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Thalang Road
Though often called ‘Sino-Thai architecture’, Phuket Baba buildings are actually similar to those found in the former British Straits Settlements, particularly Penang.
Purpose-built as a motorcycle showroom, this new building marks the entry to Thalang Road, from Thepkassatri Road. The low-scale, terracotta roof and rhythmic bays of the new structure are sympathetic to the old shophouse architecture of Thalang Road.
Thalang Road is cosmopolitan. While the majority of shopkeepers are Baba, a number are Thai Muslim or Indian. Thalang Road is famous for textile shops and haberdasheries.
Thai Muslims run batik shops and roti shops. Thais of Indian descent sell beddings and cotton clothes imported from India.
 Soi Romanee is a small lane off Thalang Road, with a view of Wat Kallang along Deebuk Road. Up till the early 20th century, Soi Romanee was the towns red light district, lined brothels and opium dens. These catered to Chinese male mining workers, who sojourned here without the womenfolk.
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Bo(ok)hemian Café at 61 Thalang Road is a café for book lovers and coffee enthusiasts. It is also an art gallery and film club.
It was started by a young doctor and poet, Dr. Marut Lepketch, and has become a hangout for young Thai writers, artists and film-makers and web designers from Bangkok. The Andaman Writers Network is also based here.
The premises of Charoen Clinic at 31 Thalang Road have been stylishly refurbished, with comfortable waiting areas for its patients.
The oldest Chinese herbal medicine shop in Phuket is on 16 Thalang Road. They specialize in combining western and eastern cures, and are also suppliers to Phukets health spas.
 Wilai, a restaurant on 14 Thalang Road selling Phuket-Penang food, is a new heritage business started by a former university lecturer in the late 1990s.
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Behind Thalang Road is the Saengtham Shrine, established in 1891, with an entrance from Phangnga Road and a secret entrance through Wilais restaurant.
This temple was recently restored and won a national conservation award.
This three-storey corner building, a landmark at the junction of Yaowarat Raod, is now a hardware shop. From this junction, Krabi Road and Thalang Road extend in opposite directions.
This typical signboard in Phuket displays the business name in Thai, Chinese and English. Bhuket is the old name for Phuket, before it was officially changed in the 1960s.
 City Hall is promoting the old town as Phukets heritage and cultural attraction. In April 2005, the Miss Thailand contestants walked in procession down Thalang Road, an event that was televised nationally.
They were led by the Mayor of Phuket, dressed in local yaya style.
Thalang Road was closed to traffic on that day.
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