A Bangkok Temple Map - for Chinatown

A guide to every Buddhist Temple in Bangkok's Chinatown.

Equal parts academic history, walking guide & architectural photo essay, it covers 22 temples & one shrine in three itineraries (with maps) for Yaowarat one of the world's largest Chinatowns.

Featured temples include:
. the 400-year old Wat Phlapplah Chai, built by Ayutthaya's great King Narai
. Wat Traimit & the world's largest solid gold Buddha
. the Dragon Lotus Temple, Wat Mangkorn Kamalawat
. Wat Patum Kongka, a longtime royal execution chamber
. a famous Guan Yin temple, originally built as a hospital
. Wat Jakrawat, home to crocodiles & the orphaned golden palladium Phra Bang
. the Ayutthaya-era Wat Bophit Phimuk, which battled cholera & became a holy capital gateway
. Wat Mongkoln Samakhom, the personal chapel of Vietnamese Royalty in exile
. the oldest standing Chinese Monastery in Thailand, Wat Bampen Cheen
. Wat Chayaphumi's beautiful views over the cityscape
. the beloved women behind Wat Thepsirin
. Wat Uphai Raja Bamrung, Siam's Vietnamese Vatican
. the charitable association of the Gwang Dtung shrine
. Wat Kanika Poln, built by a repentant brothel madam
. the historic murals at Wat Disanu Garam
. Wat Sampan Thawong's grandiose imperial splendor
. the alabaster gates of Wat Kanma Tuyaram
. Wat Lokanu Kroh's Buddha collection
. the immigrant-bootstraps success story at Wat Gusoln Samakorn
. Wat Chai Chana Songkram's conquering war hero
. Yaowarat's newest & youngest addition, Wat Thewi Worayat
. Wat Phra Pirent, home to one of the world's greatest Theravada scholars
. a small Jao Mae Guan Yin devotional shrine
. the regional homes of the Dhamma Yutitika Nikai & Annam Nikaya sects
+ at least one Legitimate Chinese Businessmen's Club

Also:
. a retelling of the legend of Phra Bodhisat Awalokitesuan Guan Yin
. a regional history guide for Chinatown
. introductions to the Samphanthawong district
& Sampeng Lane, the original Main Street
& Yaowarat Road, the New Main Street
. information on famous Buddha statues
. a Thai Buddhist architectural guide
with explanations of Chinese temple elements
. history, background & fast facts, for each location
. local wildlife & who to talk to
. hundreds of photos
. free postcards
. directions for getting there via public transit
* GOLD guaranteed