Chang Rong Si Bridge (, , ) is a bridge and monument in the

Rattanakosin Island Rattanakosin Island (, , ) is a historic area in the Phra Nakhon District in the city of Bangkok, Thailand. It is bordered by the Chao Phraya River to the west and various canals to the east that were dug to serve as moats for what was originall ...

area at a

tripoint A triple border, tripoint, trijunction, triple point, or tri-border area is a geography, geographical point at which the boundaries of three countries or Administrative division, subnational entities meet. There are 175 international tripoints ...

between Phra Borom Maha Ratchawang and San Chaopho Suea with Wat Ratchabophit Subdistricts of Phra Nakhon District, the historic centre of Bangkok. The bridge spans Khlong Khu Mueang Doem, the old city moat, and is locate behind the Ministry of Defense and at the front corner of the

Ministry of Interior An interior ministry or ministry of the interior (also called ministry of home affairs or ministry of internal affairs) is a government department that is responsible for domestic policy, public security and law enforcement. In some states, th ...

. It signifies the beginning of

Bamrung Mueang Road Bamrung Mueang Road (, ) is the second paved road in Bangkok. It was built in 1863 after Charoen Krung Road, in the reign of King Mongkut (Rama IV). It cut through the old fortified city of Rattanakosin Island from west to east, beginning near t ...

as it continues eastward from Kanlayana Maitri Road. Atsadang Road meets the bridge's eastern foot at the eponymous Saphan Chang Rong Si Intersection, while Rachini Road runs alongside the canal on the opposite side. The bridge was originally built for elephants that returned from war and was located near a rice mill, hence came the name "Saphan Chang Rong Si", which literally means "elephants' bridge at rice mill". It was originally a wooden bridge and there were three similar bridges which were later demolished. During the reign of King

Chulalongkorn Chulalongkorn (20 September 1853 – 23 October 1910), posthumously honoured as King Chulalongkorn the Great, was the fifth king of Siam from the Chakri dynasty, titled Rama V. Chulalongkorn's reign from 1868 until his death in 1910 was cha ...

(Rama V), the bridge was restored by Prince

Damrong Rajanubhab Prince Tisavarakumara, the Prince Damrong Rajanubhab (; Full transcription is "Somdet Phrachao Borommawongthoe Phra-ongchao Ditsawarakuman Kromphraya Damrongrachanuphap" (สมเด็จพระเจ้าบรมวงศ์เธอ พ� ...

, the chancellor of the interior, in 1910. The end pieces feature sculptures of dogs' heads that symbolise the year of the dog in the

Chinese zodiac The Chinese zodiac is a traditional classification scheme based on the Chinese calendar that assigns an animal and its reputed attributes to each year in a repeating twelve-year (or duodenary) cycle. The zodiac is very important in traditional ...

. Chang Rong Si was listed as a registered

ancient monument An ancient monument can refer to any early or historical manmade structure or architecture. Certain ancient monuments are of cultural importance for nations and become symbols of international recognition, including the Baalbek, ruins of Baalbek ...

of Bangkok in 1988. At the foot of the bridge and at the northeast corner of the intersection is the Fazal Building. The striking historic building was built in 1931. Originally, it was a Muslim merchant's department store named " E. M. Katib" selling European glassware, perfume, and crockery.

Gallery

file:สะพานช้างโรงสี Saphan Chang Rong Si Bridge (October 2021) - img 04.jpg, The Dog Head sculpture of the bridge file:Atsadang rd, Wat ratchabophit, Bangkok - panoramio.jpg, Namesake intersection at the end of the bridge File:อาคารฟาซาล Fazal Building เชิงสะพานช้างโรงสี (October 2021) - img 01.jpg, Fazal Building, a historical building at the end of the bridge File:สะพานช้างโรงสี Saphan Chang Rong Si Bridge (October 2021) - img 02.jpg, View on the bridge towards the Ministry of Defence สะพานช้างโรงสี Saphan Chang Rong Si Bridge (October 2021) - img 06.jpg, View from the bridge towards

and Fazal Building

References

External links

*{{cite web, url=http://www.thapra.lib.su.ac.th/ratanagosin/chang-bridge.htm, title=สะพานช้างโรงสี, work=Rattanakosin Island Information Center, language=thai Phra Nakhon district Bridges in Bangkok category:Registered ancient monuments in Bangkok category:Road junctions in Bangkok