Chinese Antique Porcelain
Yaowarat: Bangkok’s Colourful Chinatown by iguidebkk
Lying south of Dusit and Banglamphu, Bangkok‘s Chinatown, locally known as the Yaowarat district, is one of the city’s major tourist attractions. It is a showcase of Chinese culture and enterprising spirit.
The city’s Chinatown district is an old business centre that covers a large area around the main Yaowarat Road and the adjoining Chareon Krung Road or New Road.
Chinese moved into the area as early as1780′s. It is oldest ethnic enclave in the city. When the royal family’s Grand Palace was constructed in 1782 by King Rama I to mark the foundation of Bangkok as Thailand’s new capital after Ayutthaya was annihilated by the Burmese, the Chinese community was asked to move just outside the city walls. The area then became the main centre of commerce for two centuries.
At the turn of the 20th century, Yaowarat was the most fashionable part of Bangkok. It had the smartest shops, the tallest buildings, pawnshops, cinemas and Chinese operas.
The area also had a seedy reputation for the large number of opium dens, brothels (which hung green lanterns outside instead of the Western style red lights), and a fondness for gambling and drug dealing-all of which are illegal nowadays.
At present, the charms and attractions of this area are hard to describe. Thus, exploration here is a must. Many of the buildings house beautiful decorative motifs, giving a view of Chinese religions and the unique cultural history and lifestyle. Ancient Chinese superstitions have also survived here. Look closely at the sides of some houses and you will see “feng shui” mirrors, called “pat kwa”, placed strategically to deflect and chase away evil spirits.
The Chinese in Chinatown have been living in Thailand for generations, and now generally consider themselves very much as Thais — most can no longer speak any Chinese.
The genuine Chinatown lies down the busy numerous smaller roads, narrow alleys and backstreets. Many of these are full of shops selling all types of quality goods, hence a paradise for shoppers. With market stalls strewn around, you will find many all sorts of products at very attractive prices.
Yaowarat is best known for the more than 100 gold shops that can be found along both sides of the Road. Gold shops here are mostly owned and run by Chinese, reflecting the love of gold they are often thought to have.
Some of the world’s finest gold products can be found and purchased here. At almost any time of the day, shops here are crowded with people — Thais, tourists and even wholesale buyers from neighbouring countries. All gold bought here can be resold by weight for a small markdown that is strictly controlled by the government.
Yaowarat district also teems with tiny shops and curbside vendors selling a myriad of spices, seafood, fruits and vegetables. Looking for the mysterious ingredients in the arsenal of traditional Chinese medicine is also a must when visiting Chinatown. There is an amazing variety of herbal medicines and ancient potions for every ailment on sale.
You can even try speaking to the herbalist about the properties of the medicines and hear their fantastic stories – myth and natural science – with your purchase!The area is also a steamy realm of touts, shoppers and suppliers, of carts, motorcycles and men carrying big bales of cloth on their backs, all made hazy by the smoke from roasting chestnuts and a hundred braziers cooking snacks of meat pies, biscuits, pork and chicken. It even has antique shops, tiny machine shops, clothing stores and stands offering unidentifiable
junk. Traditional Chinese paintings and porcelains, Thai ceramics and figurines are also sold here at bargain prices.
At night, it is always a delight to visit Yaowarat. When getting dark, this lively Chinese community becomes the largest Chinese restaurant in Bangkok, serving a wide variety of food until well past midnight. Dozens of eating establishments offer everything from shark-fin soup to fried mussels and steamed pork innards served on rice or noodles, birds-nest soup, dim sum, shark fin soup and many other traditional Chinese delicacies.
Hundreds of hawker stalls also electrifies the atmosphere of the streets around here. These best and cheapest food stalls typically come with favourite dishes including khao tom (boiled rice), khao kha mu (stewed pork leg on rice), and many, many more.
Every year, the Chinese New Year Festival at Yaowarat is celebrated with a big bang. It features parades, dragon dances, firework displays, opera shows and other traditional Chinese performances. At this time of the year, Bangkok‘s Chinatown springs into colourful and hectic life, with light, red and gold decorations. Tens of thousands of residents opt to stay home to celebrate the Chinese New Year. The celebration draws hundreds of thousands of visitors, hence a good chance to promote this area of Bangkok.
While Bangkok has many places and surroundings to offer, a visit to the district of Yaowarat would be a fascinating journey to see a way of Chinese cultural essence and heritage that could hardly be found anywhere else in Thailand.
About the Author
http://www.iguidebangkok.com All in one travel website providing comprehensive information on where to go and what to do in Bangkok. There are about Bangkok, Bangkok attraction, Bangkok Apartment, Bangkok Restaurant, Bangkok Spa, Bangkok Health & Beauty, Bankok interesting activities and useful information,to point out just a few. Moreover, the site dedicates its spacious webpage to main streets in Bangkok with clear guide map.
Chinese Antique Porcelain Study with Samples,中国古瓷实物研究
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BEAUTIFUL Hand Painted Pattern Blue White Porcelain Snuff Bottle#362 $8.99 |
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Antique Chinese Export Blue and White Porcelain Plate (B), 18th Century $9.99 |
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BEAUTIFUL Hand Painted Landscape Pattern Multicolor Porcelain Snuff Bottle#363 $8.99 |
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Porcelain Foo Dog On Pedestal c $9.99 |
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Antique Estate Chinese Porcelain Hand Applied/Painted Crane & Lotus Ginger Jar $75.00 |
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CHINESE OLD SILVER PORCELAIN DRAGON TEAPOT MONKEY LID 111018 **Free Shipping** $3.79 |
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Antique Chinese Export Blue and White Porcelain Plate (C), 18th Century $29.99 |
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A Pair Fine Famille Rose Gilt Porcelain Water Lily Vase 8.8″H $259.00 |
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Rare A Pair Famille Rose Gilt Porcelain Peach Flower Vase 10″H $259.00 |
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A Pair Rare Famille Rose Gilt Porcelain Flower Kylin Vase 10″H $259.00 |
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A Pair Rare Famille Rose Gilt Porcelain Dragon Vase 9.5″H $289.00 |
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A Pair Fine Pink Famille Rose 24K Gilt Porcelain Flower Peach Pots 8.8″H $569.00 |
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A Pair Rare Famille Rose Gilt Porcelain Kylin Flower Vase 9.5″H $259.00 |
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A Pair Fine Famille Rose Gilt Porcelain Flower Kylin Vase 10″H $259.00 |
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A Pair Fine Famille Rose Porcelain Flower Butterfly Pots 8.8″H $259.00 |
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Old Porcelain Ceramic Chinese Vase Fisherman China Vietnam Jar Bottle Vessel $34.99 |
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Chinese Blue & White Person Porcelain Flat Vase Marked $399.00 |
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CHINESE GRAFT TIBET SILVER PORCELAIN MONKEY TEA POT $0.22 |
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Old Chinese porcelain snuff bottle with monochrome blue glaze – nice $9.99 |
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Wonderful Chinese White the Red porcelain Carving dragon vase $129.00 |
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Beautiful Chinese blue and white porcelain Tall bowl with Children Playing $127.00 |
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FINE BEAN COLOR PORCELAIN DRAGON PHOENIX VASES $159.00 |
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Rare Chinese blue and white porcelain Sanskrit Tall bowl $135.00 |
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Wonderful Chinese blue and white porcelain Children Playing bowl $169.00 |
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Fine Rare Famille Rose 24K Gilt Porcelain Kylin Beast Vase 18.5″H $2,599.00 |
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Thailand Chinese Porcelain Gambling Token Vintage Old Antique don’t know Country $24.99 |
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LARGE 19th CENTURY HAND-PAINTED CHINESE/JAPANESE PORCELAIN PLATTER $810.00 |
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ANTIQUE PAIR OF 8″ CHINESE PORCELAIN VASES JINGDEZHEN ZHI REPUBLIC OF CHINA $149.00 |
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Fine Rare Famille Rose 24K Gilt Porcelain Landscape Vase 19″H $899.00 |
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ANTIQUE PORCELAIN JAPANESE PLATE PHOENIX BIRDS AND FLOWERS BLUE VERY RARE $14.99 |
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Pair Fine Japanese antique imari porcelain Gild Vases $299.00 |
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Fine Rare Famille Rose 24K Gilt Porcelain Landscape Five OX Vase 20″H $969.00 |
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Old Porcelain Ceramic VIETNAMESE MELON JAR Vase Lidded Pot Vessel Vietnam $49.99 |
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CHINESE Three-Color SANCAI GLAZE Porcelain TANG CAMEL STATUE 9.5″ 25cm $39.99 |
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ANTIQUE HANDMADE BEAUTIFUL DUCK CERAMIC/PORCELAIN VERY OLD FIGURINE GORGEOUS! $9.99 |
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Large antique chinese Blue & White Porcelain head Doll $15.79 |
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ANTIQUE HANDMADE DALMATIAN DOG WITH PUPPIES CERAMIC/PORCELAIN VERY OLD FIGURINE $14.99 |
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Fine Unique Famille Rose 24K Gilt Porcelain Landscape Horse Monkey Vase 18″H $999.00 |
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Old Chinese snuff bottle porcelain painted with girl reading – nice $9.99 |
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ANTIQUE HANDMADE PORCELAIN HORSE MADE IN CHINE VERY OLD IN PERFECT SHAPE $16.99 |
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Fine Unique Famille Rose 24K Gilt Porcelain Landscape Flower Bird Vase 21″H $999.00 |
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MAGNIFICENT antique CHINESE HIGH STEM PORCELAIN PLATE IRON RED 19TH CENTURY $49.99 |
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BEAUTIFUL Hand Painted Multicolor Porcelain Snuff Bottle#364 $8.99 |
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Rare Unique Famille Rose 24K Gilt Porcelain Landscape Eight Horse Vase 19.5″H $899.00 |
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Chinese Porcelain Vase W/*2 Mouse* $0.99 |
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Museum Quality Hand Painted Peony Pattern Multicolor Porcelain Snuff Bottle#365 $8.99 |
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RARE Blue Glaze Porcelain Kwan Yin Statue Lamp **Bronze Buddha Finial** $102.50 |
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Rare Unique Famille Rose 24K Gilt Porcelain Water Lily Eight People Vase 17.9″H $899.00 |
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19C Chinese Blue & White Porcelain Vase Mountain Scene $2,499.00 |
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Chinese Famille Rose Porcelain Buddha Figurine-Signed/Marked $55.00 |
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9.4″ Chinese Qing Porcelain *Woman* Vase $3.99 |
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A Pair Famille Rose 24K Gilt Porcelain Landscape Flower Bird Crane Vase 21″H $3,899.00 |
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19c Chinese Crakled Porcelain Dragon Vase With ChengHua Mark. $61.00 |
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Amazing QianLong Mark porcelain 10 ” 8 treasures plate $9.99 |
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ANTIQUE CHINESE QING OLD REPUBLIC PERIOD STATUE BLANC DE CHINE PORCELAIN KWANYIN $675.00 |
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Elegant Hand Painted Flower Stork Pattern Multicolor Porcelain Snuff Bottle#366 $8.99 |
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Antique Chinese Kwan Yin Porcelain Statue $22.95 |
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Rare Blue & White Porcelain Foo Dog From Jingdezhen c 1900s $19.99 |
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A Set Famille Rose Gilt Porcelain Flower Vase Censer Candle Platform 7.5″H $899.00 |
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Chinese Porcelain *Dragon* Drop Of Water Pot $0.99 |
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Vintage Chinese Japanese Porcelain Ware Cup & Saucer $9.99 |
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Fine Hand Painted Orange Porcelain Bowl From China $124.99 |
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CHINA OLD JUN PORCELAIN VASE $699.00 |
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Chinese Pair Blue & White Person Porcelain Tulip Landscape Vase Marked $329.00 |
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19th C. Chinese Scenic Blue Porcelain Pot w/ 2 Boys at Play -Table Lamp $375.00 |
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Pair Samson Chinese Famille Verte Porcelain Urns Jars $23,000.00 |
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Beautiful Blue & White Porcelain Brush Pot $198.00 |
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Antique Chinese Porcelain Bowl 100 Boys Children Jiaqing Mark $725.00 |
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Elegant Hand Painted Children Pattern Multicolor Porcelain Snuff Bottle#367 $8.99 |
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Chinese fantastic Famille rose porcelain flower and bird plate $199.00 |
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Vintage Chinese QIANLONG Mark floral porcelain vase $14.99 |
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CHINESE HAND WORK OLD BLUE AND WHITE PORCELAIN TEA POT ARMORED LION $0.01 |
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Beautiful Antique Ming Dynasty? Porcelain Bowl Dish Chinese China Poem $29.99 |
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Elegant Hand Painted Landscape Pattern Blue White Porcelain Snuff Bottle#368 $8.99 |
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Fine Antique Japanese Satsuma Large Porcelain Plate, CHARGER Immortals, daoist $47.41 |
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Chinese Beautiful Big Porcelain Round Plate,Lotus $99.99 |
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Elegant Hand Painted Flower Pattern Blue White Porcelain Snuff Bottle#369 $8.99 |
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1913 Antique Color Print/CHINESE PORCELAIN TYPES $9.95 |
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Chinese Blue & White Porcelain Crackled Glaze Four Season Dishes Set *Rare* $125.00 |
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FINE FENCAI PORCELAIN FLAT BOTTLE $99.00 |
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BEAUTIFUL IMARI STYLE PORCELAIN JAPANESE OR CHINESE SNUFF BOTTLE!!! $11.55 |
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Chinese Old Porcelain Handwork Painting Hero Tea Pot $0.01 |
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CHINESE REPUBLIC PORCELAIN FIGURINE BOY with FISH and Pee Pee Rare antique old $24.99 |
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Chinese Blue White Porcelain With Dragon Snuff Bottles $3.04 |
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Elegant Hand Painted Multicolor Porcelain Snuff Bottle#370 $8.99 |
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Pair of Antique Porcelain Rose Medallion Chinese Export Plates, Finely Decorated $99.00 |
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FINE ANTIQUE CHINESE FAMILLE ROSE ENAMEL PORCELAIN VASE JARDINERE PLANTER NR $37.00 |
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CHINESE HANDWORK PAINTING PORCELAIN SNUFF BOTTLE BY018 $0.60 |
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FINE OLDER DOUBLE PORCELAIN WITH MARKINGS CHINESE SNUFF BOTTLE!!! $16.28 |
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Antique Chinese Porcelain Ching Ming Dynasty Rice Bowl Blue White $135.00 |
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Antique Chinese Porcelain Ching Ming Dynasty Plate Blue and White $150.00 |
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PRETTY PORCELAIN CHINESE BOWL HAND PAINTED $9.99 |
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Chinese Blue White Porcelain Snuff Bottles – Rural Landscape $4.26 |
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Antique Chinese Porcelain Ching Dynasty Blue and White Candleabra $165.00 |
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NICE PORCELAIN WITH LION DESIGN CHINESE SNUFF BOTTLE!!! $9.99 |
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ANTIQUE CHINESE PORCELAIN OCTAGON BLUE AND WHITE PHEONIX VASE $799.99 |
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Vintage Chinese Famille Porcelain Teapot +2 Cups in Wicker Basket,Very Old $99.99 |
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Free Shipping China Beautiful Snuff bottle Porcelain&Peach Tree $5.99 |
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Free Shipping China Beautiful Snuff bottle &Landscape Porcelain Tree Cherry $7.99 |
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Free Shipping Chinese Beautiful Snuff bottle&Blue and white porcelain fish Rich $9.99 |