Kuan Yim Shrine, Bangkok

Kuan Yim Shrine, Bangkok

The colorful Kuan Yim shrine was established during the reign of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V), in 1903 and completed in 1905, as part of the Thian Fa Foundation. The Foundation itself was set up, as a charitable organization, in 1902 by the Chinese immigrants in Bangkok. The buildings surrounding the shrine are a hospital.

The latter, originally, was to provide free traditional Chinese medical care to the poor and homeless, while the shrine took care of the spiritual part of the healing process. Today, the hospital delivers both traditional Chinese and conventional modern treatments.

The temple's patron, Kuan or Guan Yim, is the Chinese goddess of mercy. Also known in Thailand as Bodhisattva Phra Avalokitesuan, she embodies love, kindness, compassion and forgiveness, and as such has been worshiped for almost 3,000 years. The beautiful statue of Kuan Yim displayed at the temple, carved from teak and painted gold, is about 900 years old. It dates all the way back to the Tang dynasty and was imported from China in 1958. With her right hand Kuan Yim makes the Varada mudra, the gesture of charity and offering.

The temple walls are painted with colorful, Chinese-style murals depicting various deities. This is one of the most popular shrines in the area, being particularly busy on Chinese holidays (e.g. New Year). Locals come here to pray for blessings in fertility, success (e.g. students in time of exams), health (those visiting patients at the hospital) and happiness. Worshipers bring flowers, burn candles or light incense sticks that they put in a bowl filled with sand.

The shrine is open daily until late hours. The atmosphere is usually quiet and serene. NOTE: make sure to take off your shoes before entering.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Bangkok. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

Download The GPSmyCity App

Kuan Yim Shrine on Map

Sight Name: Kuan Yim Shrine
Sight Location: Bangkok, Thailand (See walking tours in Bangkok)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Walking Tours in Bangkok, Thailand

Create Your Own Walk in Bangkok

Create Your Own Walk in Bangkok

Creating your own self-guided walk in Bangkok is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Wats and Temples of Bangkok

Wats and Temples of Bangkok

The “City of Angels” – Bangkok – is a home to over 400 temples. Known locally as "wats", some of them are massive complexes, quite famous and attracting thousands of tourists every day, while others are smaller and lesser-known, located far down the tiny "sois" (side streets), well out of tourist traffic. Still, all these shrines equally form an integral part of the...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.4 Km or 2.1 Miles
Chinatown Walking Tour

Chinatown Walking Tour

Bangkok's Chinatown is one of the largest Chinatowns in the world. Founded in 1782, the core of it lies along Yaowarat Road, which serves as the main artery and sometimes lends its name to the whole area.

The district has been the center for trading by the Thai Chinese community for almost 200 years, progressively evolving from a vast wilderness outside the city walls to a major...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.5 Km or 0.9 Miles
Flower Market to Chinatown

Flower Market to Chinatown

One of the shopping capitals of the world, Bangkok is a city where you can buy almost anything, provided you know where to find it. And if shopping spree is high on your agenda, then the local markets are the best place to go.

Vibrant atmosphere, smiling faces, plus the staggering variety of unique things on offer, including wealth of delicious street food and snacks – there's nothing...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.3 Km or 1.4 Miles
Food Walk

Food Walk

There aren't many cities out there, if any, beside the Thai capital to be just as voracious and passionate about eating! Food in Bangkok is a key aspect of daily life, attesting to which are the numerous eateries all over the city. And what's more, regardless of where you have it, be it a scrumptious street food stall or a fancy restaurant, the local food never fails to impress.

...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.8 Km or 1.7 Miles
Bangkok Old City Walk

Bangkok Old City Walk

The Thai capital Bangkok emerged in the 15th century as a small trading post in the Chao Phraya River delta. The origin of the name “Bangkok” is unclear and was likely a colloquial adopted by foreigners, in which Bang is the Thai word for “village on a stream” and Ko means “island”, referring to the city's watery landscape. Another opinion is that it may be shortened from Bang...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.8 Km or 1.7 Miles

Useful Travel Guides for Planning Your Trip


Top 15 Things to Buy in Bangkok

Top 15 Things to Buy in Bangkok

Well-made, local products not only remind people of the trip they've had, but also make great gifts to bring home to family and friends. Following is the list of original and representative of Bangkok local specialties that you might wish to consider as a memorable...
7 Places in Bangkok for Superb Street Food

7 Places in Bangkok for Superb Street Food

Eating is huge in Bangkok, and luckily for the famished, you won't be that way for long, regardless of the hour. You can find conglomerations of vendors selling five-star fast food (in the you-won't-have-to-wait-long-to-enjoy-it sense, not McDonald's style) for under 100 baht (roughly...