Thalang road, the historical heart of Old Phuket Town, has saved most of its old Sino Portuguese houses and is now the best known street in town. Many shophouses and mansions got refurbished, repainted or entirely rebuilt. Travelers find Thalang road and Soi Romanee real nice, but you'll find many little gems hidden here and there in the streets around.
Even though I do appreciate the effort of renovation, I still prefer old houses in their state of... old houses. You can feel their story, how many lives they witnessed and how many little secrets they are hiding. Soi Romanee for instance was once one of the naughtiest area in town, and not where the sophisticated girls were. Today it is the trendiest and most renovated street... nice, but soulless.
"It costs a lot to make a nice new house from an old house. It cost a lot more to make an nice old house out of an old house". China Inn is only house applying that idea. It takes is more than just fresh paint to preserve the spirit of an old town, just walk in front of China Inn and you will instantly know what I am talking about.