Chiang Mai's Chinatown is a Must-Visit Destination for Tourists, Offering Abundant and Affordable Goods, and Convenient Returns via Zhongtong Express
If you happen to find Chinese characters appearing in a place abroad, it's undoubtedly a Chinatown of that place. Chinese people have a remarkable ability to survive and thrive worldwide, and they invariably establish communities where they can gather. This has led to the emergence of Chinatowns, which have been passed down through generations by the founders, even if subsequent generations no longer speak Chinese, their businesses continue to flourish.
A Chinatown always has a prominent sign, namely Chinese gold shops. In Chiang Mai's Chinatown, the largest and most beautiful shop is undoubtedly a gold shop. Gold has long been considered currency and a symbol of wealth. Nowadays, it's mostly used as an accessory and a symbol of wealth, and it's still beloved by people.
Basic Chinatowns also have one or two temples, either Buddhist or Taoist, or both. Away from home, people often need spiritual comfort, which serves as a constraint, encouraging them to be benevolent.
Another type of Chinese shop that's invariably present is a Chinese pharmacy. For example, in Chiang Mai's Chinatown, there's a pharmacy with large Chinese characters: 'Pharmacy', which is immediately apparent. The owners of these shops are typically from established families, and they don't necessarily have deep medical knowledge, but they can effectively treat common ailments like colds and headaches. The medicines they sell include local remedies and traditional Chinese medicines that Chinese people have long favored.
Chiang Mai's Chinatown also has a large market with a sign written in Chinese: 'Dragon Fruit Market'. Although one point of the dragon has fallen off, it's clear that this is a Chinese market. We went to browse it, and the goods were quite varied, mostly local specialties. Tourists buy local produce here to send as gifts.
These things are quite affordable. Personally, I think it's a good idea to buy seafood, dried goods, and dried fruits here. The merchants won't overcharge, and the Chinese-Thai merchants are quite honest. It's also common to encounter Chinese tourists here. Last time we were browsing at Chiang Mai's Dragon Fruit Market, we met a family from Chengdu who bought a lot of local produce there.
Don't be afraid to buy a lot of things, there's also China's Zhongtong Express at Dragon Fruit Market, listing the shipping destinations, weights, and costs in Chinese, which is very convenient for Chinese tourists.
