Tin mining

Extensive tin mining drew thousands of Chinese labours (working class) to the island and their influence and has remained, making Phuket the province with the highest percentage of ethnic Chinese in the Thailand.

 Phuket is the first mentioned as a major source of tin and it became the important natural resource for Thailand’s economy and trading in the sixteenth century. In sixteenth century, tin became to the big reason why French and England came to Phuket, great power of this two countries cause a price and a demand were increase in a few time.

History of tin was made at Wat Chalong (temple) in 1876, when a riot involving 25,000 migrant workers was quelled by two temple abbots who rallied with the local people. However Chinese businessmen and miners did eventually enjoy thriving business wealth, and most settled in Phuket.  

Wat Chalong (Wat in Thai language mean temple)

Due to Phuket’s supply of tin and its importance as a trading port, the island’s economy continued to prosper. The British secured a tin mining concession and nearly claimed Phuket as part of the British Empire, opting instead for Penang due to its safer harbours. Phuket’s streets were lined with beautiful buildings constructed in the Sino-Portuguese style by the tin-barons, many of which can still be seen in older quarters of the town.

Phuket old town by Sino-Portuguese style

Because of tin boom in Phuket when the tourism first came to Thailand, Phuket was among the first provinces of the tourist industry became famous tourist attraction in Thailand that every people around should to know because of the natural beauty and hospitality.

At present, tin mining become to the tourist attraction of tin mining history of Phuket .The tin mining museum was opened in 2008 .The architecture was designed by Miss Panjaphant choo-Rach. The museum's architecture is on Sino-Portuguese lines, located on the road between Loch Palm.