{{Short description|Road intersection in Bangkok, Thailand}} {{Infobox road junction |country= india |name = Mo Mi |other_names={{lang|th|หมอมี}} |image = Mo Mi Junction, Bangkok 02.jpg |image_caption = Seen from Song Sawat road |maint = |location =[[Pom Prap Sattru Phai]] and [[Samphanthawong]] districts, [[Bangkok]] |coord = {{coord|13|44|25.55|N|100|30|44.03|E|display=title}} |type = Five-way [[At-grade intersection|at-grade]] [[intersection (road)|intersection]] |roads = Mittraphan (northeast)<br />[[Rama IV Road|Rama IV]] (southeast)<br />[[Charoen Krung]] (south–northwest)<br>Song Sawat (southwest) |const = |opened = |map = }} [[File: Mo Mi Junction, Bangkok 01.jpg|thumb|View of Mo Mi from Charoen Krung road toward Canton Shrine and [[Wat Mangkon Kamalawat]]]] '''Mo Mi''' ({{langx|th|หมอมี}}, {{IPA|th|mɔ̌ː mīː|pron}}) is a large intersection located in the centre of [[Bangkok's Chinatown]] quarter lies on the [[tripoint]] between [[Pom Prap]] of [[Pom Prap Sattru Phai]] district and [[Talat Noi]] with [[Samphanthawong Subdistrict|Samphanthawong]] of [[Samphanthawong]] district.
This intersection consists of the following roads: [[Charoen Krung]] (toward [[Odeon Circle]] and [[Wat Traimit]]), [[Rama IV Road|Rama IV]] (toward [[Hua Lamphong]]), Song Sawat (from Wat Samphanthawong and [[Sampheng]], via [[Song Wat Road|Song Wat]] road) and Mittraphan (toward [[July 22nd Circle]]).
The boundaries of Mo Mi are considered to be where Rama IV and Mittraphan roads originate, and where Song Sawat road terminates.
Mo Mi, formerly and still colloquially known as '''Sam Yaek''' (สามแยก, {{IPA|th|sǎːm jɛ̂ːk|pron}}, {{lit|Three-Way Junction}}), and '''Sam Yaek Charoen Krung''' (สามแยกเจริญกรุง, {{IPA|th|sǎːm jɛ̂ːk t͡ɕā.rɤ̄ːn krūŋ|pron}}, {{lit|Three-Way Junction of Charoen Krung}}). The original name of Mo Mi came from the fact that during [[King Mongkut]] (Rama IV)'s reign, Mo Mi was only a three-way junction consisting of Charoen Krung and Thanon Trong roads which later became Rama IV road.
Charoen Krung Road that runs through this area from [[Damrong Sathit Bridge|Damrong Sathit bridge]] (Saphan Lek) to here also serves as an administrative boundary between Pom Prap Sattru Phai (left side) with Samphanthwawong (right side) districts, and also has [[one-way traffic]] as well.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3pwZxIQrOY|work=[[Fan Pan Tae]]|trans-title=Fan Pan Tae 2003 : Bangkok|title=แฟนพันธุ์แท้ 2003 : กรุงเทพมหานคร|date=2014-06-02|language=thai}}{{failed verification|date=July 2019}}</ref>
Under the past administration of [[Amphoe]] Samphanthawong, this area or ''[[tambon]]'' ({{lit|sub-district}}) was called "Tambon Sam Yaek" in the province of Phra Nakhon (known today as Bangkok).
In 1898, a fire occurred in this area, spreading rapidly across the neighbourhood because of its contemporary design of wooden framing with [[thatched roofs]] combined with the high density of houses. Since then, the government in general banned the construction of wooden dwellings. The surviving Phlapphla Chai 2 Police Station site on [[Phlapphla Chai]] road was known as Sam Yaek Police Station at the time of the fire.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.plubplachai2.com/history|title=ประวัติสถานีตำรวจนครบาลพลับพลาไชย ๒|work=Phlapphlachai 2 Police Station|trans-title=History of Phlapphlachai 2 Police Station|language=thai}}</ref>
"Mo Mi" was named after Boonmi Kasemsuvan, also affectionately known as Mo Mi, a pharmacist who specialized in herbal and medical chemistry, especially [[Snuff (tobacco)|snuff]]. His dispensary was located in the area.<ref>{{cite web|language=thai|url=http://lek-prapai.org/home/view.php?id=192|title=หมอชิต หมอมี หมอเหล็ง|trans-title=Mo Chit, Mo Mi, Mo Leng|date=2016-06-08|first=Sudara|last=Sujchaya|work=LEK-PRAPAI VIRIYAHPANT FOUNDATION}}</ref>
The area around Mo Mi in the past was well-known as a centre of [[chicken|chick]] and [[duckling]] stores, but at present there is only one left on Rama IV Road. It was also home to many leading [[List of cinemas in Thailand|movie theatre]]s, now closed.<ref>{{cite book|first=Kannika|last=Suteerattanapirom|title=เรื่องเล่าสองข้างราง MRT สีน้ำเงิน|trans-title=A tale of MRT Blue Line two tracksides|date=2018|publisher=Museum Siam|location=Bangkok|isbn=978-616-8162-03-3|pages=43 |language=Thai}}</ref> In 1921, during the reign of King [[Rama VI]], a period that promoted both [[professional boxing]] and [[Muay Thai]], several boxing arenas were established across Bangkok. One of these was located in the Mo Mi area and was named Phatthanakan Stadium, after the district's most renowned movie theatre.<ref>{{cite book|author=Working Committee for the Revision of "Muaythai Textbook in the Style of Phra Chao Suea"|title=Muaythai: Magnificent Martial Art of Siam|date=July 2012|publisher=Culture, Sports and Tourism Department, Bangkok Metropolitan Administration|location=Bangkok|pages=50|isbn=978-616-272-033-8}}</ref>
One interesting thing about this intersection is the location of Tai Sia Huk Chou Shrine, a small old [[Chinese temple architecture|joss house]] on Rama IV road, the only one shrine dedicated to [[Sun Wukong]] in the Chinatown area.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://touristbangkok.com/chinese-temples-shrines/tai-sia-huk-chou-shrine/|title=Tai Sia Huk Chou Shrine|work=Tourist Bangkok}}</ref>
At present the land plot around Mo Mi belongs to the [[Crown Property Bureau]] (CPB), and is well known as the centre of foods and desserts with famous ancient restaurants, like Singapore, which has been the first to sell ''[[cendol]]'' iced sweet dessert in Thailand for over 100 years. At the end of 2023, CPB renovated the shophouses to be more modern. These restaurants had to move to new locations in nearby areas.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://thestandard.co/2-famous-shops-in-charoen-krung/|language=thai|date=2023-11-28|accessdate=2024-04-09|title=ปิดตำนานทำเลเก่า 2 ร้านดังเจริญกรุง คั้นกี่น้ำเต้าทอง-ลอดช่องสิงคโปร์|trans-title=Ending the legend of the old locations of 2 famous Charoen Krung shops Kan Kee Nam Tao Thong - Singapore Cendol|work=The Standard|first=Chatkla|last=Samniangjam}}</ref>
The vacant land from the demolition was developed into Chinatown Market Chaloem Buri (named after [[Chaloem Buri]], a parallel crossroads on the opposite side of [[Yaowarat]] road), a new night market, along with the installation of a [[paifang|Chinese archway]] called "Vajirathamrong 72 Phansa" to celebrate the 72nd birthday of King [[Vajiralongkorn]] (Rama X), alongside a similar archway at the foot of Damrong Sathit bridge.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nationthailand.com/blogs/life/art-culture/40045417|accessdate=2025-01-21|date=2025-01-28|work=[[Nation Group|The Nation]]|title=Two Commemorative Archways to honour His Majesty’s birthday}}</ref>
The night market operated for a short period but closed in May 2025 to make way for the construction of the Grande Centre Point Chinatown Hotel, part of the same hotel chain as the Grande Centre Point Surawong in the [[Bang Rak#Geography and administration|Bang Rak]] area.
== References == {{reflist}}
[[Category: Neighbourhoods of Bangkok]] [[Category:Samphanthawong district]] [[Category:Pom Prap Sattru Phai district]] [[Category: Road junctions in Bangkok]]