When visiting a foreign country, the best way to learn and understand the history, traditions, and way-of-life of cultures is to visit the local museum. If life on Phuket Island intrigues you, head toPhuket Thaihua Museum.

Phuket Thaihua was once the oldest Chinese language school on Phuket before it became a museum. The school’s buildings have been renovated to display exhibits about Phuket’s Chinese community. There are altogether 13 rooms to visit.

Here is an overview of the 13 rooms.

1. The Dragon’s Land: This room explains the journey of Chinese immigrants through the years and their reason for coming to Phuket.

2. Forming Bonds: Over the years, various groups of Chinese have immigrated to Phuket. This room explains how the groups formed the community it is today. The highlight of this room is a painting of a Chinese millionaire that owned a mine during the reign of King Rama 5.

3. Phuket-China Relations: This room depicts the closely-knit relationship of the islanders and Chinese immigrants. The highlight of this room is a Chinese Buddha image.

4. Brotherly Love: This exhibit is about the founder of the school and various affluent people.

5. Looking at the past: This room shows how the school was built, the Chinese know-how of building houses, Chinese architecture and archaeology.

6. The Way-of-life: This room is the main room that depicts the way-of-life of the islanders.

7. Once upon a time: Shows the importance of mining and the mining techniques of Phuket.

8. A Thousand Colors: This room shows the marriage ceremony of the various ethnic groups that live on Phuket.

9. Soon Pin: This room is a biography of the school’s former headmaster.

10. Chinese School: This room shows how a typical classroom in the Chinese school was.

11. Half Chinese: This room is a highlight of various old and important buildings on the island.

12. Inheritance: This room displays images of festivals, traditions, and food of Phuket. The highlights of this room are the teachings of Confucius and Taoism.

13. Salty and Sweet: This room displays images and culinary tips about food on Phuket.

Although Phuket Thaihua is no longer filled with students or teachers, the museum is in essence still a school that will provide you with knowledge about Phuket’s Chinese community. The museum’s 13 room exhibits will surely keep you entertained while teaching you a thing or two.

Address : 28 Krabi Rd., Talad Nua Sub-district, Mueang District, Phuket

GPS : 7.885199971, 98.38686903 

Contact no. : 076 211 224 Fax : 076 258 483

E-mail : info@thaihuamuseum.com

Opening Hours : Open every day from 09.00- 17.00

Entrance Fee : Thai 50 BHT , Foreigner 200 BHT

Activities : Edutainment; Learn more about Phuket’s history

Take Thepkasat road and turn right onto Klang road. Drive past Soi Romanee and you will find the museum to your right at the corner of Krabi road – Yaowarat road intersection.