Sitting on the banks of the Chao Phraya River, the Samphanthawong district is home to a large Chinese community and the Sampheng neighbourhood, which once functioned as Bangkok's primary commercial core. Browsing around, visitors can see historic Chinese shrines with striking architecture nestled among clusters of classic shophouses, transporting visitors back to the early Rattanakosin period when Chinese sea merchants played a major role in the import and export industry.
Just 500m from MRT Sam Yot station, we wove through a labyrinth of stalls and shophouses to Soi Wanit 1, where Chun Siang Cho Sue Shrine is concealed off the tourist path. It stands at the end of Trok Hua Med, which was once lined with ornamental knobs of Thai columns and jewellery stores.
