A Modest Shrine in Phuket Town
San Chao Mae Yanang Shrine, also known as Chaomae Ya Nang Shrine, stands on Krabi Road in Phuket Town. A Chinese migrant founded the temple in 1853 during Phuket’s tin-mining boom, when many Chinese families settled on the island and brought their beliefs and rituals with them.
The shrine honours Mae Yanang, a spirit regarded as a guardian of vehicles and boats. Fishermen and traders still pause here before travelling, placing garlands, incense and coloured cloth on the altar to ask for protection at sea.
San Chao Mae Yanang forms part of a network of Chinese shrines that shape Phuket Town’s cultural scene. Activity rises each year during the Phuket Vegetarian Festival, when ceremonies and processions pass through and the grounds are fully decorated.
Although small, the building shows traditional Chinese features. Red pillars mark the entrance, painted motifs line the walls and statues sit among candles and daily offerings. The space remains quiet and respectful, reflecting the ongoing spiritual life of the local Chinese-Thai community.
