people are still able to recite the entire name off by heart. The Chinese New Year (January–February) and Vegetarian Festival (September–October) are celebrated widely by the Chinese community, especially in Yaowarat.[114]. The BTS consists of two lines, Sukhumvit and Silom, with 43 stations along 51.69 kilometres (32.12 mi). [10], The origin of the name Bangkok (บางกอก, pronounced in Thai as [bāːŋ kɔ̀ːk] (listen)), is unclear. Khao San Road has long been famous as a destination for backpacker tourism, with its budget accommodation, shops and bars attracting visitors from all over the world. TrueVisions is the major subscription television provider in Bangkok and Thailand, and it also carries international programming. [162], Bangkok is a member of several international organizations and regional city government networks, including the Asian Network of Major Cities 21, the Japan-led Asian-Pacific City Summit, the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group, the ESCAP-sponsored Regional Network of Local Authorities for Management of Human Settlements in Asia and Pacific (CITYNET), Japan's Council of Local Authorities for International Relations, the World Association of the Major Metropolises and Local Governments for Sustainability, among others. Although its boundaries are at the provincial (changwat) level, unlike the other 76 provinces Bangkok is a special administrative area whose governor is directly elected to serve a four-year term. Political demonstrations and protests are common in Bangkok. Baker & Pongpaichit 2005, pp. Reproduced in. The idea is not new: during World War II Prime Minister Plaek Phibunsongkhram planned unsuccessfully to relocate the capital to Phetchabun. Estimating Flood Impacts and Vulnerabilities in Coastal Cities", "New elevation data triple estimates of global vulnerability to sea-level rise and coastal flooding", "Climate change: Sea level rise to affect 'three times more people, "With rising sea levels, Bangkok struggles to stay afloat", "Bangkok: The sinking city faces severe climate challenges", "Plastic bags clogging Bangkok's sewers complicate efforts to fight floods", "Flooding features in Bangkok and vicinity: Geographical approach", "Ranking Port Cities with High Exposure and Vulnerability to Climate Extremes: Exposure Estimates", Old photo (around 1900) of dilapidated prang from the collection of Cornell University Library, "Extreme minimum temperature during winter season in Thailand 60-year period (1951–2010)", "How Much Hotter Is Your Hometown Than When You Were Born? Korn Serirojjanasiri, 74, and Wattana Techanawakul, 67, were confirmed dead by the police after the shooting occurred around 1pm on Tuesday inside the Thai Group Textile tailor shop in Soi Yaowarat 23. The film is Xu's directorial debut. [89] Bangkok also topped the list as the world's most popular tourist destinations in 2017 rankings.[102][103][104][105]. [52], Bangkok's fifty districts serve as administrative subdivisions under the authority of the BMA. In 1980, Bangkok's population was fifty-one times that of Hat Yai and Songkhla, the second-largest urban centre, making it the world's most prominent primate city.[76][77]. [159] Another serious public health hazard comes from Bangkok's stray dogs. shortened in every day use. By then, many public and social issues had emerged, among them the strain on infrastructure reflected in the city's notorious traffic jams. Information contained in this website is for general information purposes only. As the capital, Bangkok was the centre of Siam's modernization as it faced pressure from Western powers in the late-19th century. The Bangkok Metropolitan Region had a combined output of 4.773 trillion baht ($149.39 billion), or 44.2 percent of GDP. As the name suggests, this is a Chinese festival which marks the beginning of the New Year according to the Chinese calendar. [d] This is supported by the former name of Wat Arun, a historic temple in the area, that used to be called Wat Makok.[14]. 'Bangkok' is just for foreigners, as in Thai it's called something else A distinct feature of Bangkok is the ubiquity of street vendors selling goods ranging from food items to clothing and accessories. Bangkok was at the heart of the modernization of Siam, later renamed Thailand, during the late-19th century, as the country faced pressures from the West. Traffic and Transportation Department, pp. 113–122. well-organised, so make sure you're aware of it, Knowing what you're in for lets you Only in the 1990s have Bangkok's population growth rates decreased, following the national rate. Bangkok became not only a place where immigrants and provincial Thais go for job opportunities, but also for a chance to receive a university degree. Despite an extensive expressway network, an inadequate road network and substantial private car usage have led to chronic and crippling traffic congestion, which caused severe air pollution in the 1990s. It is an international hub for transport and health care, and has emerged as a centre for the arts, fashion, and entertainment. The Siam and Ratchaprasong areas in Pathum Wan are home to some of the largest shopping malls in Southeast Asia. Palace that resembles the heavenly abode where reigns the reincarnated god, a 138–144. When the Bangkok Metropolitan Region is considered, manufacturing is the most significant contributor at 28.2 percent of the gross regional product, reflecting the density of industry in the Bangkok's neighbouring provinces. With the exception of local news segments broadcast by the NBT, all programming is done in Bangkok and repeated throughout the provinces. [12], Administration of the city was first formalized by King Chulalongkorn in 1906, with the establishment of Monthon Krung Thep Phra Maha Nakhon (มณฑลกรุงเทพพระมหานคร) as a national subdivision. [4] Bangkok is a cosmopolitan city; the census showed that it is home to 567,120 expatriates from Asian countries (including 71,024 Chinese and 63,069 Japanese nationals), 88,177 from Europe, 32,241 from the Americas, 5,856 from Oceania and 5,758 from Africa. Source 1: Thai Meteorological Department, Source 2: Pogodaiklimat.ru(High/Low Record), This page was last edited on 12 December 2020, at 09:41. never have even heard of it being called that. Many traditional neighbourhoods and markets are found here, including the Chinese settlement of Sampheng. In addition to rapid transit and heavy rail lines, there have been proposals for several monorail systems. All six national terrestrial channels, Channels 3, 5 and 7, Modernine, NBT and Thai PBS, have headquarters and main studios in the capital. Thavisin et al. The centrally located Bangkok Art and Culture Centre, opened in 2008 following a fifteen-year lobbying campaign, is now the largest public exhibition space in the city. The Transport Co., Ltd. is the BMTA's long-distance counterpart, with services to all provinces operating out of Bangkok. ", "Climatological Data for the Period 1981–2010", "ปริมาณการใช้น้ำของพืชอ้างอิงโดยวิธีของ Penman Monteith (Reference Crop Evapotranspiration by Penman Monteith)", "แผนการบริหารจัดการน้ำและการเพาะปลูกพืชฤดูแล้งในเขตชลประทาน ปี 2556/2557", National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Provincial Administration, Ministry of Interior, Royal Thai Government. Thailand follows the ancient tradition of naming their babies with a strong meaning. In addition to long-distance services, the SRT also operates a few daily commuter trains running from and to the outskirts of the city during the rush hour. Thailand has a significant ethnically Chinese population, and here’s why. Despite the length of it, an impressive number of Thai It experiences three seasons: hot, rainy, and cool, although temperatures are fairly hot year-round, ranging from an average low of 22.0 °C (71.6 °F) in December to an average high of 35.4 °C (95.7 °F) in April. Although prostitution is technically illegal and is rarely openly discussed in Thailand, it commonly takes place among massage parlours, saunas and hourly hotels, serving foreign tourists as well as locals. Traffic and Transportation Department, p. 112. All national newspapers, broadcast media and major publishers are based in the capital. Numerous retail outlets and hotels also stretch along Sukhumvit Road leading southeast through Watthana and Khlong Toei Districts. 2561 (Population and household statistics, 2018)", "Table 5 Population by nationality and sex", "Political Vulnerabilities of a Primate City: The May 2010 Red Shirts Uprising in Bangkok, Thailand", "Shophouses: Reviving the distinctive face of Bangkok", "Population by religion, region and area, 2015", "Table 4 Population by religion, region and area: 2010", "Fortune's annual ranking of the world's largest corporations", "ตารางที่ 1.2 สัดส่วนคนจนด้านรายจ่าย จำแนกตามภาคและพื้นที่ ปี พ.ศ. Bangkok city proper covers an area of 1,568.7 square kilometres (605.7 sq mi), ranking 69th among the other 76 provinces of Thailand. Ramkhamhaeng University emerged in 1971 as Thailand's first open university; it now has the highest enrolment in the country. For whatever reason, foreigners have This has been accompanied by a degree of secularism, as religion's role in everyday life has rather diminished. [51], The Climate Impact Group at NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies projected severe weather impacts on Bangkok caused by Climate change. With the exception of Chachoengsao, these provinces, together with Bangkok, form the greater Bangkok Metropolitan Region.[2]. Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom Udomratchaniwet Mahasathan Amon Piman Awatan It is the site of many of the country's major corporate headquarters, but also of some of the city's red-light districts. [94], Income inequality is a major issue in Bangkok, especially between relatively unskilled lower-income immigrants from rural provinces and neighbouring countries, and middle-class professionals and business elites. [132] Motorcycle taxis were previously unregulated, and subject to extortion by organized crime gangs. Wat Arun, the most iconic temple of Bangkok, is located on the Thonburi side of the Chao Phraya River, almost opposite to the Grand Palace and Wat Pho. While sepak takraw can be seen played in open spaces throughout the city, football and other modern sports are now the norm. [143], Bangkok has long been the centre of modern education in Thailand. SHANGHAI - Fans of five rival Chinese football clubs have joined forces to condemn a controversial FA ruling that could see their teams made to change their names for next season. Lost in Thailand is a 2012 Chinese comedy film directed and co-written by Xu Zheng and starring Xu Zheng, Wang Baoqiang, and Huang Bo. [34] There are fears that the city may be submerged by 2030. [62] The Victory Monument in Ratchathewi District is among its most important road junctions, serving over 100 bus lines as well as an elevated train station. In the more densely built-up areas of the city these numbers are as low as 1.73 and 0.72 square metres (18.6 and 7.8 sq ft) per person. [147] Although this discrepancy has since largely abated, tens of thousands of students still compete for places in Bangkok's leading schools. Among others, Bangkok is the seat of the Secretariat of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), as well as the Asia-Pacific regional offices of the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the International Labour Organization (ILO), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), and the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF).[163]. A master development plan has been proposed to increase total park area to 4 square metres (43 sq ft) per person. As of September 2020[update], construction work is ongoing to extend the city-wide transit system's reach, including the construction of the Light Red grade-separated commuter rail line. The fifty districts, arranged by district code, are:[58], Bangkok's districts often do not accurately represent the functional divisions of its neighbourhoods or land usage. .. . Among Bangkok's well-known sights are the Grand Palace and major Buddhist temples, including Wat Phra Kaew, Wat Pho, and Wat Arun. Its eight stations span a distance of 28 kilometres (17 mi). [81][j] Chinese immigration was restricted from the 1930s and effectively ceased after the Chinese Revolution in 1949. [164] They are: กรุงเทพมหานคร อมรรัตนโกสินทร์ มหินทรายุธยา มหาดิลกภพ นพรัตนราชธานีบูรีรมย์ อุดมราชนิเวศน์มหาสถาน อมรพิมานอวตารสถิต สักกะทัตติยวิษณุกรรมประสิทธิ์. Taling Chan Floating Market is among the few such markets in Bangkok. Bangkok has an extensive bus network providing local transit services within the Greater Bangkok area. In 2017, the military government assigned NESDC to study the possibility of moving government offices from Bangkok to Chachoengsao Province in the east. Although the crime threat in Bangkok is relatively low, non-confrontational crimes of opportunity such as pick-pocketing, purse-snatching, and credit card fraud occur with frequency. Copyright 2013-2017 travelloco. The suspects, all men, were arrested yesterday in Suphan Buri … Thailand had long since become highly centralized around the capital. Rabies is prevalent among the dog population, and treatment for bites pose a heavy public burden. Migrants from neighbouring countries include 216,528 Burmese, 72,934 Cambodians and 52,498 Lao. The Asian investment boom in the 1980s and 1990s led many multinational corporations to locate their regional headquarters in Bangkok. Of this, about 700 square kilometres (270 sq mi) form the built-up urban area. The Red Cross Fair at the beginning of April is held at Suan Amporn and the Royal Plaza, and features numerous booths offering goods, games and exhibits. Atmospheric particulate matter levels dropped from 81 micrograms per cubic metre in 1997 to 43 in 2007. Likewise, Bangkok has dominated the Thai film industry since its inception. As the main gateway through which visitors arrive in Thailand, Bangkok is visited by the majority of international tourists to the country. Bangkok has several parks, although these amount to a per capita total park area of only 1.82 square metres (19.6 sq ft) in the city proper. Most Thai babies have two names, one being a formal name, and the other is a nickname that will serve as a common appellation. Bangkok is the city's official English name, as reflected in the name of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration. Bangkok's Chinatown is one of the largest Chinatowns in the world. The 2011 floods revived the idea of moving government functions from Bangkok. With the exception of a few secondary urban centres, Thonburi, in the same manner as the outlying eastern districts, consists mostly of residential and rural areas. The city's performing arts scene features traditional theatre and dance as well as Western-style plays. Older public transport systems include an extensive bus network and boat services which still operate on the Chao Phraya and two canals. Sukhumvit Plaza, a mall on Soi Sukhumvit 12, is popularly known as Korea Town. Unless talking to foreigners who don't know any different, Thais will never call Conspicuous consumption serves as a display of economic and social status, and shopping centres are popular weekend hangouts. Krung Thep is actually an abbreviated version of the ceremonial full name, which is The full name actually translates to a string of The full name reads as follows:[e][10], Krungthepmahanakhon Amonrattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilokphop Noppharatratchathaniburirom Udomratchaniwetmahasathan Amonphimanawatansathit Sakkathattiyawitsanukamprasit[f]กรุงเทพมหานคร อมรรัตนโกสินทร์ มหินทรายุธยา มหาดิลกภพ นพรัตนราชธานีบูรีรมย์ อุดมราชนิเวศน์มหาสถาน อมรพิมานอวตารสถิต สักกะทัตติยวิษณุกรรมประสิทธิ์. British diplomat John Crawfurd, visiting in 1822, estimated its population at no more than 50,000. Phra Nakhon, along with the neighbouring Pom Prap Sattru Phai and Samphanthawong Districts, formed what was the city proper in the late 19th century. Chinese rice and noodle dishes are always popular and with the addition of specials like Peking duck, there's so much to choose from. Nothing epitomizes Thai-Chinese cuisine like the eponymous specialty at this this semi-outdoor, shophouse-based restaurant in Bangkok’s Chinatown: … About Chinese New Year In Bangkok, Thailand. This was due to both a lack of secondary schools in the provinces and perceived higher standards of education in the capital. It's pronounced something like: Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahinthara Ayuthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom Udomratchaniwet Mahasathan Amon Piman Awatan Sathit Sakkathattiya Witsanukam Prasit. [151] Traffic accidents are a major hazard[152] while natural disasters are rare. While the BMA has authorised the practice in 287 sites, the majority of activity in another 407 sites takes place illegally. Thai baby names reflect the nobility, region, or the religion to which the baby belongs. [50], Following its establishment as capital city in 1782, Bangkok grew only slightly throughout the 18th and early 19th centuries.