel around Bangkok

Map of locations

You may also enjoy: