Yaowarat Gold Museum

Who wants to be a millionaire?

Yaowarat Gold Museum

…………Say the word ‘Yaowarat’ and Bangkok residents automatically conjure up images of gold. Sure, gold shops line the streets of the district, but very few know that sitting above one of the shops lies a glittering museum. First, find the building. Once the tallest in the area, built by the Dutch for the family… then climb up to see the beautiful old postcards and photos posted in the stairwell… finally end up in the workshop, still in use today. The shop has been in the family for around 140 years and you can still find some of the goldsmiths’ original tools and learn lots of neat stuff.

BKK note: To an uninformed observer, the Tan Tok Kan clan’s most prized possession may look like a simple black rock. But when great-grandfather spotted this seemingly worthless piece of charcoal floating in the river, instead of ignoring it, he placed it on his family’s altar. This act came to represent his extremely diligent work ethic and now occupies a part of their family’s legacy. This also spawned the popular Thai saying, ‘Kon Ao Tan’ (literally ‘a person takes coal’), describing someone who isn’t afraid to work hard.

Yaowarat Gold Museum                                                                 

6^th Floor, TanTokKan Goldshop

Wanit Road, MRT Hua Lamphong

River Ferry Ratchawong Pier

9.30-16.00 daily

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