Chatuchak Weekend Market

The Chatuchak Weekend Market (Template:Langx, Template:Rtgs {{#if:Chatuchak Weekend Market (TH).ogg|{{#ifexist:Media:Chatuchak Weekend Market (TH).ogg|<phonos file="Chatuchak Weekend Market (TH).ogg">pronunciation</phonos>|{{errorTemplate:Main other|Audio file "Chatuchak Weekend Market (TH).ogg" not found}}Template:Category handler}}}}), on Kamphaeng Phet 2 Road, Chatuchak, Bangkok, is the largest market in Thailand.<ref name="Agar2006">Template:Cite book</ref> Also known as JJ Market, it has more than 15,000 stalls and 11,505 vendors (2019),<ref name="BP-20190129">Template:Cite news</ref> divided into 27 sections. Chatuchak Market sells many different kinds of goods, including plants, antiques, consumer electronics, cosmetics, pets, fresh and dry food and drinks, ceramics, furniture and home accessories, clothing, and books.<ref name="Chatuchak">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

It is the world's largest and most diverse weekend market, with over 200,000 visitors every weekend.<ref name="Chatuchak"/><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

History

Chatuchak Market has been open since 1942.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 1948, Prime Minister Plaek Phibunsongkhram had a policy that every province was required to have its own market. Bangkok chose Sanam Luang as the market site. After a few months, the government moved the market to Sanam Chai. The market moved back to Sanam Luang in 1958.

Starting in 1975, General Kriangsak Chamanan had the policy of using Sanam Luang as a place of recreational activity for the populace which would also be used for commemorating ceremony. As General Kriangsak Chamanan was the chairman of State Railway of Thailand at that time, he thus permitted the use of land on the south side of Chatuchak Park as a market. His plan was to recycle waste from the looming Din Daeng Garbage Mountain which had stacked up across the decades to use as landfills, and he recruited military engineers for the job. The park was fully completed in 1978, when General Kriangsak Chomanan became the Prime Minister.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

By 1983, all of the merchants had moved to Chatuchak. At that time the market was called Phahonyothin Market. In 1987, its name was changed to Chatuchak Market.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

The clock tower is a distinctive landmark in the Chatuchuk Market. It was built in 1987 on the occasion of King Bhumibol Adulyadej's 60th birthday on 5 December 1987, a cooperative effort of the market administration and Thai-Chinese Merchant Association.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

On Tuesday 11 June 2024, at about 4am, a fire broke out in the ornamental fish zone in Srisomrat Market, also affectionately known as Sunday Market, adjacent to the bigger Chatuchak market, burning out 118 sales stalls, killing some 1,000 animals including snakes, spiders and Siamese fighting fish.<ref name=2024-06-12_ABC>More than 1,000 animals killed as fire rips through famous Bangkok market, ABC News Online/wires, 2024-06-12</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Economics

Monthly stall rent for vendors at the market ranges from 10,600 to 17,700 baht. A University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC) study found that most merchants have been selling at the weekend market for four to six years and have an average sales revenue of 139,500 baht per month.<ref name="BP-20190129" />

Trade in illegal wildlife

Studies have shown that the Chatuchak Market is a centre for trade in illegal wildlife.<ref name="Ching-2016"/><ref name=IUCN>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In a survey conducted on 28–29 March 2015, researchers counted 1,271 birds of 117 species for sale in 45 shops or stalls. Of the total, nine species were listed as "Threatened" on the IUCN Red List and eight species as "Near Threatened".<ref name=Ching-2016>Template:Cite journal</ref>Template:RP<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Market sections

• Clothing and accessories (sections 2–6, 10–26)
• Handicrafts (sections 8–11)
• Ceramics (sections 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 25)
• Furniture and home decor (sections 1,3,4,7,8)
• Food and beverage (sections 2, 3, 4, 23, 24, 26, 27)
• Plants and gardening (sections 3, 4)
• Art and galleries (section 7)
• Pets and accessories (sections 8, 9, 11, 13)
• Books (sections 1, 27)
• Antiques and collectibles (sections 1, 26)
• Miscellaneous and used clothing (sections 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 22, 25, 26)<ref name="Chatuchak" />

Transport

The market is served by the Kamphaeng Phet Road and is served by the Kamphaeng Phet (western end) and Chatuchak Park stations (eastern end) on the MRT Blue Line. The eastern end of the market is also served by Mo Chit BTS station on the Sukhumvit Line.

Gallery

• Bangkok - Jatujak Market 01.JPG

  One of its many small aisles, Chatuchak Market

• Chatuchak Weekend Market Soi.jpg

  A narrow aisle, Chatuchak Market

• Chatuchak weekend market.jpg

  Fish for sale, Chatuchak Market

• Fake football shirts.jpg

  Fake football shirts, Chatuchak Market

• Thai Silk.jpg

  Thai silk, Chatuchak Market

• Chatuchak clocktower.jpg

  Clock tower, Chatuchak Market

• Chatuchak weekend market roofs.jpg

  Central clock tower, Chatuchak Market

• Taxis and minibusues (8271081864).jpg

  Taxi and minibus queue, Chatuchak Market

External links

• Chatuchak Market Website
• Template:Wikivoyage-inline