Places of Interest in Muang District
Kao Rang A great view of Phuket Town, the southern part of the island, and some of the offshore islands, can be obtained by going to the top of Kao Rang Hill, on the city's northwest. There are also several restaurants featuring spectacular views of the city, a health park for exercise enthusiast, and a comfortable, expanse of grass for picnickers at the top with a bronze statue of Phraya Ratsada Nupradit the model Governor of Phuket during King Rama V's reign.
Antique Buildings The beginning of the tin boom during the Nineteenth Century led to construction of many fine old mansions and shops still well preserved. The architectural style, typical of the region, is described as Sino-Portuguese, and has a strongly Mediterranean character. Shops present a very narrow face on the street but stretch back a long way. Many,especially on Dibuk Rd.,have old wooden doors with Chinese fretwork carving. Other streets, forming what might be called 'Old Phuket',with similar structures are Phang-nga, Yaowarat, Thalang, and Krabi, and a walking tour of the area is easy and delightful. Some other old European-style buildings of note are the Provincial Hall (Sala Klang), the Phuket Courthouse (San Jahngwah), and Nakorn Luang Thai Bank.
Phuket Aquarium More than one-hundred species of sea life are on display at the apuarium,many of them taken from the waters around Phuket.Open daily,8:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m.,the apuarium is located at Cape Panwa, on the island's extreme southeast; admission is 5 baht for children and 20 baht for adults.A songtaew(local bus) can be taken from the Talad Soht, or Fresh Market.
Sapan Hin A land reclamation protion project provided abundant new land now used for parks and public facilites at Sapan Hin,locatedc where Phuket Rd. meets the sea in Phuket Town. In the circle is the The Tin Mining Monument, shaped like a large drill bit, dedicated to the memory of Captain Edward Thomas Miles, the Australia who brought the first tin dredge to Phuket in 1909. The monument was built in 1969 on the occasion of 60 th anniversary of tin dredging in Phuket. The Sport Center is located in the park.Sirey Island Separated from the mainland of Phuket by the Llong Ta Jin, a shallow mangrove swamp, this twenty square kilometer island is connected by a causeway to the city. Wat Koh Sirey, on the hill,has a large Reclining Buddha and provides fine views of the surroundings.Phuket's largest settlement of Sea Gipsies,or Chao Lay,are on Koh Sirey at Laem Tuk-kae.Swimming is not good becarse of the muddy bottom.There are some popular seafood restaurants on the eastern shore.