Baan Chinpracha: Phuket architecture

Editor's Comment

Good point: The mansion is the first of its kind to be built on the island thus making it the oldest as well. Tourists are allowed to visit the house free of charge.

Bad Point: Festive seasons attract a lot of tourists so avoid visiting the mansion during these times.

Summary: Baan Chinpracha is considered to be a landmark on Phuket Island, as well as a cultural and historical center for locals and tourists who visit the island. The mansion is so popular that it is sometimes used in Thai movies and soap operas.

01 The TripPacker's Review

Take a good look at the houses on Phuket Island and you will notice that many are not Thai-styled, but in fact Chinese or Sino-Portuguese. The reason for this is because of the influence of Western countries as well as Thailand’s neighboring countries during the period of King Rama 5 and 6 (AD 1868-1925). One house that is open to the public for viewing is Baan Chinpracha.

Baan Chinpracha is a 2-storey mansion belonging to the Tantavanich family; a Chinese mining family. The mansion was built in 1903, and was the first of its kind to incorporate Sino-Portuguese architecture.

Make sure you always

The mansion has been used to film movies such as ‘Heaven and Earth’ and ‘Golden Village’.
Locals call the mansion ‘ung mor lao’.
The Sino-Portuguese style can also be called Colonial style.

อ่านต่อ

Though the mansion is over a century old, the interior design and furniture have not changed much since the first owner. Almost all of the furniture inside the mansion comes from Penang Island (Malaysia), and is made of wood with Chinese designs painted in gold. The floor is decorated with mosaic tiles, and the yellow stained-glass front door comes from Italy. However, the most prominent feature of the mansion is the square pond and sunroof in the middle of the mansion that illuminates the interior of the mansion.

Baan Chinpracha is considered to be a landmark on Phuket Island, as well as a cultural and historical center for locals and tourists who visit the island. The mansion is so popular that it is sometimes used in Thai movies and soap operas.

02 General Info + How to go

Baan Chinpracha

Address	:	99 Krabi Rd., Talad Nua Sub-district, Mueang District, Phuket
GPS	:	7.885844959, 98.38413603
Contact no.	:	076 211 081, 076 211 167
Opening Hrs.	:	Open every day from 11.30– 14.00

How to get there

Take Thepkasat 402 road past Dibuk road intersection. Continue until Klang road intersection and turn right. Notice the old buildings on either side of the road.