The Other Bank
The tourists cluster inside the old moat, but the Chiang Mai that outsiders built lived across the river. Follow the teak money along the Ping to a polyglot trading world the guidebooks route around.
4.41|105 minutes|4.5 km|7 Stops
Start
Warorot Market: Kad Luang, the Big Market
1
Warorot Market: Kad Luang, the Big Market
The commercial heart of riverside Chiang Mai, a century-old market hall where local, Chinese, and Sikh trade concentrated on the near bank of the Ping.
2
Ton Lamyai Market and the Chinatown Shrines
A riverbank market built on the rulers' old elephant stables, ringed by Chinese shrines that mark where teak, migration, and commerce met.
3
Ban Ho Mosque: the Chin Haw Mosque
A nineteenth-century mosque built by Yunnanese Muslim caravan traders who linked the Lanna kingdom to southern China by mule and horse.
4
Nawarat Bridge: the Historic Ping Crossing
The historic link between the walled city and the far bank, where a wooden bridge stood as far back as the eighteen thirties.
5
Wat Ket Karam and its Community Museum
An old riverside temple with a deliberately tilted chedi and a volunteer museum that preserves the memory of the mixed Wat Gate community.
6
The First Church of Chiang Mai
The first Protestant church structure in northern Siam, built of teak weatherboard on land granted by the ruler of Chiang Mai.
7
The Chiang Mai Gymkhana Club
A sports club founded in eighteen ninety-eight by the British teak-trade community, the walk's southern outlier that closes the teak-money arc.
Best Time to Visit
Start in the morning, ideally between eight and ten, when the markets are at their liveliest and the riverside air is still cool before the midday heat builds. The near-bank markets wind down through the afternoon, so doing them first lets you cross the bridge and reach the quieter far-bank temple, church, and club as the day warms. Avoid the heaviest heat of early afternoon, and if you are here during the November festival season, the Nawarat Bridge and riverbanks glow at night with floating lights.
Pro Tips
- •Do the near-bank markets first while they are busy, then cross Nawarat Bridge, since the far-bank stops stay open and calmer later in the day.
- •The Wat Ket community museum is volunteer-run with irregular hours, so treat it as a happy bonus rather than a guaranteed stop, and leave a small donation if it is open.
- •The Gymkhana Club is a two-kilometre walk south and is optional; grab a ride there and back if the heat is high, or skip it and still get the full arc.
- •Carry small cash for the markets and for museum and temple donations, as many riverside vendors and the volunteer museum do not take cards.
- •Cross Nawarat Bridge on the pedestrian side and pause midway to orient yourself, with the market behind you and the settlers' far bank ahead.
- •Wear slip-on shoes, since you will remove them at the mosque and inside temple buildings and the church interior.
Safety & Precautions
- Chiang Mai is hot and humid for much of the year, so carry water, wear sun protection, and pace yourself in the midday sun, especially on the longer stretch south to the Gymkhana Club.
- This is a walk past active places of worship: at Ban Ho Mosque and the temples, dress modestly with shoulders and knees covered, remove your shoes where required, and keep your voice low and your camera respectful.
- During the monsoon months, roughly June through October, sudden heavy rain is common, so bring a compact umbrella or poncho and take care on wet market floors and bridge surfaces.
- Traffic along the riverside roads and near the bridge can be busy and fast, so cross only at marked points and stay alert for motorbikes weaving through the market lanes.
Gallery
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