So Heng Tai Mansion

A Rare Chinese Courtyard Home in Talad Noi

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So Heng Tai Mansion is a hidden gem in Talad Noi, in Bangkok Old Town, showcasing the island’s rich Chinese heritage. This over 200-year-old Hokkien-style mansion was originally built as a family home and remains one of the best-preserved examples of traditional Chinese courtyard houses in Thailand.

So Heng Tai Mansion was built in the 19th century by Phra Aphaiwanit, a Hokkien Chinese bird’s nest tax farmer who later became a member of Thailand’s nobility. It still belongs to the same family, making it a likely candidate for the title of the oldest private residence in Bangkok.

The History of So Heng Tai Mansion

The So Heng Tai Mansion was built under the principle of ancient Chinese palace architecture. The mansion has stood in Bangkok since the era of King Rama I (1782 A.D.). It is composed of a number of Chinese-style roofed structures. On the top of the main door lays the name of this mansion “So Heng Tai”, however it is commonly known for locals as “Baan Chao Sua Son”.

Lord Aphai Wanit, who came to Bangkok from the great land of China, is the ancestor of the So Heng Tai Family. Back in China, he was a Governor of Sichuan province. Therefore, the Teng Lung (Chinese red lantern), which represents the Governor’s state of the mansion owner, has been displayed at the front since the mansion was built. In the age of King Rama VI, this family has been given a new family name in Thai, which was “Posayachinda”.

So Heng Tai Mansion has stood alongside the Chao Phraya River for 230 years. 7 owners have owned it. Nowadays, this Chinese mansion has opened as a cafe that allows visitors to appreciate its beauty and have a homemade drink. The area in the middle of the house has been constructed into a diving pool.

Throughout its history, the mansion has occasionally been opened to the public, and it is certainly worth a visit, as it is one of the last remaining traditional Chinese houses in the city. The swimming pool, added in 2004, is a rather unique place to learn to scuba dive.

So Heng Tai Photos