Long Hun Keng Shrine (肜雲宮) is a small and lesser-known Chinese shrine located along Thepkasattri Road in Phuket Town. Despite its modest size and low profile, it holds cultural significance for the local Chinese-Thai community, especially during the Vegetarian Festival.
Che Chin Khor Temple on Bangkok’s Thonburi side is a small riverside shrine known for its colourful 8-storey pagoda. A quiet stop near Wat Kalayanamit and Kudi Chin.
The highlight of the Tian Fah Foundation compound is the large and beautiful Chinese-style shrine. It used to be concealed behind a row of shophouses, making it one of Bangkok’s better-kept secrets, but the obstacle was demolished so that the shrine could properly shine.
Wat Mangkon Kamalawat is the best of the cultural things to do in Chinatown, Bangkok’s largest Chinese Buddhist temple. Built in 1846, the temple’s design is unmistakably Chinese. The statues of the Four Heavenly Kings at the entrance are particularly impressive, though the main Buddha statue in the ordination hall is also impressive.
Guan Yu Shrine is an ancient shrine dedicated to Lord Guan, the god of loyalty and morality according to Chinese beliefs. The shrine is located on the western bank of the Chao Phraya River, in Thonburi. It is another go-to place in Thonburi and is easily accessible as it is only 1.5 km away from Iconsiam.
Sam Sae Chu Hut Chinese Shrine is a modest and discreet Chinese shrine located near the intersection of Khaw Sim Bee Road and Mae Luan Road, on the way up to Khao Rang Hill in Phuket Town; opened in May 2002.
Tha Rua Shrine is one of the oldest Chinese shrines in Phuket, found in Thalang District on Thepkasattri Road about 800m south of the Heroines’ Monument. It’s an important site during the annual Phuket Vegetarian Festival, when thousands of devotees come to hold ceremonies and eat vegetarian food during the event’s nine days.
Kio Thian Keng Shrine is a colourful Chinese shrine that is set on the seashore inside Saphan Hin public park in Phuket Town. It’s a place of worship for the local Chinese-Thai community, and it plays an important role as the site of the final farewell to the gods during the annual Phuket Vegetarian Festival.
Hok Nguan Kong Shrine is a Chinese temple near the Surin Clock Circle in Phuket Town, founded more than 80 years ago by the Chinese-Thai community in Phuket. Hok Nguan Kong Shrine’s design features many traditional Chinese motifs, including columns wrapped with large dragon images, wall murals with tigers, and bright red and yellow colours throughout
Lai Thu Tao Bo Keng is one of the oldest Chinese shrines in Phuket, and many believe it was the birthplace of the Phuket Vegetarian Festival nearly two centuries ago. The shrine is located in the subdistrict of Kathu in the island’s interior, between Phuket Town and Patong Beach.
Lim Hu Tai Su is a Chinese Taoist shrine on the north side of Phuket Town, also known as Sam Kong Shrine, for the neighbourhood in which it’s found. Though not as well known by visitors as larger Chinese shrines like Jui Tui Shrine in Phuket’s Old Town area, Sam Kong Shrine is a revered place of worship for the local community. It’s become a key part of the Phuket Vegetarian Festival when it hosts several ceremonies and a procession during the annual 9-day event.
There are quite a few Chinese shrines in Phuket, and each has its own characteristics and unique features, which always offer excellent photo opportunities. The large ones are very popular during the Chinese New Year in February or the Phuket Vegetarian Festival in October. They can get extremely crowded, not to mention very loud, from firecrackers.
