The "Chinatown - Yawaraj Clean Food. Good Taste" food festival and "Yawaraj Highlights" being held on September 29, 2003 is designed to rekindle the interest of both local and international visitors in this old quarter of Bangkok.

The oldest, most established and largest ethnic Chinese community in Thailand, Yawaraj has a rich historical past. During the establishment of the city of Rattanakosin during the reign of King Phra Phuttha Yotfa Chulaloke (King Rama I), founder of the Chakri dynasty, with the blessing of His Majesty the King, early Chinese immigrants to the kingdom settled in a district at the heart of Yawaraj called "Sampeng". By the Fourth and Fifth Reign, through active trade with overseas nations, Sampeng had evolved into a prosperous centre of international trade.

Within Bangkok's "Chinatown", ancient customs and traditions have been preserved by members of the community, particularly ancient Chinese culinary art and the celebration of traditional festivals on the Chinese calendar.

"Yawaraj Highlights", jointly organised by the Ministry of Public Health, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, the Tourism Authority of Thailand with the cooperation of the Sampantawong community of Bangkok, represents a coordinated effort to highlight the many facets of Yawaraj's rich traditional heritage and draws attention to the best that "Chinatown" has to offer.

A haven for connoisseurs, locals generally frequent Yawaraj for its gourmet dishes prepared according to authentic recipes. The area is also famous for its traditional gold shops, and shopping bargains. Hundreds of shop-houses and quaint-looking specialty stores line the streets and alleys offering a range of merchandise such as household goods, gift items, stationary, toys, clothes, Chinese foodstuff generally at wholesale prices. Today, Yawaraj remains a bustling centre of trade however along its streets and alleys, pockets of traditional architecture can still be seen.

Granting special importance to the preservation of Yawaraj's traditional heritage, His Excellency Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra will preside at the Opening Ceremony which will be held in the area of the "Gateway To Yawaraj". A traditional lion and dragon dance will be performed.

As part of the "Clean Food. Good Taste" food festival, judges and participants will be voting on the 'Best of Yawaraj's Delicacies" in a culinary and gourmet competition. The five entries being featured are traditional Chinese dumplings, "kui chap" steamed rice-noodles with assorted topping, a cold mutton salad, glutinous rice dumplings in ginger syrup, and "tow teung", a dessert made of an assortment of barley, lotus seeds, red beans and other ingredients in a longan tea.

There will also be a variety of stalls offering other popular dishes for which Yawaraj is famous including glutinous rice with filling, double-boiled clear soups, "rad na" rice noodles, "kui teow lod" steamed rice-noodle rolls with various filling and old-fashioned coffee.

Unlike gold jewellery or ornaments sold in most fine jewellers, hand-crafted Yawaraj gold, one of the highlights, has a rich and distinct appearance. New designs in Yawaraj gold featuring The Golden Dragon, Apparel in handwoven gold, a pair of Golden Kilin, a Betel Nut Set, Golden Vase and Golden Elephant, will also be presented.

Chinatown presents another perspective of 'old' Bangkok worth exploring. For connoisseurs, collectors and bargain hunters, the culinary diversity, the cultural treasures and remarkable contrasts offered by Bangkok's Chinatown are guaranteed not to disappoint.

Source: www.tatnews.org

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Siam Hotel
177 New Petchburi Road, Bangkok 10310 Thailand.

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215 Yaowaraj Road, Samphantawong, Bangkok 10100 Thailand

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# posted by Aom-ing : 4:52 PM