Chartered Intersection

Located at the intersection of Phuket Rd and Phang Nga Rd is the iconic duo of Sino-Portuguese buildings – the old Standard Chartered Bank on one side and the old Phuket Town Police Station on the other.

Both were built around the 1910s under Governor Phraya Ratsadanupradit (Khaw Sim Bee na Ranong) and now serve as an arts and cultural center, illustrating the lifestyles and local customs of Phuket.

The building with the clock is, in fact, the old Police Station built to protect the island’s first bank. On some days, a lucky visitor can even ascend to the top of the clock tower and literally spend some time inside the clock.

Surin Clocktower

One of Phuket Town’s iconic structures, the Surin Clocktower is a relatively new addition to the list of Old Town landmarks if compared to the Standard Chartered Bank and the old Police Station.

The original tower was built on Surin Circle (Phuket Rd) in 1949 or 1950, under the Government of Field Marshal Plaek Phibunsongkhram. The structure looked more like a radio transmitting tower, which, in fact, it also was.

The original tower was knocked down in 2003 without any public hearings, a move that sparked much anger among Phuketians despite the Municipality’s explanation that a new one would be built in its place.

Two decades later, the “new” Sino-Portuguese clocktower is a much-beloved landmark, beautifully decorated for special occasions such as the upcoming Chinese New Year.