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All the details you need to plan a visit to Kuan Yin Temple (also known as the Chinese Temple and the Guanyin Temple), a beautiful multi-layer temple complex with stunning views over the north of Koh Phangan.
Most of our time on Koh Phangan was spent sunbathing, swimming, and playing frisbee on the beach (you can see the pattern) but there are a couple of temples on the island too, and we thought the Kuan Yin Temple looked the best of the bunch.
So we stopped in one morning on our way north to Chaloklum and honestly, we were so impressed with this place!
Built across three levels, it became one of the highlights of our time on the island for a couple of reasons.
As well as being the most beautiful temple on Koh Phangan, what makes the Kuan Yin Temple such a spectacular attraction is its breathtaking view of the surrounding landscape. This stretches over Koh Phangan’s green mountainside and northern coast!
There was also just a handful of other tourists visiting which meant it was quiet and peaceful as we wandered around, snapping photos of the fantastic architecture, details, colours, and the magnificent Kuan Yin statue.
We’re so glad we didn’t skip it and in our Kuan Yin travel guide, we’ve covered all the essential details for visiting, including how to get there, entrance costs, and what our experience was like.
Brief History Of The Kuan Yin Temple
The story of this temple began in 1990 when a lady named Miss Malawan had a dream in which she was instructed by Kuan Yin, the Buddhist Goddess of Mercy, to build a lighthouse on the island to help the fishermen navigate in the darkness.
She explained her dream to a local monk and together they set out to fulfil what Guanyin had asked.
As word of this spread, such support and donations were received that they were able to build more than just a lighthouse. As a result, they were able to construct the full temple complex that you can explore today. A shrine dedicated to Kuan Yin was also included in the temple grounds.
Why It’s Worth Visiting
Like us, you might be wondering if the Kuan Yin Temple is actually worth the effort, especially if you only have a couple of days on the island.
I mean, sure Thailand is famous for temples, but isn’t Koh Phangan all about beach hopping, relaxing, and full moon parties?
Well, I have to admit that the Kuan Yin Temple wasn’t at the top our list of things to do on Koh Phangan, but after our experience, we definitely recommend it!
Not least because of the views from the top level of the complex. After walking up the steps, we turned back and were met with one of the most magnificent views we saw on the island!
Our eyes were immediately drawn to the striking orange-tiles, teal details, and gold dragon statues of the roof below, but after a few seconds we took in the epic surroundings as well, which were the lush greenery of Koh Phangan’s inner mountains and even the blue of the northern coastline in the distance too!
And what made it that bit more special is that it was so quiet. There was hardly anybody around, literally just a handful of other tourists!
Even if you have zero interest in religious places or architecture, the Kuan Yin Temple is worth visiting for the view alone!
Where Is The Kuan Yin Temple?
Google Maps pin: Kuan Yin Temple (Chinese Temple)
The temple sits on a hilltop in the north of Koh Phangan, just off the main road connecting Thong Sala and the northern fishing village of Chaloklum.
It’s just a 15 minute drive from Thong Sala or 30-40 minutes if coming from Haad Rin in the south.
You can see exactly where it’s located on the map of Koh Phangan below.
How To Get There
The easiest way to get to the Kuan Yin Temple (and all places on Koh Phangan) is by scooter, and that’s exactly what we did.
From Thong Sala, we set off in the morning for the 15-minute ride along the main road north towards Chaloklum.
As the temple is on the way to some of Koh Phangan’s best beaches on the north coast, we combined our visit with an afternoon of beach hopping on Malibu, Chaloklum, and Haad Khom beaches.
We had a quick detour via Balance Speciality Coffee (one of our favourite cafes on Koh Phangan) for a flat white, before resuming our ride north to the Kuan Yin Temple. No island adventure is possible without a few shots of espresso first!
Just another five minutes along the wide and well-paved road we came to the, easy to miss, left-hand turn that leads up a short but steep single-track road to the temple entrance. The elaborate entrance, complete with orange tiles and gold and teal details, gives a taste of what’s in store!
We rode in and parked up in the covered parking area on the right, and were ready to explore.
If coming from most other areas of the island, such as Haad Rin and Thing Nai Pan, you first need to make your way to Thong Sala and then follow the same road north from there.
However, the exception is the northwest of the island as from the likes of Haad Yao, Haad Salad, and Mae Haad, it’s quicker to ride around to Chaloklum and then south to the temple from there.
If you don’t have a scooter, the other two options to get here are by private taxi arranged through your hotel or by Songthaew shared taxi, but we wouldn’t personally rely on the latter here as firstly there is no set timetable and secondly they may be full when they drive past.
Entrance Fee And opening Times
The cost to enter the Kuan Yin temple is 40 THB per person and the complex is open from 8am-5pm daily.
We paid for this at the desk next to the parking area. It’s a fair price in my opinion as it goes towards the upkeep of the temple.
Don’t Miss A Trip To Koh Nang Yuan!
Join this tour from Koh Phangan to visit one of the most scenic islands and iconic viewpoints in Thailand – it’s one of my favourites!
Our Experience Visiting The Kuan Yin Temple
After Lucy wrapped her sarong around her and paying our entrance fee, we strolled into the main temple area and were first met by steps leading up to a shrine. Already, we were loving the gold statues and colourful intricacies, like the dragons winding their way around the shrine’s pillars!
However, this was just the start.
We continued further, into the main part of the complex and what immediately stood out were the orange and teal roofs with gold details that I raved about earlier. They’re so colourful and striking!
But as we took our time to wander around and photograph the ornate details and beautiful sculptures of dragons, warriors, and Buddhas, what really stood out to us were the two main statues of the Buddha and Kuan Yin!
These majestic statues were of course gold in colour but also extra large in size, especially the towering Kuan Yin!
Magnificent!
The best part though, was waiting for us at the top of the steps on the highest level. And this was the sweeping view over the northern part of Koh Phangan which makes the temple such an epic place to visit!
It’s even been claimed that on a crystal clear day, neighbouring Koh Tao can be seen in the distance! Unfortunately, it was too hazy to see when we visited.
Important: The Chinese Temple is a place of worship and therefore it’s important to both dress and act respectfully. Women should make sure to cover their shoulders and knees. Men can wear shorts but must cover their shoulders with a t-shirt (no vests).
Crowds
I mentioned earlier that we were two of only a handful of tourists wandering around the temple during our visit. And this was at 11am, so not super early.
One of our favourite parts of this attraction is just how quiet and peaceful it is, and this goes for any time of day.
So you don’t have to worry about arriving early to beat the crowds, as there aren’t any!
This can’t be said for other places on Koh Phangan, so make sure to savour it here.
How Long Do You Need To Visit?
Although there are three levels, the Kuan Yin Temple complex isn’t very big and it didn’t take us too long to explore, snap photos, and take in the views.
No more than 30 minutes is needed, which makes it a perfect stop before some swimming at our absolute favourite Chaloklum Beach!
Final Thoughts
No visit to Thailand is complete without visiting at least a couple of the country’s spectacular temples. And the Kuan Yin Temple on Koh Phangan is our top pick of those on the island.
It’s worth it even just for the views!
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