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Yaowarat Road, the main street of Bangkok's Chinatown, as the shop signs light up Photo above: ปรภาส ภัคดารัตน์ via Google
The MRT station for Chinatown Bangkok is Wat Mangkon (BL29) on the MRT Blue Line, which comes up on Charoen Krung Road a block from Yaowarat Road. There is no BTS Skytrain station in Chinatown, so from the BTS you change to the MRT: at Sala Daeng for MRT Silom (three stops to Wat Mangkon), at Asok for MRT Sukhumvit (seven stops) or at Mo Chit for MRT Chatuchak Park. The alternative is the river: take the BTS to Saphan Taksin and a Chao Phraya Express boat to Ratchawong Pier on Chinatown's river edge.
This guide covers each route, where to change, the last trains back, and which station suits which part of Chinatown.
| Starting from | Change at | Then |
|---|---|---|
| Siam, Silom, Sathorn (BTS Silom Line) | BTS Sala Daeng to MRT Silom | Blue Line, 3 stops to Wat Mangkon |
| Sukhumvit (BTS Sukhumvit Line) | BTS Asok to MRT Sukhumvit | Blue Line, 7 stops to Wat Mangkon |
| Ari, Victory Monument, Chatuchak | BTS Mo Chit to MRT Chatuchak Park | Blue Line, 16 stops to Wat Mangkon |
| Riverside hotels, BTS Saphan Taksin | Sathorn Pier | Chao Phraya Express boat upriver to Ratchawong Pier (N5) |
Which MRT station is nearest to Chinatown Bangkok?
Wat Mangkon (BL29) is the nearest MRT station to Chinatown's main street. It is an underground station on the MRT Blue Line under Charoen Krung Road, with exits around the Plaeng Nam intersection a block from Yaowarat Road. It opened in 2019 and takes its name from Wat Mangkon Kamalawat, the Chinese Buddhist temple nearby.
Hua Lamphong (BL28), one stop east, is closer to the eastern end of Chinatown, and Sam Yot (BL30), one stop west, is on the Old City side. The MRT accepts contactless Visa, Mastercard and UnionPay cards at the gates, according to BEM, the operator, which saves queueing at the ticket machines.
Is there a BTS station in Chinatown?
No. The BTS Skytrain does not reach Chinatown. The BTS stations that work best for a Chinatown trip are Sala Daeng and Asok, where you change to the MRT Blue Line, and Saphan Taksin, where you can walk down to Sathorn Pier for the river boat.
The BTS and MRT are run by different companies, so you leave one system and pay again to enter the other. Our guides explain what the BTS is and where to buy an MRT card.
How do you get to Chinatown from Siam or Silom?
From Siam, Silom or Sathorn, ride the BTS Silom Line to Sala Daeng, follow the signs to MRT Silom, and take the Blue Line toward Hua Lamphong for three stops: Sam Yan, Hua Lamphong, then Wat Mangkon. This is the most direct rail route for anyone staying around Siam, Ratchaprasong, Silom or Sathorn.
From Siam, take the Silom Line train heading toward Bang Wa. At Wat Mangkon the two platforms are stacked on different levels, one for each direction, so check the direction signs before you head down on the way back.
How do you get to Chinatown from Sukhumvit?
From Sukhumvit, ride the BTS to Asok and change to MRT Sukhumvit, which sits beneath the Asok intersection. Take the Blue Line toward Hua Lamphong; Wat Mangkon is seven stops away, via Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre, Khlong Toei, Lumphini, Silom, Sam Yan and Hua Lamphong.
This route skips the busy Siam interchange, which makes it the easier choice at rush hour. From the north (Ari, Victory Monument or after a morning at Chatuchak Weekend Market), change at Mo Chit for MRT Chatuchak Park and ride the Blue Line south for 16 stops with only one change.
Can you get to Chinatown by boat?
Yes. Take the BTS Silom Line to Saphan Taksin, walk down to Sathorn Pier, and board a Chao Phraya Express boat heading upriver to Ratchawong Pier (N5), then walk inland along Ratchawong Road into the older lanes of Chinatown. The operator lists its Orange Line boat at a flat fare of 18 baht.
The river is the slowest way in and the most pleasant. Guests at The Peninsula Bangkok, on the Thonburi bank, can use the hotel's own boats to cross to Saphan Taksin and pick up the express boat from there.
What time is the last MRT from Chinatown?
The last MRT train from Wat Mangkon toward Hua Lamphong, Silom and Sukhumvit leaves at 11:28 p.m., according to BEM's first and last train table, checked September 26, 2026. Heading the other way, toward Sam Yot and Sanam Chai, the last train is at 12:10 a.m. The first trains leave at 5:55 a.m. and 5:58 a.m. respectively.
If you are changing back to the BTS, allow time for the connection, because the two systems keep separate hours.
Which station is best for which part of Chinatown?
- Wat Mangkon is the stop for Yaowarat Road, the lanes around it and Wat Mangkon Kamalawat. The Thai-Chinese tasting-menu restaurant Restaurant POTONG gives directions from exit 1 of this station.
- Hua Lamphong is closer to Wat Traimit, the temple of the Golden Buddha, at the eastern edge of the district.
- Sam Yot sits on the Old City side, toward Wang Burapha.
- Ratchawong Pier suits a visit that starts at the river and works inland through the Sampheng market lanes.
For what to eat once you arrive, see our Bangkok street food guide and our Bangkok restaurants.
Can you combine Chinatown with the Old City?
Yes. The Blue Line continues west from Wat Mangkon, and two stops on is Sanam Chai, the station for Wat Pho and Museum Siam. A practical day is the Old City in the morning, then back one or two stops for Chinatown in the afternoon and evening, when the street food comes out.
Taxis and ride-hailing cars move slowly on Yaowarat Road in the evening, so rail or the river is usually the more predictable way back. For more ideas, see our Bangkok attractions.
Sources: BEM MRT (Bangkok Expressway and Metro), BEM MRT first and last train table, BEM MRT EMV Contactless, BEM MRT Blue Line, Chao Phraya Express Boat, Wat Mangkon MRT station (Wikipedia). Checked September 26, 2026.
No BTS station serves Chinatown. Use BTS Sala Daeng or Asok to change to the MRT Blue Line for Wat Mangkon, or BTS Saphan Taksin to walk to Sathorn Pier for a Chao Phraya Express boat to Ratchawong Pier.
Wat Mangkon (BL29), on Charoen Krung Road near the Plaeng Nam intersection. Hua Lamphong, one stop east, is closer to Wat Traimit and the eastern end of Chinatown.
Three: Sam Yan, Hua Lamphong, then Wat Mangkon. From MRT Sukhumvit (the Asok interchange) it is seven stops.
BEM's timetable lists the last train toward Hua Lamphong, Silom and Sukhumvit at 11:28 p.m., and toward Sam Yot and Sanam Chai at 12:10 a.m., checked September 26, 2026.
No. They are separate systems run by different operators, so you pay for each. The MRT Blue Line accepts contactless Visa, Mastercard and UnionPay cards at the gates, according to BEM.
The Chao Phraya Express Boat lists its Orange Line (Nonthaburi to Wat Rajsingkorn) at a flat fare of 18 baht, checked September 26, 2026. Get off at Ratchawong Pier (N5) for Chinatown.