The sights, sounds and smells of Bangkok's Chinatown are an assault to the senses, so you should come prepared. For anyone with a sense of adventure, a day lost among the many market alleys and street food vendors can be the most memorable of any spent in Bangkok. Thanks to the mix of Chinese and Thai cultures, this part of town is unique and fascinating, especially for photographers who'll find stunning temples, exotic street food and everyday street scenes just begging to be captured. It can be daunting to enter this bustling area without a plan, so check out my pick of the best things to do in Chinatown so you can make the most of your day. At night, Yaowarat Road - the high street of Bangkok's Chinatown - transforms into one of the largest street food spots in the world. Popular offerings include dim sum, oyster omelettes, flat noodles in a pepper broth, and lots of fresh seafood. There are also many exotic fruits on offer, as well as homemade ice cream (coconut, durian). Traffic is very congested in this area, so I recommend taking the MRT to Wat Mangkon MRT Station and walk for about 5 minutes to Yaowarat Road, passing by China Gate and the car park top floor at the Odeon building, you might need to pay 200 THB to the security guard if he sees you enter.

Tourists flock into Wat Traimit to see the largest gold Buddha in the world (5.5-tonnes). The revered statue, seated on an altar and surrounded by traditional Thai golden arches, is breathtaking and is a regular pilgrimage for Buddhists and inquisitive tourists. The Buddhist temple is a great stop on your way to or from the Hua Lampong MRT Station. The view from the top of Wat Traimit offers a sight of the ornate Chinatown Gate nearby and receives a refreshing breeze, which blows through the open doors of the temple, meaning you can enjoy marvelling at the dimensions of the Buddha statue without perspiring from the heat.

The Kuan Yim shrine is located at the Thian Fa Foundation o n Yaowarat Road in Bangkok's Chinatown. It is one of the most popular shrines in the area being particularly busy on Chinese holidays. Locals come to make offerings and pray for blessings such as fertility, success, health, and happiness. This is not the biggest chinese temple in Chinatown, but for me this one is more photogenic, and it's situated right between China Gate and the main area in Yaowarat road, so very easy to stop by.