Chinese mansions (Chinatown) description and photos - Thailand: Phuket Island (Topic)

Chinese mansions (Chinatown) description and photos - Thailand: Phuket Island. Detailed information about the attraction. Description, photographs and a map showing the nearest significant objects. The name in English is Chinatown.

Photo and description

The old part of Phuket city can be called an open-air museum. The main street of historic Phuket is called Thalang Road. Phang-Nga, Krabi, Dibuk and Yovarat streets are located nearby. They are formed by buildings built in the Sino-Portuguese style. Many old buildings have been converted into shops, hotels, restaurants and museums.

Phuket Island has long been known for its rich tin deposits. In search of a better life, Siamese, Chinese, Malaysians, Indians, Gypsies and Europeans moved here en masse. The inhabitants of Phuket were strikingly different from the Thais in their way of life, language, cuisine and clothing. The nucleus of the local community, called "Baba", was formed by the marriage alliances between Fujian reindeer herders and Siamese women. The peculiar heritage of this nation can be seen in the Old Town of Phuket.

Since the 16th century, Europeans have been buying tin in Phuket. In the 18th century, most of the tin mines were concentrated in the hands of the Chinese wealthy who moved to Phuket from Fujian province. They built most of the houses in the old part of the city. At the beginning of the 20th century, the governor of Phuket invited the largest European mining companies to the island, which financed the construction of roads and canals. Nobody knows exactly when the first Sino-Portuguese building was built, but old photographs taken during the reign of King Rama V (1853-1910) show many such mansions.

Chinese houses were narrow but long. With their narrow part they went out into the street. On the first floor of the building there were shops and offices for mine management, the second floor was occupied by the family of the owner of the house. Only one shophouse is open for tourists to explore, as such mansions are called in Phuket. It is called the Pra Pitaka Chinpracha Mansion. This house is located at 98 Krabi Road and belongs to an old woman Khun Daeng, the widow of a descendant of the first owner of the house.

In the old Chinatown, the Philatelic Museum, Tai Hua Museum, ChinaInn and Kopitiam restaurants are worth visiting. ...

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Topic: Chinese mansions (Chinatown) description and photos - Thailand: Phuket Island.