Hainan Shrine in Phuket Town

Chinese Shrine in Phuket Town

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 century, especially for the Hainanese community in Phuket.

Housed in a striking red Sino-Colonial shophouse (known locally as “Tiem Chu”), the shrine stands out with its vibrant colour, symbolizing good fortune. Step inside, and you’ll be surrounded by antiques that reflect the rich heritage of Hainanese culture — from the ornate altar table to the revered statue of the Goddess of the Sea.

The shrine’s history is fascinating. Over 180 first-generation Hainanese immigrants pooled their resources to purchase the building, originally intended as a shelter for new arrivals from China. As one of the shrine’s caretakers explained, “The first generation came with just a mat — they had nothing. This shrine was their refuge.”

As the Hainanese community grew and prospered, they renovated the shrine, turning it into a centre of faith. Today, it’s a peaceful haven where locals gather to pay respects to the Goddess of Mercy. Every November, the shrine celebrates the Goddess’s birthday with a unique goat worship ceremony, where the goats are cooked and shared with attendees after the rituals.

Phuket Vegetarian Festival 2024

The Phuket Vegetarian Festival (or Nine Emperor Gods Festival) happens once a year, during the ninth lunar month, and is one of the most auspicious events on Phuket island. Read More

Phuket Shrines

Shrine of the Serene Light in Phuket Town ⛩️

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) ⛩️

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

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 Shrine (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 in which it’s found. Though not as well known by visitors as larger Chinese shrines Read More

Hok Nguan Kong Shrine

A significant shrine in Phuket Town Hok Nguan Kong Shrine is a Chinese temple 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 Read More

Kio Thian Keng Saphan Hin Shrine

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

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

Put Jaw Shrine (Kuan Im Teng)

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

Hainan Shrine in Phuket Town

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

Sheng Tek Beo Shrine

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

Guan Yu Shrine (Khlong San)

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 Read More

Sam Sae Chu Hut Shrine ⛩️

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 Shrine

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 Read More