Chinatown is a bustling, crowded area where you can buy just about anything day or night.

Yaowarat is what the Thais call Chinatown and purely Chinese community has lived here for many years. The inhabitants, of course, concider themselves Thai now and many can no longer speak Chinese, but a look at their faces will tell you their origin. It is an interesting place to explore. Two of Chinatown's symbolic roads are Yaowarat Road leading westwards from near Wat Trimit, and Sampheng Lane, running parallel south of Yaowarat.

Busy Yaowarat Road is Chinatown's main street, and has surely one of the greatest concentration of gold shops anywhere. Reflecting the love of gold, the Thai-Chinese are often thought to have. There are dozen of shops, all dazzingly brightly coloured in red and gold, with mainly very good prices. Most of this gold is 99% pure. Thais buy it not only for decorative purposes but also as savings against a rainy day, because gold shops will gladly buy back gold at the daily rate, for a small charge.

Thsi area is also famous for fine Chinese food, where you can get bird's nest soup, dim sum, and other traditional Chinese delicacies. Shops also offer selection of Chinese herbs for sale.