Editing Bangkok (section)

===Cityscape===
[[File:Chao Phraya River view from the State Tower, Bangkok 2017.jpg|thumb|alt=View of Chao Phraya River surrounded by buildings|View of the [[Chao Phraya River]] looking south from Bang Rak, 2017]]

Bangkok's districts often do not accurately represent the functional divisions of its neighbourhoods or land usage. Although [[urban planning]] policies date back to the commission of the Litchfield Plan in 1960, which set out strategies for land use, transportation, and general infrastructure improvements, zoning regulations were not fully implemented until 1992. As a result, the city grew organically throughout its rapid expansion, both horizontally as [[ribbon development]]s extended along newly built roads, and vertically, with increasing numbers of high rises and skyscrapers being built in commercial areas.<ref name="Medhi">{{cite book|first=Medhi |last= Krongkaew |chapter=The changing urban system in a fast-growing city and economy: The case of Bangkok and Thailand |editor1-first=Fu-chen |editor1-last=Lo |editor2-first= Yue-man |editor2-last=Yeung |title= Emerging World Cities in Pacific Asia |publisher=United Nations University Press |year=1996|isbn=978-92-808-0907-7|page=322}}</ref>

The city has grown from its original centre along the river into a sprawling metropolis surrounded by swaths of suburban residential development extending north and south into neighbouring provinces. The highly populated and growing cities of [[Nonthaburi (city)|Nonthaburi]], [[Pak Kret]], [[Rangsit (city)|Rangsit]], and [[Mueang Samut Prakan District|Samut Prakan]] are effectively now suburbs of Bangkok. Nevertheless, large agricultural areas remain within the city proper at its eastern and western fringes, and a small number of forest area is found within the city limits: {{convert|3887|rai|km2 sqmi|sigfig=2}}, amounting to 0.4 per cent of the city area.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://forestinfo.forest.go.th/Content/file/stat2562/Table_2.pdf |script-title=th:ตารางที่ 2 พื้นที่ป่าไม้ แยกรายจังหวัด พ.ศ.2562 |year=2019 |website=Royal Forest Department |language=Thai |trans-title=Table 2 Forest area, separated by province, 2019 |access-date=6 April 2021 |archive-date=3 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221203032946/https://forestinfo.forest.go.th/Content/file/stat2562/Table_2.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> Land use in the city consists of 23 percent residential use, 24 percent agriculture, and 30 percent used for commerce, industry, and government.<ref name="BMA geo"/> The BMA's City Planning Department (CPD) is responsible for planning and shaping further development. It published master plan updates in 1999 and 2006, and a third revision is undergoing public hearings in 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bangkokplan.org/website/index.php?option=com_wrapper&view=wrapper&Itemid=54&lang=en |title=History |website=CPD |publisher=City Planning Department|access-date=25 September 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130101120642/http://www.bangkokplan.org/website/index.php?option=com_wrapper&view=wrapper&Itemid=54&lang=en |archive-date=1 January 2013 }}</ref>
[[File:บรรยากาศงาน อุ่นไอรัก คลายความหนาว ครั้งที่ 2 (38).jpg|alt=A large plaza with a bronze statue of a man riding on horseback; beyond the plaza is a large two-storey building with a domed roof, arched windows and columns|left|thumb|The [[Royal Plaza (Thailand)|Royal Plaza]] in Dusit District was inspired by King Chulalongkorn's visits to Europe.]]
Bangkok's historic centre remains the [[Rattanakosin Island]] in Phra Nakhon District.<ref name="EBOT">{{cite news|url=https://www.bangkokpost.com/travel/1389986/exploring-bangkoks-old-town |title=Exploring Bangkok's old town|last=Mekloy|first=Pongpet|newspaper= Bangkok Post|year=2018}}</ref> It is the site of the Grand Palace and the City Pillar Shrine, primary symbols of the city's founding, as well as important Buddhist temples. Phra Nakhon, along with the neighbouring Pom Prap Sattru Phai and Samphanthawong Districts, formed what was the city proper in the late 19th century. Many traditional neighbourhoods and markets are found here, including the Chinese settlement of [[Sampheng]].<ref name="EBOT"/> The city was expanded toward Dusit District in the early 19th century, following King Chulalongkorn's relocation of the royal household to the new [[Dusit Palace]]. The buildings of the palace, including the neoclassical [[Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall]], as well as the [[Royal Plaza (Thailand)|Royal Plaza]] and [[Ratchadamnoen Avenue]] which leads to it from the Grand Palace, reflect the heavy influence of European architecture at the time. Major government offices line the avenue, as does the [[Democracy Monument]]. The area is the site of the country's seat of power as well as the city's most popular tourist landmarks.<ref name="EBOT"/>

[[File:View from Baiyoke Sky Hotel, Bangkok (7053110333) cropped.jpg|thumb|alt=A lot of high-rise buildings|The [[Sukhumvit Road|Sukhumvit]] area appears as a sea of high-rise buildings from [[Baiyoke Tower II]], the tallest building in Bangkok from 1997 to 2015.]]
In contrast with the low-rise historic areas, the business district on [[Si Lom Road|Si Lom]] and [[Sathon Road|Sathon]] Roads in Bang Rak and Sathon Districts teems with skyscrapers. It is the site of many of the country's major corporate headquarters, but also of some of the city's [[red-light district]]s. The [[Siam area|Siam]] and [[Ratchaprasong]] areas in Pathum Wan are home to some of the largest shopping malls in Southeast Asia. Numerous retail outlets and hotels also stretch along [[Sukhumvit Road]] leading southeast through Watthana and Khlong Toei Districts. More office towers line the streets branching off Sukhumvit, especially [[Asok Montri Road|Asok Montri]], while upmarket housing is found in many of its [[soi|''soi''s]] ('alley' or 'lane').
[[File:(2022) อนุสาวรีย์ชัยสมรภูมิ เขตราชเทวี กรุงเทพมหานคร (1).jpg|thumb|alt=View of Victory Monument|[[Victory Monument (Bangkok)|Victory Monument]] in 2021]]
Bangkok lacks a single distinct central business district. Instead, the areas of Siam and Ratchaprasong serve as a "central shopping district" containing many of the bigger malls and commercial areas in the city, as well as [[Siam Station]], formerly the only transfer point between the city's then-two elevated train lines (the [[Sukhumvit Line|Sukhumvit]] and [[Silom Line|Silom]] BTS lines).<ref name="McGrath CSD">{{cite book |last1=McGrath |first1= Brian |editor1-last= Benites |editor1-first= Cecilia |editor2-last= Lyster |editor2-first= Clare |title= Regarding Public Space |date=2005 |publisher= Princeton Architectural Press |location= New York|isbn= 978-1-56898-544-2 |pages=46–53 |chapter= Bangkok's CSD}}</ref> The [[Victory Monument (Bangkok)|Victory Monument]] in Ratchathewi District is among its most important road junctions, serving over 100 bus lines as well as an elevated train station. From the monument, [[Phahonyothin Road|Phahonyothin]] and [[Ratchawithi Road|Ratchawithi]]&nbsp;/ Din Daeng Roads respectively run north and east, linking to major residential areas. Most of the high-density development areas are within the {{convert|113|km2|adj=on}} area encircled by the [[Ratchadaphisek Road|Ratchadaphisek]] inner ring road. Ratchadaphisek is lined with businesses and retail outlets, and office buildings also cluster around Ratchayothin Intersection in Chatuchak District to the north. Further from the city centre, most areas are primarily mid- or low-density residential. The Thonburi side of the city is less developed, with fewer high rises. Except for a few secondary urban centres, Thonburi, in the same manner as the outlying eastern districts, consists mostly of residential and rural areas.

While most of Bangkok's streets are fronted by vernacular [[shophouse]]s, the largely unrestricted building euphoria of the 1980s has transformed the city into an urban area of skyscrapers and high rises of contrasting and clashing styles.<ref>Hamilton 2000, pp.&nbsp;465–466.</ref> There are 581 [[skyscraper]]s over {{convert|90|m|abbr=off}} tall in the city. Bangkok was ranked as the world's eighth-tallest city in 2016.<ref name= "tudl0867.home.xs4all.nl">{{Cite web|url=http://tudl0867.home.xs4all.nl/skylines.html|title=The World's Best Skylines|website=tudl0867.home.xs4all.nl|access-date=10 October 2016|archive-date=4 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151004041936/http://tudl0867.home.xs4all.nl/skylines.html|url-status=live}}</ref> As a result of persistent [[economic disparity]], many slums have emerged in the city. In 2000, over one million people were living in about 800 [[informal settlements]].<ref name="TA">{{cite web |url=http://www.thaiappraisal.org/pdfNew/HABITAT1new.pdf |title=Global report on human settlements 2003 – City report: Bangkok |last=Pornchokchai |first=Sopon |year=2003 |access-date=19 September 2018 |archive-date=13 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210413123830/http://www.thaiappraisal.org/pdfNew/HABITAT1new.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> Some settlements are [[Squatting in Thailand|squatted]] such as the large slums in [[Khlong Toei District]]. In total, there were 125 squatted areas.<ref name="TA" />

{{wide image|Bangkok Night Wikimedia Commons.jpg|640px|Skyscrapers of [[Ratchadamri]] and Sukhumvit at night, viewed across [[Lumphini Park]] from the [[Si Lom]] – [[Sathon]] business district|alt=An expansive cityscape with several skyscrapers in the foreground, a park in the centre, and a large group of buildings across the park}}