The book The Many Lives of Yaowarat takes readers back to the early Rattanakosin Era since the time when King Rama I relocated Teochew Chinese community from Bang Jeen to the area down the Chao Phraya River which is now called Sampeng in order to build Grand Palace there. From then on, the Chinese people started to construct a strong community there, leading to the settling of Chinatown in Thailand. There was also constructed the road in the Rama V Era, and it became Yaowarat Road as we have seen today.

Throughout the period, Sampeng-Yaowarat has changed continually. The canal changes into the road. Townhouses are turned into high-rise buildings. Mansions become shopping centers. A Chinese rich person’s house in the past is a police station nowadays. Surrounding changes, there are also many generations who have an important role in this road. For example, Chinese rich people, Chinese monks, Ang Yi, scholars, newspaper columnists, communist spies, royal minor wives, and madams who are brothel owners.

Yaowarat is now the short road that born the long history.

Exploring history of Yaowarat Road (, or so-called “Road of Dragon”,) through the stories of 18 people who had significant roles in making Yaowarat Road become one of the most crucial roads in Thailand.