Post Views: 1,399
A Quiet Shrine in the Heart of Phuket Town
Sui Boon Tong Shrine (ศาลเจ้าซุ่ยบุ่นต๋อง) is a lesser-known Chinese shrine tucked away at the end of Soi Phuthon, just off Phuket Road in the old town area. Despite its discreet location and modest entrance, it remains an active spiritual site and plays a meaningful role during the annual Phuket Vegetarian Festival.
The shrine is easy to miss unless you know where to look. There’s no prominent archway or large courtyard — just a narrow lane leading to a quiet courtyard framed by classic Chinese architecture. The building features curved roof tiles, red wooden doors, and hand-painted calligraphy, all typical of Hokkien-style shrines found across southern Thailand.
During the Vegetarian Festival, Sui Boon Tong becomes one of the participating shrines with its own group of mah song (spirit mediums) joining the processions. While smaller than well-known temples like Jui Tui or Bang Niew, it draws loyal devotees and contributes to the spiritual atmosphere of the festival with its rituals, incense offerings, and firecrackers. Yellow flags appear at the entrance, and the shrine is cleaned and decorated in preparation for the annual event.
Inside, the main altar is compact but richly decorated. Statues of Chinese deities, red lanterns, and offerings of fruit and incense create a space that feels authentic and lived-in. There’s often a caretaker nearby, and locals stop by quietly to make offerings or light joss sticks — especially on important lunar dates.
The name “Sui Boon Tong” is usually translated as “Hall of Accumulated Merits,” reflecting the shrine’s connection to traditional Chinese beliefs about karma and good deeds. While the exact founding date isn’t clearly recorded, it’s believed to be over a century old and was established by early Chinese immigrants, likely of Hokkien descent.
For visitors exploring the shrines of Phuket Town, Sui Boon Tong offers a more intimate glimpse into local faith and traditions. It’s not designed for tourism and rarely appears on guidebook routes, but that’s part of its charm. The atmosphere is simple and sincere, especially outside festival periods when the shrine is at its quietest.
Sui Boon Tong is located within walking distance of other temples in town, so it’s easy to include as a short detour during a self-guided walk through Phuket’s historic centre.
Sui Boon Tong Shrine Info
Location: Phuket Town
Address: Pattana Soi 8, Tambon Talat Nuea, Mueang Phuket District, Phuket 83000
Hours: Always open
Sui Boon Tong Shrine Map
The Shrine of the Serene Light 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
Read More
Jui Tui Shrine (Kew Ong) is one of the oldest and most important on Phuket Island. It plays a significant role during the famous Phuket Vegetarian Festival, usually held in October and November. The festival dates use the Lunar Calendar,
Read More
Bang Neow Shrine in Phuket Town is one of Phuket's oldest and most revered Chinese shrines. It’s one of the main shrines taking part in the annual Phuket Vegetarian Festival It is a place of worship and merit-making activity for
Read More
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
Read More
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
Read More
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
Read More
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
Read More
The Lao Pun Tao Kong Shrine is located on Song Wat Road in the Samphanthawong District of Bangkok, near Chinatown. According to historical records, the shrine was originally built in 1906 but was destroyed by fire and reconstructed in 1917.
Read More
Pho Ta Toh Sae Shrine is a small, old Chinese shrine renowned for its unusual display of tiger statues, located on Monkey Hill in Phuket Town. You will discover dozens of tigers in varying sizes and ages guarding the entrance
Read More
The Lakshmi Shrine is a bit of a hidden gem right in the middle of Ratchaprasong, just across the road from CentralWorld. It’s tucked away on the 4th floor of Gaysorn Village, and honestly, it’s not that easy to find.
Read More
San Chao Mae Yanang 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.
Read More
Sam Pai Kong Shrine, often called Bangku Shrine, stands on Thepkasattri Road in Koh Kaew, a few minutes east of the British International School. They believe Chinese tin mine workers built the first modest hall more than 100 years ago.
Read More
Tucked behind Vachira Phuket Hospital on Yaowarat Road, San Chao Jeng Ong Shrine is easy to miss. A banyan tree guards the entrance, filtering afternoon light onto a red facade trimmed with jade-green tiles and twisting dragons.
Read More
One of Phuket Town’s lesser-known Hokkien shrines San Chao Cho Ong, or Tai Yuan Tang, is a small but very old Chinese shrine on the corner of Patiphat Road and Krabi Road in Phuket Town. It doesn’t draw big crowds
Read More
Pun Tuao Kong Shrine (San Chao Phra Pun Tao Kong) is a small Chinese shrine sitting quietly on the edge of the road at the top of Patong Hill. Many people drive past it without noticing, but locals know it
Read More
Sui Boon Tong Shrine is a lesser-known Chinese shrine, but despite its discreet location and modest entrance, it remains an active spiritual site and plays a meaningful role during the annual Phuket Vegetarian Festival.
Read More
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.
Read More
Chow Sue Kong temple is an elaborate structure and is believed to have been constructed in 1804. It is among the oldest temples that serve the Hokkien-Chinese community in Talat Noi
Read More
Put Jaw Shrine is one of the oldest Chinese shrines in Phuket, located in Phuket Town. It was originally built more than 200 years ago and is dedicated to the Chinese goddess Guan Yin, the goddess of mercy. The shrine
Read More
Located on the popular Thalang Road in the heart of Phuket Old Town, the Hainan Shrine is more than just a place of worship. Built in 1910, this beautiful shrine has been a cultural and spiritual centre for over a
Read More
Adorned with intricate artwork depicting sins and punishments, Sheng Tek Beo in Phuket Town is a shrine that plays a key role in the Por Tor festival, or Hungry Ghost Festival, which occurs every year around September. The central celebrations
Read More
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
Read More
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, 1825 to be precise. The shrine is located in the
Read More 
