The Chin Pracha Residence

The Chin Pracha Residence belongs to a wealthy Phuket-born Chinese family called Tantawanich located on Krabi road, TalatNuea sub-district, Muang district, in Phuket province. The residence was built in the reign of King Rama V by PhraPitakchinpracha, the Hokkienchinese businessman. His family did tin-mining business in Phuket and other trades in Penang.The Chin Pracha Residence is the first Sino-Portuguese house in Phuket or known as Ang Mo Lao. Nowadays this residence with a beautiful Phuket architectural style is open for the public. There are many interesting traits in this building such as louver windows and incised golden door panels. There are open spaces for ventilation purpose and a small pool in the central area built according to the Chinese style. The residence is decorated extravagantly with imported Italian tiles, inherited furniture from China, pearl-inlaid furniture, antique beds, a dining table set from Penang, other precious decoration, refined equipment and photos showing memories of this house. The atmosphere of this residence is then filled with charming feeling from the past reflecting perfectly the mixture between Thai, Chinese and western cultures. This residence is then considered as one of the precious cultural heritages of Phuket.Nowadays, this residence is open for the public to share the knowledge of Phuket art to the others. The house has organized many public cultural activities including Phuket Baba Wedding ceremonies and film shooting location for certain occasion.