BANGKOK, April 17 (Xinhua) -- The designed route of the April 19 Olympic torch relay in Bangkok embodies Thailand's traditional culture and history, which pays reverence to Buddhism and monarchy in the Kingdom, as well as tribute to developments on its path towards modernization, economically or politically.

    The 10.4-km route starts from the century-old China Town, runs through the prestigious Ratchadamnoen Avenue lined with many historic and cultural heritage sites, encircles the outer ring of royal residence of Chitralada Palace, and finishes at the King Rama V Monument, Royal Plaza, where a celebration ceremony will beheld.

    The relay is set to start at 3:00 p.m. (0800 GMT) Saturday, and it is estimated to take about three hours to complete the journey.

    -- The Chinese Gate and China Town

    The torch relay starts form the Chinese Gate standing at the mouth of Yaowarat Road -- the main street of Bangkok's China Town area.

    The Chinese Gate is a Chinese traditional-styled "Paifang" – a memorial gateway building similar to a torii, built in 1999 to mark the 72nd birthday of King Bhumibol, the present monarch of Thailand.

    The first two-kilometer distance along the relay route is to cover the whole Yaowarat Road of one kilometer long, and the second half of the Charoen Krung Road joined with Yaowarat.

    The China Town area was expanded to its form today in 1891, when then Thai King Rama V ordered the construction of the Yaowarat Road to join with Charoen Krung Road in order to accommodate the expanding community of Chinese immigrants who swarmed into Thailand, settled in Bangkok and quickly developed a business area since late 1700s.

    The second massive migration of Chinese to Thailand happened during and after the World War II, when the Japanese invasion and depredation in southern coastal part of China drove local Chinese to foreign soil.

    The two generations of Chinese immigrants have built up a large Chinese community in Thailand, mostly in the central riverbank areas like Bangkok and nearby provinces, as well as in lower northeast part and southern coastal provinces.

    The China Town in Bangkok has ever since thrived on the diligence, shrewdness and sharp vision of Chinese businessmen of several generations and became a commercial center for Thai-Chinese.

    More than 100 gold shops, as well as Chinese herbal medicine shops, Chinese food stalls and restaurants lined both sides of the crowded and curving street of Yaowarat, making it a shopping paradise for locals and tourists searching for traditional Chinese commodities and food.

    The Chinese Gate is now a symbolic site for the Chinese community in Bangkok and the venue for ceremonies on important Chinese festivals like Chinese New Year normally falling in early February, or Chinese Vegetarian Festival in October.

    -- Wat Pho or Temple of the Reclining Buddha

    After winding through the Yaowarat and Charoen Krung Road, the Torch Relay will pass Wat Pho, or The Temple of the Reclining Buddha, one of the most visited site or temple in Bangkok.

    Located behind the Temple of the Emerald Buddha in the Grand Palace, The temple of the Reclining Buddha is the largest temple in Bangkok and named for its huge reclining Buddha measuring 46 meters long and covered in gold leaf. The Buddha's feet alone are three meters long.

    -- The Grand Palace and Temple of the Emerald Buddha

    Dated back to 1782, the Grand Palace has been the official residence for the Thai monarchs for over 150 years until the present King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX)decided to open the Grand Palace complex for public. Today it becomes the a must-see heritage site for foreign tourists who visit Bangkok.

    Most important buildings inside the complex include the Chakri Mahaprasat Hall, used by the Royals until today to receive distinguished guests and hold important ceremonies, and "Wat Phra Kaew" or Temple of the Emerald Buddha, which houses the country's sacred patron -- the Emerald Buddha and is the most worshiped temple in Thailand.

    -- Ratchadamnoen Avenue

    Beginning from the Grand Palace, the torch will be carried onto the Ratchadamnoen Avenue, the most prominent avenue in Bangkok, as Champ Elysee in Paris and Chang'an Avenue in Beijing.

    The avenue, built in 1899 during the reign of King Rama V, is divided into the three stretches of Ratchadamnoen Nai (inner) Avenue near the Grand Palace, the Klang (central) Avenue and Nok (outer) Avenue.

    On the west side of Ratchadamnoen Nai Avenue is Sanam Luang (Royal Field Square), a vast open yard for various kinds of rallies, ceremonies, performances and for daily public recreation and relaxation. The east side is featured by the City Pillar Shrine

    The Klang Ratchadamnoen Avenue is lined with cafes, restaurants, and government buildings, broad sidewalks and park benches, with the Democracy Monument at the end being the most notable landmark.

    On the west side of the Nok Rathadamnoen Avenue stands the United Nations' regional arm in Asia-- the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), also a venue for UN-related international conferences.

    -- Democracy Monument

    The Democracy Monument was erected in 1939 to commemorate the 24 June 1932 coup which changed the face of Thai politics for years to come.

    The 1932 coup marked the end of more than 150 years' absolute monarchy in the kingdom and the usher-in of the constitutional monarchy system that has governed the country until today.

    The monument was a work by an Italian artist and sculptor, Corrado Feroci, who designed the four winged-shaped columns arching inwards to signify the freedom and rights of the people.

    The original 1932 Constitution, the country's first constitution, is kept in a pedestal surrounded by the four columns.

    Since its establishment, the Democracy Monument has been a frequent venue and witness for demonstrations and rights movement throughout Thai political history.

    -- Wat Benchamabophit or the Marble Temple

    Winding eastward at the end of Klang (outer) Ratchadamnoen Avenue onto the Sri Ayutthaya Road, the Wat Benchamabophit, also known as the Marble Temple, stands in front of your sight.

    Inside Buddhist temple, the main building -- the Ubosot Hall, built of white marble from Italy, was constructed during the reign of King Rama V, and designed by Prince Narisranuvattivongse, half-brother to the King.

    The architecture and decoration of the marble building shows European influence and exquisite Thai craftsmanship and attracts large numbers of tourists all around the world to come to visit each year.

    -- Chitralada Palace

    Opposite the Marble Temple is the Chitralada Palace, the Bangkok residence of the present King Bhumibol Adulyadej (King Rama IX) and Queen Sirikit, who moved out of Grand Palace in late 1930s.

    Built in 1913 and covering about one square kilometers, the Chitralada Palace is a combination of relatively humble-styled houses and a serene green view with artificial lakes and trees.

    King Bhumibol was the first king in the Chakri dynasty (or Rama dynasty) to live in the Chitralada Palace. His keen interest and practice in advancing agricultural production, the backbone of the country's economy, has made the palace more like an agricultural research and development base rather than a typical royal residence.

    It includes experimental farms for growing paddy rice and raising cows, rice mills and dairy plants, among other institutions, with an aim to increase income of farmers and improve agricultural technologies in the country.

    -- Anantasamakhom Throne Hall and National Assembly (Parliament)

    Before the torch relay finishes at the Rama V Monument, it will pass this European neoclassic-styled, domed white marble building of Anantasamakhom Throne Hall, about two hundred meters behind the Monument.

    The Throne Hall was constructed to house the Throne of the Chakri Dynasty, which is still there, but it has been used for state ceremonies and meetings with foreign dignitaries.

    This is the venue for the King Rama VII to sign the country's first ever Constitution in 1932 to bring the country to constitutional monarchy. It later housed the Thai Parliament, with the first parliament meeting convened in this hall. So it is also referred to as "the old parliament".

    The present office building for the two Houses of Parliament (or National Assembly) is situated near the Throne Hall. It was constructed by permission of the present King Bhumibol.

    -- King Rama V Monument (Royal Plaza)

    The bronze statue of King Rama V, or King Chulalongkorn, mounted on a horse was cast by French sculptor and then shipped to Bangkok in 1908. It is six meters tall from the marble platform.

    The Monument stands in the center of the Royal Plaza, a venue for grand ceremonies like an annual dress parade when King Bhumibol celebrates his birthday on December 5, and in front of the Anantasamakhom Throne Hall.