Odeon Circle

Odeon Circle or Wongwian Odeon (Thai: วงเวียนโอเดียน, pronounced [wōŋ.wīa̯n ʔōː.dîa̯n]; Chinese: 崇聖牌樓; pinyin: Chóng shèng páilóu) is a roundabout (traffic circle) in Bangkok, it's the intersection of Yaowarat, Charoen Krung, and Tri Mit or Mittaphap Thai-China roads in Samphanthawong sub-district, Samphanthawong district. In the circle, There's a red huge Chinese architecture gate (Paifang; 牌坊) which was built by Thai Chinese descents as a part of the celebrations of King Bhumibol’s 72nd anniversary in 1999. It's known as a gateway of Bangkok's Chinatown which Yaowarat as a main artery.

Odeon Circle and Chinese gate.

The name "Odeon" originated a movie theatre was a located here in the past named "Odeon", it was demolished in the late 1980s.[1] At the centre of the roundabout in the 1990s was a fountain. Until 1999, Thai Chinese descents joined together to build Chinese gate. The top of the gate is inscribed in both Thai and Chinese letters on both sides, which means that "Gate of Commemorates the 6th Cycle Anniversary of HM the King's Birthday". The gate was officially opened on 5 December 1999 by Princess Sirindhorn presiding over the ceremony.

On the ground floor of the roundabout. There's a brass plate with a Chinese inscription (地; de) that translates to "earth" or "soil" and at the same point. At the top there's another Chinese inscription (天; tiān) means "heaven" or "sky". According to the belief of the Chinese. If anyone is standing at this point, that person will be given the cosmic energy according to faith in Feng Shui.

Side of the gate, there're two lion statues making from white jade which was sent from government of China as a part of the celebrations of King Bhumibol’s 80th anniversary in 2007. The male lion puts his right foot on the ball, while the lioness puts her left foot on the cub. There was also a rabbit statue made of white jade in front, it was sent from government of China in 2011 as a part of the celebrations of King Bhumibol’s 84th anniversary, because he was born in the year of the Rabbit.[2] The back of the gate are a series of inscriptions describing stories of Chinese in Thailand and the gate construction details, such as Thailand-China relations, history of Yaowarat road and list of participants who donate construction money, etc.

Odeon Circle was dubbed "Dragon Head" because it was the beginning of Yaowarat, which it was called "Dragon Road".[3] It's a symbolic and one of the landmarks of Bangkok's Chinatown and also an emblem of Samphanthawong district office.[4]