Located on a one km strip adjacent to Charoenkrung Road, Chinatown in Bangkok city is as old as the city itself. Believed to have been settled in the 1780s the population of Chinatown was enhanced originally with traders from China and then with immigrants from China in the late 40s and early 50s. Crammed full of shops selling everything imaginable, Chinatown is a popular tourist destination busy with visitors looking for bargains and delectable Chinese street food. Famous also for the Chinese medicine shops and gold shops down Yaowarat Road, a steady stream of visitors passes through the huge Chinese ceremonial gates, the entrance to Chinatown, to negotiate its labyrinthine streets enticed by its reputation for cheap goods and bargains in gold.
Some of these shops are as old as the settlement itself. Over the years Chinatown has undergone changes, replacing the wooden two storied shophouses with concrete row houses and modern buildings. However about 14% of the buildings have been designated as historic landmarks and some of the buildings still retain their original character with retro furnishing and interior details.
Some of the more important landmarks in Chinatown include the Wat Traimit Temple home to the 3m high five tonne Buddha statue cast in solid gold. This temple attracts a steady stream of visitors as this is the world's largest gold Buddha statue. Another temple of interest is the Chinese Buddhist temple of Wat Leng Nui Yee. The old Chinese pharmacy down Sampaeng Lane is also a protected land mark.
Chinatown is at its best during the Chinese New Year celebrations when all the color and noise associated with the celebrations are at their height and the cultural aspects of this festival are on display.
Since it first opened, The Peninsula Bangkok has established itself as one of the city's finest hotels winning many awards for excellence as well as devoted fans. This luxury hotel Bangkok situated on the banks of the Chao Phraya River, offers its guests lovely vistas of the river and cityscapes from all its rooms facilitated by the unique wave shaped design of the 37 storey hotel. Rising from a lush tropical garden reminiscent of a resort, this Bangkok hotel is synonymous with style and elegance and provides its guests with modern and luxuriously appointed facilities and amenities to make their stay memorable.
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Pushpitha Wijesinghe is an experienced independent freelance writer. He specializes in providing a wide variety of content and articles related to the travel hospitality industry.