Samphanthawong is one of the 50 districts (Khet) of
BangkokBangkok is the capital, largest urban area and primary city of Thailand. Known in Thai as Krung Thep Mahanakhon , or กรุงเทพฯ Krung Thep for short, it was a small trading post at the mouth of the Chao Phraya River during the Ayutthaya Kingdom. It came to the forefront of Siam when it was given the...
,
ThailandThe Kingdom of Thailand is an independent country that lies in the heart of Southeast Asia.It is bordered to the north by Laos and Burma, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the west by the Andaman Sea and Burma...
. Regarded as Bangkok's
ChinatownA Chinatown is a section of an urban area with a large number of Chinese residents, usually outside of Greater China. Chinatowns are present throughout the world, including those in East Asia, Southeast Asia, the Americas, Australasia, and Europe....
, it is the smallest district in area but has the highest population density of Bangkok's districts. Neighboring districts are (from north clockwise)
Pom Prap Sattru PhaiPom Prap Sattru Phai is one of the 50 districts of Bangkok, Thailand. Neighboring districts are Dusit, Ratchathewi, Pathum Wan, Bang Rak, Samphanthawong, and Phra Nakhon.-History:...
,
Bang RakBang Rak or Bangrak is one of the 50 districts of Bangkok, Thailand. The district is bounded by four other districts : Pathum Wan, Sathon, Khlong San , and Samphanthawong. It was established in 1912.-History:There are two theories about the district name Bang Rak...
,
Khlong SanKhlong San is one of the 50 districts of Bangkok, Thailand. Located on the west bank of Chao Phraya River, neighboring districts across the river are Phra Nakhon, Samphanthawong, Bang Rak, Sathon, and Bang Kho Laem...
(across Chao Phraya River), and
Phra NakhonPhra Nakhon is one of the 50 districts of Bangkok, Thailand. It is the central district of Bangkok, including the Rattanakosin Island...
.
The area has been a Chinese community since the early days of Bangkok. Originally living in what is now the Phra Nakhon district, they were relocated here when the capital was set up.
Samphanthawong is one of the 50 districts (Khet) of
BangkokBangkok is the capital, largest urban area and primary city of Thailand. Known in Thai as Krung Thep Mahanakhon , or กรุงเทพฯ Krung Thep for short, it was a small trading post at the mouth of the Chao Phraya River during the Ayutthaya Kingdom. It came to the forefront of Siam when it was given the...
,
ThailandThe Kingdom of Thailand is an independent country that lies in the heart of Southeast Asia.It is bordered to the north by Laos and Burma, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the west by the Andaman Sea and Burma...
. Regarded as Bangkok's
ChinatownA Chinatown is a section of an urban area with a large number of Chinese residents, usually outside of Greater China. Chinatowns are present throughout the world, including those in East Asia, Southeast Asia, the Americas, Australasia, and Europe....
, it is the smallest district in area but has the highest population density of Bangkok's districts. Neighboring districts are (from north clockwise)
Pom Prap Sattru PhaiPom Prap Sattru Phai is one of the 50 districts of Bangkok, Thailand. Neighboring districts are Dusit, Ratchathewi, Pathum Wan, Bang Rak, Samphanthawong, and Phra Nakhon.-History:...
,
Bang RakBang Rak or Bangrak is one of the 50 districts of Bangkok, Thailand. The district is bounded by four other districts : Pathum Wan, Sathon, Khlong San , and Samphanthawong. It was established in 1912.-History:There are two theories about the district name Bang Rak...
,
Khlong SanKhlong San is one of the 50 districts of Bangkok, Thailand. Located on the west bank of Chao Phraya River, neighboring districts across the river are Phra Nakhon, Samphanthawong, Bang Rak, Sathon, and Bang Kho Laem...
(across Chao Phraya River), and
Phra NakhonPhra Nakhon is one of the 50 districts of Bangkok, Thailand. It is the central district of Bangkok, including the Rattanakosin Island...
.
History
The area has been a Chinese community since the early days of Bangkok. Originally living in what is now the Phra Nakhon district, they were relocated here when the capital was set up. The narrow Sampheng Road (สำเพ็ง, now called
Wanit I Road, วานิช 1) was the district's main street until
Yaowarat Road was constructed in 1892 during the reign of
King ChulalongkornPhra Bat Somdet Phra Poramintharamaha Chulalongkorn Phra Chunla Chom Klao Chao Yu Hua , or Rama V was the fifth monarch of Siam under the House of Chakri. He was known to the Siamese of his time as Phra Phuttha Chao Luang . He is considered one of the greatest kings of Siam...
. Nowadays, Yaowarat Road remains the heart of Bangkok's Chinatown.
The area now comprising Samphanthawong district was once three separate
amphoeAn amphoe is the second level administrative subdivision of Thailand. Usually translated as district, amphoe make up the provinces. Amphoe are further subdivided into tambon....
s, Samphanthawong, Sam Yaek, and Chakkrawat established on 15 October 1915 where old amphoes were overhauled and replaced by 25 new amphoes to cover inner part of Bangkok. Amphoe Sam Yaek and Amphoe Chakkrawat were later merged into Amphoe Samphanthawong. The amphoe became Khet Samphanthawong in 1972. It is believed that the name Samphanthawong was derived from Wat Samphanthawongsaram, the temple near the district office when it was first built. Now the district office has moved to Yotha Road in Talat Noi sub-district.
Yaowarat Road
Yaowarat RoadBangkok's Chinatown is located on Yaowarat Road in Samphanthawong district.The Chinatown is an old business centre covering a large area around Yaowarat and Charoen Krung Road. There are many small streets and alleys full of shops and vendors selling all types of goods...
(เยาวราช) is about 1.5 km in length. Along both sides, many gold shops and all kinds of Chinese restaurants:
noodleA noodle is food made from unleavened dough that is cooked in a boiling liquid. Depending upon the type, noodles may be dried or refrigerated before cooking. The word noodle derives from the German Nudel and may be related to the Latin word nodus...
,
riceRice is the seed of a monocot plant Oryza sativa, of the grass family . As a cereal grain, it is the most important staple food for a large part of the world's human population, especially in East, South, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Latin America, and the West Indies...
,
dim sumDim sum is the name for a Chinese cuisine which involves a wide range of light dishes served alongside Chinese tea. Yum cha is the term used to describe the entire dining experience, especially in contemporary Cantonese...
,
bird's nest soupBird's nest soup is a delicacy in Chinese cuisine. A few species of swift, the cave swifts, are renowned for building the saliva nests used to produce the unique texture of this soup....
, etc. can be found. More shops, especially those selling fruit and Chinese traditional medicine, can be found in the small lanes branching off the main road.
Recently, a gate was built to celebrate
King Bhumibolclass="infobox vcard" style="font-size: 88%; text-align: left; width: 22em;"|-! colspan="2" style="background: #ffff00; color: #000000; font-size: 120%; text-align: center;" class="fn"|...
's 72nd birthday. It is located on
Odeon Circle (named after a cinema that once stood nearby) at one end of Yaowarat Road.
Temples and Shrines
Some of famous Thai Buddhist
templeA temple is a structure reserved for religious or spiritual activities, such as prayer and sacrifice, or analogous rites. A templum constituted a sacred precinct as defined by a priest, or augur. It has the same root as the word "template," a plan in preparation of the building that was marked out...
s in the district are:
- Wat Traimit or Wat Trimit (วัดไตรมิตรวิทยารามวรวิหาร) is known for its giant Buddha image made from solid gold and weighing about 5.5 tons. The gold was hidden under plaster for centuries until being rediscoved in 1954.
- Wat Pathum Khongkha (วัดปทุมคงคา) is an ancient wat
A wat is a monastery temple in Cambodia, Thailand, or Laos. The word "wat" means "school."- Introduction :...
, renovated and renamed from Wat Sampheng during King Rama I period.
- Wat Chakkrawat (วัดจักรวรรดิราชาวาสมหาวิหาร) or Wat Sam Pluem (วัดสามปลื้ม)
Many Chinese temples and
shrineA shrine is a holy or sacred place, which is dedicated to a specific deity, ancestor, hero, martyr, saint or similar figure of awe and respect, at which they are venerated or worshipped. Shrines often contain idols, relics, or other such objects associated with the figure being venerated...
s are also here, including:
- Leng Buai Ia Shrine (ศาลเจ้าเล่งบ๊วยเอี๊ยะ), the oldest shrine in the area, about 300 years old.
- Ah Nia Geng Shrine (ศาลเจ้าอาเนี้ยเก็ง) or Chue Pui Nia Nia Shrine (ศาลเจ้าฉื่อปุยเนี่ยเนี้ย), a shrine to Kuan Yin
Guanyin is the bodhisattva associated with compassion as venerated by East Asian Buddhists, usually as a female...
.
- Guan U Shrine (ศาลเจ้าพ่อกวนอู), shrine to Guan Yu
Guan Yu was a general serving under the warlord Liu Bei during the late Eastern Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms era of China. He played a significant role in the civil war that led to the collapse of the Han Dynasty and the establishment of the Kingdom of Shu, of which Liu Bei was the first...
and his horse Sek Tao.
- Thien Fah Foundation (มูลนิธิเทียนฟ้า), the first foundation registered in Thailand, established to provide health care for the poor. Inside there is a Kuan Yin
Guanyin is the bodhisattva associated with compassion as venerated by East Asian Buddhists, usually as a female...
shrine.
- Bunyasamakhom Shrine (ศาลเจ้าโรงเจบุญสมาคม)
The most famous Chinese temple in the area, Wat Leng Noei Yi (วัดเล่งเน่ยยี่, officially named
Wat Mangkon Kamalawat, วัดมังกรกมลาวาส), lies just outside Samphanthawong boundary in the neighboring Pom Prap Sattru Phai District.
Other Places
There are other places of historic interest in Samphanthawong.
Wat Mae Phra Luk Prakham (วัดแม่พระลูกประคำ) or
Holy Rosary Church, located on the bank of Chao Phraya River, is one of the oldest Catholic church in Bangkok. It is more widely known by its older name
Wat Kalawar (วัดกาลหว่าร์), named after
CalvaryCalvary or Golgotha are the English language/Western Christian names given to the site, outside of ancient Jerusalem’s early 1st century walls, ascribed to the crucifixion of Jesus...
. It was first built in 1787 during King Rama I period by settlers who migrated from Ayuthaya when the city was lost to Burma. The current building was constructed in 1890.
Upriver from the church is Thailand's first commercial bank building. The building was constructed in 1904 and called
Book Club (บุคคลัภย์). It now houses a branch of
Siam Commercial BankEstablished by Royal Charter in 1907 as the first Thai Bank, Siam Commercial bank today provides a full range of financial services through its branch & ATM network, and its business relationship centers...
. Downriver from Holy Rosary Church is
River City, a shopping center specializing in arts and antiques.
There are numerous markets around Samphanthawong. There are many shops and stalls along Yaowarat, Sampheng (now Wanit 1), and Charoen Krung roads, especially at night and during weekends.
Saphan Lek, the older name of the bridge crossing Khlong Ong Ang canal on
Charoen Krung RoadCharoen Krung ) is a major road in Bangkok that runs roughly parallel to the Chao Phraya river. Part of it is considered Chinatown along with Yaowarat Road, part of it is closest major road to Phahurat , its northern terminus is the Grand Palace, it runs through Nakhon Kasem and Khlong Thom...
, is a narrow strip along both sides of Khlong Ong Ang with lots of small shops selling goods. It is particularly known as a center for game consoles. Nearby is
Woeng Nakhon KasemNakhon Kasem is a market in Samphanthawong district, Bangkok, Thailand. Popularly known as Thieves Market because in past it were mostly stolen goods which were sold there. Nowadays mostly imitation antiques, old furniture and brassware are sold there. This market is located at Charoen Krung Road....
(เวิ้งนครเกษม) or
thieves market. The
Khlong Thom Market (in
Pom Prap Sattru PhaiPom Prap Sattru Phai is one of the 50 districts of Bangkok, Thailand. Neighboring districts are Dusit, Ratchathewi, Pathum Wan, Bang Rak, Samphanthawong, and Phra Nakhon.-History:...
district), a famous market for low cost goods and electronics, is a large area of several blocks on the opposite side of Charoen Krung Road. The small lanes inside the blocks are fully packed with stalls operating on Saturday nights till Sunday mornings.
Festivals
Several Chinese festivals are held here yearly. Yaowarat Road is often closed to traffic during these periods.
- Chinese New Year
Chinese New Year or Spring Festival is the most important of the traditional Chinese holidays. It is often called the Lunar New Year, especially by people in mainland China and Taiwan. The festival traditionally begins on the first day of the first month in the Chinese calendar and ends on the...
Festival (เทศกาลตรุษจีน) is the biggest one with dragon danceDragon dance is a form of traditional dance and performance in Chinese culture. Like the lion dance it is most often seen in festive celebrations. Many Chinese people often use the term "Descendants of the Dragon" as a sign of ethnic identity, as part of a trend started in the 1970s, however the...
s, lion danceLion dance is a form of traditional dance in Chinese culture, in which performers mimic a lion's movements in a lion costume .Asiatic lions found in nearby India are the ones depicted in the Chinese culture.-History:...
s, and people dressed in red.
- Mid-Autumn Festival
The Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Moon Festival, Zhongqiu Festival, or in Chinese, Zhongqiujie , is a popular harvest festival celebrated by Chinese people and Vietnamese people , dating back over 3,000 years to moon worship in China's Shang Dynasty...
(เทศกาลไหว้พระจันทร์) with shops selling mooncakeMooncakes are Chinese pastries traditionally eaten during the Mid-Autumn Festival / Zhongqiu Festival. The festival is for lunar worship and moon watching; moon cakes are regarded as an indispensable delicacy on this occasion...
s.
- Chinese Vegetarian Food Festival (เทศกาลกินเจ) (1st to 9th day of 9th lunar month
In lunar calendars, a lunar month is the time between two identical syzygies . There are many variations. In Middle-Eastern and European traditions, the month starts when the young crescent moon becomes first visible at evening after conjunction with the Sun 1 or 2 days before that evening...
) is a nine-day period when many Chinese practice vegetarianism and dress in white. All over Yaowarat Road, vegetarian food stalls with yellow flags and the Chinese character 齋 in red can be seen. Some foods look like meat but are made from soybeans.
Administration
The district is sub-divided into 3 sub-districts (
Kwaeng).
| 1. |
Chakkrawat |
จักรวรรดิ |
| 2. |
Samphanthawong |
สัมพันธวงศ์ |
| 3. |
Talat Noi |
ตลาดน้อย |
External links