Phuket Chinese Temples
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The Chinese shrines of Phuket offer always an excellent opportunity for some good photo. There are quite a few around, and each of them has its own characters and unique features. The large ones are very popular during Chinese New Year in February, or the Phuket Vegetarian Festival in October, and can get extremely crowded, not to mention very loud from firecrackers.
1. Jui Tui Shrine
Best known and most popular during the festival period is probably Jui Tui Shrine, right in the middle of Phuket Town, and right next to it you’ll find Put Jaw Shrine, more modest but even more revered for being the oldest Chinese shrine in Phuket. It’s bright, colourful and very decorated if you have the chance to visit around festival times.
2. Shrine of Serene Light
Not too far from these is another beautiful temple called ‘Shrine of Serene Light‘. It used to be a very special place only known from a few, the ones that spent enough time exploring. One entrance was a narrow anonymous gate near the well known ‘On On hotel’, opposite the amulet market and knowing this entrance was a little pride we enjoyed sharing like a personal secret. But there was better: another hidden entry even more interesting: behind the kitchen of a small friendly restaurant called ‘Wilai‘, located next to the China Inn on Thalang Road.
‘This secret path is still there, but the secret of the shrine of Serene Light has been exposed: The narrow front entrance has recently been wiped out, remodelled and is now a big and colourful Chinese gate with massive pillars all wrapped with golden dragons… hard to miss!
3. Lim Hu Tai Su (Sam Kong Shrine)
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 it’s found in. 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. Lim Hu Tai Su Shrine, also known as Sam Kong Shrine is between Chillva Night Market centre and ‘Bangkok Hospital Phuket’ on the outskirt of Phuket town.
4. Bang Neow Shrine
Bang Niao near Robinson Shopping Center on the way to Saphan Hin is one of the oldest and most significant shrines in Phuket, especially during the Vegetarian Festival.
5. Kio Thian Keng Saphan Hin Shrine
Kio Thian Keng Saphan Hin Shrine, in Phuket town, is a small and modest shrine but it plays a significant role during the Vegetarian Festival and several lesser-known Chinese events in Phuket.
6. Hok Nguan Kong Shrine
Hok Nguan Kong Shrine is a Chinese temple found near the Surin Clock Circle in Phuket Town. It was founded more than 80 years ago by the Chinese-Thai community in Phuket. From the 1800s well into the 20th century, thousands of migrants from China arrived in Phuket to work in the tin mines and establish merchant businesses.
7. Sui Boon Tong Shrine
8. Tha Rua Shrine
The Tha Rua Shrine was once a popular tiny temple on the way to the airport, just before reaching Heroins Monument. A few years ago it was taken down and a huge building was erected at the location. It is really a large construction and it took a long time to build. Still today, it doesn’t look quite finished and it also seems to be less popular than the original discreet one.
Of course, there are many more shrines in Phuket town, not to mention all around the island. Another temple on the way to Monkey Hill is dedicated to tigers with tiger statues and carving everywhere in and around this small unimpressive building. It’s not a great place, but you get to see the monkeys when going up there.
Chinese Shrines Photos
Chinese Shrines Map
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Phuket Temples – A List of the Most Famous Temples of Phuket
