Wat Traimit, officially called Wat Traimit Witthayaram Worawihan, is one of my favourite places to start a walk through Bangkok’s Chinatown. It’s located right where Yaowarat Road begins, not far from Hua Lamphong Station, and makes a good first stop before diving into the busy streets and food stalls that Chinatown is known for.
The main attraction here is the massive solid gold Buddha, over three metres tall and weighing more than five tons. It’s hard to believe this statue was hidden under plain plaster for centuries, and no one realised what it was until it accidentally broke during a move in the 1950s. Now it sits in a bright, elevated hall, and even after several visits, it still feels impressive every time I see it.
To visit the Buddha, you’ll need to pay a small entry fee at the ground-floor ticket counter. Once inside, take your time exploring the different levels. On the second floor, there’s a short but interesting 3D presentation that explains how the Chinese community helped shape this part of Bangkok.
On the third floor, there is a small museum telling the story of the Golden Buddha, how it was discovered and how it ended up here.
The temple itself is clean, peaceful, and never too crowded. It might not be as grand as Wat Pho or the Grand Palace, but the story behind the statue gives it something special. And with its location right at the entrance to Yaowarat, Wat Traimit makes a perfect starting point for anyone spending the afternoon exploring Chinatown. I usually come in the late morning when it’s still quiet, before heading deeper into the neighbourhood for lunch.
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Willy Thuan is the founder of Phuket 101. After travelling through 40+ countries and working with Club Med and Expedia, he settled in Phuket in 1994. He shares real travel insights and original photography from across Thailand.View Author posts
