One of my favourite areas to explore in this bustling city also happens to be the oldest trading sector. With colours, sights and sounds to brighten your senses, this district is a fascinating place. Visiting the vibrant & fun Chiang Mai Chinatown should be on every visitor’s list.
Location
Walking from Tha Phae gate at old town, continue down the street of the same name. It’s a 1 kilometre walk until you find yourself at the large red gate. This is now Chinatown and all the streets and buildings here stretching up to the Ping River.
Textile Market
Just before you reach Chinatown, you will most likely walk right on by the hidden textile market. Located near a small tributary, this is a series of tarp covered alleys that are full of all things hand made.
From gorgeous old ethnic costumes and fabric pieces, to buckets full of beads and everything in-between. It’s a marvellous place to explore and I can spend an entire morning just here. While not a large space, there is so much to see, especially if you are an admirer of vintage, antique and handicrafts made with bright and beautiful colours.
Wororot Market
When you have arrived at Chinatown, walked under the red gate for good luck. Before you, on either side, will be a market inside the big old concrete structures. In the largest building that is two stories, are a myriad of stalls selling all sorts of packaged food on the ground floor.
Don’t miss the row at the rear that is packed full of vendors selling decorations, religious pieces, incense and lanterns. The upper floor is all textiles, but this time they are new. Including clothing and shoes, this is a great area to pick up some basics and knock off branded items.
The other building, across the street, houses the fresh foods. It is one floor only but wow is it ever interesting. Here you will see a real authentic food market, there is nothing touristy about this space. The pungent odours of dried fish, rats scurrying around your feet and fascinating food items to see is full on here.
Chinese Temples
There are two right in Chinatown. One is quite humble from the exterior, hidden behind two red gates. The other is right out in the open and a joy to walk through. Be surrounded by loads of colour and brightly decorated pagodas, incense pots, painted walls and gates adorned mythical Chinese creatures.
Flower Market
Head now, over towards the Ping River. Here on this corner is the Chiang Mai flower market. Packed full of wholesalers and retailers, this street is glorious to explore. Bundles of brightly coloured flowers fill every stall. Its interesting to see how these flowers travel. Many are not in water. See enormous cardboard boxes arrive and discover they are crammed full with bundles of orchids all laid flat atop each other.
Notice bins of tall stemmed chrysanthemums, each with their blossom safely enclosed in a net so as not to damage those delicate petals. The best part? Watch as the beautiful Buddhist garlands, called phuang malai, are being created. Tiny fragrant jasmine flowers being threaded onto a wire, or palm fronds being folded into decorative cigarette boxes. Fascinating!
This flower market works like a drive through too. People will pull right up to their preferred vendor, and purchase the garland they want through their car window. Its such a lively and bright place to visit.
Streets
Spending time wandering up and down the streets in Chinatown is nothing short of entertaining. This part of the city is bustling with commerce. From gold stores to boutique clothing and everything in-between.
Purchase your fresh tropical fruits here. See rickshaws and tuk-tuks vying for a space on the road with the larger delivery trucks and the ever-present motorcycles. Grab a coffee from a little stall and simply wander the streets. Its such a fun place to be.
I love a good Chinatown. They are fascinating areas of many larger cities. The sights include everything from the humble fish vendor to high end jewellery. Chinatown in Chiang Mai is a must visit area of the city. Easily half a day can be spent here, enjoying this vibrant and lively neighbourhood.
