Sang Tham Shrine, or the Shrine of the Serene Light
The Shrine of the Serene Light, locally known as Sang Tham Shrine, is a beautifully decorated Chinese Temple on Phang Nga Road, one of the most famous streets of Phuket Town. It used to be ‘the little hidden Chinese temple’ tucked away at the end of a small path, right under your nose. While most Thais knew all about it, only a few foreigners were aware of its existence, and those who knew would proudly whisper its secret location to newbies like an old secret passage to some mystic temple.
The Shrine of the Serene Light, called Ting Kwan Tang in Chinese and Saeng Tham Shrine in Thai, was built in 1889 by a Chinese family and initially had two hidden entrances. The main entrance was a narrow anonymous-looking gate leading to a rundown anonymous walkway located on Phang Nga Road, not hidden, but no one was paying attention to what was behind it. The second entrance, however, was more entertaining: it hid behind the toilets of a local restaurant called Wilai, which occasionally serves delicious Hokkien Noodles, among other dishes.
The anecdote of the passage next to the toilet would pop up each time you would have lunch with a local expat…: “Hey, did you know there was a secret passage to a hidden Chinese temple called Shrine of the Serene Light just past the toilet?” With this introduction, you suddenly became the centre of attention. Then, in 2010, with Phuket rocketing in popularity and tourists’ appetite for anything secret, the shrine entrance was widened and highlighted by a massive and unmissable Chinese gate. So much for the little secret; worse, the secret passage from Wilai restaurant is now closed.
While the small shrine has remained untouched, keeping its original old wall paintings, ceramic roof and authentic atmosphere, the garden and buildings surrounding it have been rebuilt and repainted. The result is quite pleasant and an excellent photo opportunity.
History of the Shrine
The Shrine of the Serene Light, or Saengtham Shrine, was built back in 1891 by Luang Amnat Nararak (Tan Khuat), a Hokkien Chinese-Thai who held an official post in Phuket. At the time, it was meant as a private place of worship for his family, housing Taoist deities they honoured and acting as a gathering point for relatives and locals with similar roots.
For decades, the shrine was easy to miss unless you knew where to look — tucked away behind old shophouses along Phang Nga Road, with just a narrow alley leading to it. Some locals even remember finding it through a tiny passage behind a restaurant. That hidden feel gave it a bit of a mystique over the years.
The architecture is classic Hokkien style: a tiled roof with detailed dragons and ceramic figures, plus hand-drawn murals inside showing scenes from Chinese legends, especially the story of Xi Ying Gui from the Song Dynasty. He’s believed to be a past incarnation of Ong Sun Tai Sai, one of the shrine’s main deities.
In 1997, the shrine was awarded an Outstanding Conservation Award by Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, and it underwent a careful renovation two years later to mark its 109th anniversary. Even though the front gate was rebuilt to make it easier to find, the atmosphere inside has stayed quiet and respectful, still very much part of Phuket Town’s old soul.
What’s Around the Shrine?
The Shrine is on Phang Nga Road, just parallel to Thalang Road, the famous historical street of Phuket Town. Just next to the Shrine is the famous On On hotel, which was featured in the movie ‘The Beach’ and has been beautifully restored since. Across the street is an excellent Thai restaurant called Tub Kab Kao that serves great Phuket food in a beautiful house.
Virtual Tour
Photos of the Shrine of Serene Light
(See also our large Old Phuket Town Photo Gallery)
Shrine of Serene Light Info
Location: Phuket Town
Address: 72/1 Yaowarat Rd, Amphoe Mueang Phuket, Chang Wat Phuket 83000
Open: 8:30 am – 5:30 pm
Price: Free
Built: 1891
Local name: Sang Tham Shrine
Hokkien name: Teng Kong Tong Shrine
Shrine of Serene Light Map
Get the directions on your phone: https://goo.gl/maps/gzhhjpKTg2gVoGh56
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