Travel the world just by shopping – Bangkok’s TERMINAL 21

Text & Photography by Liu Jiawen

 

Travelers planning a trip to Bangkok now have a brand-new must-visit attraction. In October 2011, a new department store designed with the concept of an “airport terminal” opened – TERMINAL 21. Each floor is decorated around a different city from around the world, such as Rome, Tokyo, London, Istanbul, and San Francisco, making your shopping trip feel like a global tour. The bathrooms here are full of surprises, too — there are two uniquely themed bathrooms on every floor, including a brick-red bakery, a bright London Underground station, or even Hollywood’s Walk of Fame. This has led to the amusing phenomenon where visitors come not to shop but to explore the bathrooms and take photos everywhere they go. If you get the chance to visit Bangkok, don’t miss out on this distinctive TERMINAL 21.

Getting to TERMINAL 21 is very convenient. You can take the elevated train (BTS) to Asok Station or the subway (MRT) to Sukhumvit Station. Once inside the department store, you’ll be greeted by staff dressed like air traffic controllers who help direct visitors. Right away, you’ll see a 36-meter-long escalator that takes you directly from the first to the third floor. On each floor, the escalator going up is labeled with departure-related English words above the entrance, while the one going down is marked with arrival-related words. The service desk staff are dressed as beautiful flight attendants, and nearby, there's a display board resembling a flight schedule that shows when live performances are taking place on each floor. These creative touches make you feel as though you've arrived at an airport, ready to travel to different countries.

Each floor, themed after a different city, showcases local landmarks or iconic elements. For instance, the Tokyo-themed first floor features Japanese lanterns, carp streamers, large sculptures of maneki-neko (lucky cats), sumo wrestlers, and torii gates, giving off full Japanese vibes. The third floor, themed London, mainly sells men’s clothing and includes sculptures of British guards, red telephone booths, and even seats painted in the colors of the Union Jack. The bathrooms are styled like a London Underground station, with route maps posted on the doors, all incredibly lifelike.