Bangkok (Thailand)

Great sandbanks across the shallow, winding river restrict traffic to small ocean-going ships. Although it is the most modern city in Thailand and has many foreign business concerns, it still retains a distinct Thai appearance.



With ornate Buddhist temples, among them the 200 foot-high pagoda of Wat-Chi'ang, and royal palaces at its centre, the city has expanded into modern business districts and parks.



Industries, found mainly in the suburbs, include rice, paper and sawmills, an oil refinery and railway workshops. A large Chinese population plays an important role in the city's commercial life, as elsewhere in South-East Asia. Across the river is Thonburi, which is sometimes regarded as part of the Bangkok urban area.



Bangkok was founded in 1782, when it succeeded the older capital of Ayutthaya, situated 40 miles farther north. Bangkok's Siamese name is Krung Thep.