Thai Hua Museum

The Thai Hua Museum is dedicated to recounting the history of the Chinese people in Phuket, from the first big wave of immigrants who came to the island in the nineteenth century to work the tin mines through to the merchants and others who built Phuket into a powerful trading center.

The museum was opened in 2010 using the old Thai Hua school, the oldest Chinese-language school in Phuket. The building, originally opened in 1934, is a classic "Sino-Portuguese" styled building, blending European styles with Chinese touches. The museum covers two full floors of the building, with visits starting on the second floor, where rooms cover the arrival of the Chinese in Phuket and the early organization of the community.

The galleries on the ground floor cover various aspects of the Thai-Chinese culture, such as dress, education, buildings and food. The exit is through a small market-place and coffee shop.

The museum is open from 9:00 to 17:00 every day except Wednesdays and holidays, when it is closed. Admission to the Thai Hua Museum is 200 Baht. You can see the Thai Hua Museum web site for more information, although it was only in Thai at last check.