Ratchawong Road

Ratchawong Road in the phase between Suea Pa and Ratchawong Intersections (white building is Grand China Hotel)

Ratchawong Road (Thai: ถนนราชวงศ์, pronounced [tʰā.nǒn râːt.t͡ɕʰā.wōŋ]; lit: dynasty road) is a road in Bangkok, Thailand. It is located in the area of Bangkok's Chinatown, or popularly known in Thai as Yaowarat.

History

The road was constructed by King Chulalongkorn (Rama V). It links Charoen Krung Road (New Road) at the connecting with Suea Pa Road runs passing Yaowarat Road at the point which officially known as Ratchawong Intersection. Then aims to Ratchawong Pier on the bank of Chao Phraya River, total length is about 700 m (229 ft). The pier was a main port for passengers and cargo ships sailing between Bangkok and other provinces. The building along the road were owned by foreign companies (Chinese, Indian, and European) who were running wholesale businesses. The area near Yaowarat Road were once situated shopping centres and restaurants with popular menu of boil rice, ice cream, people of nobel family loved to come for dinner. One of these restaurants was used as a planning facility for a group of naval officers involved in the 1932 revolution.[1] [2]

Presently, the old shops of the glorious days can still be seen at the beginning phase of the road while the ending phase near the pier owned by companies and commercial banks.[3] In 1944, the time before World War II would soon come to an end, this point used to be the first location of Bangkok Bank, founded and operated by Chin Sophonpanich. It has become Bangkok Bank, Ratchawong Branch today. At that time, Ratchawong Road could be considered as the real commercial district of Bangkok. It was the location where many commercial banks were stood, and had expanded to the neighbouring such as Suea Pa, Suan Mali, or even distant places like Si Lom or Sathon since both Si Lom and Sathon were not as prosperous districts as in the present.[4]

In addition, the end of the road is also the terminal of BMA's bus line 204 (2-52) (Mo Chit 2-Ratchawong Pier).

In early 2016, Ratchawong Road ranked as the best pedestrian street of Bangkok from Urban Design and Development Center (UddC) due to the two sides surrounded by shaded trees, full of lively stalls and active shophouses.[5]

References

1. Peesalee, Virayudh (2016-08-05). "เมื่อในอดีต"คนชั้นสูง"ไม่กินอาหารค่ำนอกบ้าน และทำไมย่าน"ราชวงศ์"เป็นแหล่งดินเนอร์กลุ่มผู้ดี" [When in the past, "noble people" didn't eat dinner outside the house and why the "Ratchawong" neighbourhood was dinner place for gentry]. Prachachat (in Thai).
2. Nai Hon Huai (November 2012). ทหารเรือปฏิวัติ [Naval Revolt] (in Thai). Bangkok: Matichon Press. p. 53. ISBN 978-974-02-1025-2.
3. "เส้นทางท่องเที่ยว ถนนทรงวาด ท่าน้ำราชวงศ์ ย่านเยาวราช แหล่งการค้าเก่าแก่ และวัฒนธรรม ไทย จีน อิสลาม" [Travel routes, Song Wat road, Ratchawong pier, Yaowarat district, the old trade area and Thai, Chinese, Islamic cultures]. Chinatownyaowarach (in Thai).
4. Phanwiroj, Prawit (2002). คู่มือท่องเที่ยวไชน่าทาวน์ เสน่ห์เมืองจิ๋ว ทำเลมังกรทอง [Chinatown guidebook: charming small town, golden dragon location] (in Thai). Bangkok: Plan Printing. p. 74. ISBN 9747041278.
5. "ถนนราชวงศ์ อันดับ 1 น่าเดินมากที่สุดใน กทม" [Ratchawong road, no. 1, most worth walking in BKK]. MCOT (in Thai).

13°44′32.49″N 100°30′25.13″E