Chinatown Secret Society Walking Tour in Bangkok

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3 hours (approximately)
Offered in: English

Explore the surviving history of the secret society known as “Ang Yi,” which once wielded great influence in Bangkok’s Chinatown. Discover stories that helped shape the city’s Chinese heritage.

Walk with your guide as you uncover why Thailand outlawed the mysterious “Ang Yi” societies. Discover how their secret world once shaped the nation’s history.

Visit historic Chinese shrines, century-old houses, and narrow alleys across Talat Noi and Yaowarat. Explore places once linked to Bangkok’s secret societies and old Chinatown history.

Learn about Dr. Sun Yat-sen, the founding father of the Republic of China, who once visited Thailand and met with Chinese revolutionary supporters — including members of local brotherhoods known as Ang Yi, who aided his cause.

Finally, journey deep into Bangkok’s Chinatown, a world of living history hidden in plain sight. You’ll see Thailand from a perspective few have ever known, and leave with both enjoyment and a deeper understanding of its true past.

What's Included

Admission fee
Guided walking tour
English-speaking professional licensed guide
Meals and drinks
Hotel transfers
Tips for the guide (optional)
Personal expenses

Meeting and pickup

Meeting point
Wat Mangkon

MRT Blue Line Wat Magkon (Gate Exit 1)

End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Itinerary

Duration: 3 hours (approximately)
  • 1

    Located on the rooftop of the police station, this shrine was originally the home of Yi Kor Hong — a highly influential leader of a Chinese secret society in Bangkok’s Chinatown. His wealth and reputation were widely known, and even Dr. Sun Yat-sen, the leader of the Chinese Revolution, once visited him to seek financial support. Despite his success, Yi Kor Hong was famous for his generosity. He helped those in need and earned deep respect from the local community. Although he passed away in modest circumstances, his kindness and legacy live on, and he continues to be honored by many people today.

    20 minutes • Admission ticket free
  • 2
    Chinatown / Yaowarat

    Yaowarat is one of Bangkok’s largest and oldest Chinese communities, with a history stretching back centuries. It’s no surprise that this area is filled with stories connected to former Ang Yi leaders and their influence on local life. As we walk through the district, you’ll pass several historic locations, including Tao Alley — once the most famous red-light district in Bangkok over a hundred years ago; the building where Dr. Sun Yat-sen delivered speeches and raised funds for the Chinese Revolution; and a well-known haunted lane where many Chinese migrants once ended their lives beneath an old tree after struggling to find success.

    30 minutes • Admission ticket free
  • 3

    This shrine once served as a base for one of the Ang Yi groups in old Chinatown. According to local stories, it even hid a secret tunnel once used by the secret society to evade police raids, leading directly to the river. Though the tunnel no longer exists, the legend remains one of the most intriguing tales connected to the shrine.

    15 minutes • Admission ticket free
  • 4
    Rong Kuak Shrine

    This historic shrine has stood for generations. Its Ang Yi leader once served as a Thai government official, and his daughter, who later inherited the position as the group’s head, eventually became a consort in the Thai royal court.

    15 minutes • Admission ticket free
  • 5
    Talat Noi

    In this area of Talat Noi, there is a hidden pagoda that even most Thais have never heard of. Tucked between buildings, its unusual and secluded location makes it one of the district’s best-kept landmarks, a secret spot known only to a few.

    5 minutes • Admission ticket free

Additional info

  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Not suitable for Wheelchair users
  • Not suitable for Visually impaired people
  • Not suitable for Hearing-impaired people
Supplied by The Wild Chronicles
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Tags

Half-day Tours
Historical Tours
Walking Tours
City Tours
Crime Tours
Seasonal

Cancellation Policy

All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.

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