Odeon Circle and Chinese gate., 300px Odeon Circle or Wongwian Odeon ( th, วงเวียนโอเดียน, ; zh, 崇聖牌樓;

pinyin Hanyu Pinyin (), often shortened to just pinyin, is the official romanization system for Standard Mandarin Chinese in China, and to some extent, in Singapore and Malaysia. It is often used to teach Mandarin, normally written in Chinese fo ...

: ''Chóng shèng páilóu'') is a roundabout in

Bangkok Bangkok, officially known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon and colloquially as Krung Thep, is the capital and most populous city of Thailand. The city occupies in the Chao Phraya River delta in central Thailand and has an estimated populatio ...

. It is the intersection of

Yaowarat Yaowarat Road ( th, ถนนเยาวราช, ; ) in Samphanthawong District is the main artery of Bangkok's Chinatown. Modern Chinatown now covers a large area around Yaowarat and Charoen Krung Road. It has been the main centre for trading ...

, Charoen Krung, and Tri Mit or Mittaphap Thai-China roads in Samphanthawong district. A red

Paifang A ''paifang'', also known as a ''pailou'', is a traditional style of Chinese architectural arch or gateway structure. Evolved from the Indian subcontinent's '' torana'' through the introduction of Buddhism to China, it has developed many styles ...

, which was built by

Thai Chinese Thai Chinese (also known as Chinese Thais, Sino-Thais), Thais of Chinese origin ( th, ชาวไทยเชื้อสายจีน; ''exonym and also domestically''), endonym Thai people ( th, ชาวไทย), are Chinese descenda ...

descents as a part of the celebrations of King Bhumibol’s 72nd anniversary in 1999, is located at the center of the circle. It is known as a gateway of

Bangkok's Chinatown Bangkok Bangkok, officially known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon and colloquially as Krung Thep, is the capital and most populous city of Thailand. The city occupies in the Chao Phraya River delta in central Thailand and has an estimat ...

which Yaowarat as a main artery. The circle gained its name from a movie theater in the area, which was demolished in the late 1980s. The roundabout's center originally had a fountain, until it was replaced by the Chinese gate in 1999. The top of the gate is inscribed in both Thai and Chinese letters on both sides, which means that "Gate of Commemorates the 6th Cycle Anniversary of HM the King's Birthday". The gate was officially opened on 5 December 1999 by Princess

Sirindhorn Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, The Princess Royal and Princess Debaratana Rajasuda ( th, มหาจักรีสิรินธร, ; ; born April 2, 1955), formerly Princess Sirindhorn Debaratanasuda Kitivadhanadulsobhak ( th, สมเ ...

presiding over the ceremony. On the ground floor of the roundabout. There is a brass plate with a Chinese inscription (地; ''de'') that translates to "earth" or "soil" and at the same point. At the top there is another Chinese inscription (天; ''tiān'') means "heaven" or "sky". According to the belief of the Chinese. If anyone is standing at this point, that person will be given the cosmic energy according to faith in Feng Shui. On the side of the gate, there are two lion statues made from white jade, which was given by the

government of China The Government of the People's Republic of China () is an authoritarian political system in the People's Republic of China under the exclusive political leadership of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). It consists of legislative, executive, ...

as a part of the celebrations of King Bhumibol’s 80th anniversary in 2007. The male lion puts his right foot on a ball, while the lioness puts her left foot on a cub. There is also a rabbit statue made of white jade in front of the gate, it was sent from government of China in 2011 as a part of the celebrations of King Bhumibol’s 84th anniversary, because he was born in the

year of the Rabbit The rabbit ( 兔) is the fourth in the twelve-year cycle of animals that appear in the Chinese zodiac related to the Chinese calendar. The Year of the Rabbit is associated with the Earthly Branch symbol 卯. In the Vietnamese zodiac and t ...

. Odeon Circle was dubbed " Dragon Head" because it was the beginning of Yaowarat, which it was called "Dragon Road". It's a symbolic and one of the landmarks of Bangkok's Chinatown and also an emblem of Samphanthawong district office.

Neighbouring places

Wat Traimit The Golden Buddha, officially titled Phra Phuttha Maha Suwanna Patimakon ( th, พระพุทธมหาสุวรรณปฏิมากร; sa, Buddhamahāsuvarṇapaṭimākara), commonly known in Thai as Phra Sukhothai Traimit ( th, ...

and Golden Buddha *Samitivej Chinatown Hospital *

Thian Fah Foundation Hospital Thian Fah Foundation Hospital, shortened to Thian Fah Foundation ( th, โรงพยาบาลเทียนฟ้ามูลนิธิ, เทียนฟ้ามูลนิธิ; traditional Chinese: 天華醫院; simplified Chinese: ...

and

Guan Yin Guanyin () is a Bodhisattva associated with compassion. She is the East Asian representation of Avalokiteśvara ( sa, अवलोकितेश्वर) and has been adopted by other Eastern religions, including Chinese folk religion. She ...

Shrine * Chaloem Buri Intersection

References

External links

* category:Buildings and structures in Bangkok category:Tourist attractions in Bangkok Samphanthawong district category:Road junctions in Bangkok category:1999 establishments in Thailand category:Monuments and memorials in Thailand {{coord, 13, 45, 13.81, N, 100, 30, 47.01, E, display=title