Jui Tui Shrine, also called Jui Tui Tao Bo Geng, is one of the most important and spiritually significant Chinese shrines in Phuket Town. This shrine is a central part of Phuket’s strong Chinese-Hokkien heritage. It is located near the busy Ranong Road Market. The Hokkien word “Jui” means “water” and “Tui” means “mortar.” The name comes from when a big canal used to flow in front of the shrine. Villagers built water-powered turbines to pound rice after they had harvested it. Over the years, Jui Tui Shrine has grown from a small place of worship to one of the most important Chinese temples on the island. It is very much connected to the Phuket Vegetarian Festival, which is a world-famous annual event that attracts thousands of worshippers and tourists every year.
The shrine is for the Chinese god Tean Hu Huan Soy, also known as Tua Pek Kong. He is known as the god of performing arts, health, and safety. People from the area come here to pray for health, success in life, and safe travels. The shrine is also the centre of important Chinese holidays like the Mid-Autumn Festival and Lunar New Year. However, it is most important during the nine-day Vegetarian Festival, when there are amazing rituals, parades, and acts of spiritual devotion. The smell of incense, the soft light of lanterns, and the steady rhythm of prayers, gongs, and chants all make Jui Tui Shrine a very immersive place to be. Jui Tui Shrine is important to the Chinese community in Phuket not only because of its religious significance, but also because it shows how deeply they value tradition, spirituality, and community unity.
History of Jui Tui Shrine
Jui Tui Shrine has been around since the early 1900s, making it one of Phuket’s oldest and most important Chinese shrines. It was first built on Soi Rommanee, one of the oldest streets in Phuket Town, but a terrible fire destroyed it. After this awful event, leaders in the community decided to move the shrine and build it again where it is now, near Soi Phuthorn and Bang Niew Shrine. This choice made sure that its legacy would live on and made it a permanent spiritual home for the Chinese-Hokkien people of Phuket.
Historical records and oral traditions say that the shrine was built so that immigrants from China’s Fujian Province could honour their ancestors’ gods and keep their cultural roots in their new home. The shrine’s close ties to Bang Niew Shrine are also important because they both play important roles in the Vegetarian Festival, where they often work together on ceremonies and processions. Jui Tui Shrine started out as a simple wooden building, but as Phuket’s tin-mining economy grew and the local Chinese community thrived, the shrine was expanded and renovated several times. Each time it was rebuilt, it became more beautiful and grand, using traditional Hokkien architectural features like intricate roof carvings, dragon motifs, and intricately painted wooden panels, all in the lucky red and gold colours that stand for wealth and luck.
Location, Directions & Timings
The Jui Tui Shrine is in Phuket Town, which is the island’s cultural and historical centre. The shrine is close to the Phuket Fresh Market on Ranong Road, which is one of the city’s busiest and most colourful markets. It is also near Bang Niew Shrine, which is another important temple that is connected to the Vegetarian Festival.
From Phuket town the shrine is only a few minutes from the main market. You can easily walk or take a short tuk-tuk ride. Open every day from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM. The best times to visit are early in the morning or late in the afternoon.
Things to Do and See in Jui Tui Shrine
- The Main Altar and Gods: The main altar is in the middle of the shrine. It has three big statues of gods on it. The main character is Tean Hu Huan Soy, the god of the arts and protection. There are guardian gods on both sides, and together they stand for balance, strength, and good luck. There are fruits, incense, candles, and flowers on the altar as gifts.
- Prayers, incense, and fortune sticks: People who come can take part in the traditional fortune-stick ceremony. Devotees light incense and bow to the gods. Then they shake a bamboo cylinder full of numbered sticks until one falls out. Each stick has a written fortune on it, which can be seen as advice for the future.
- Beautiful Hokkien art and architecture: The shrine’s architecture is a beautiful example of Hokkien style from southern China. The roof has colourful dragons on it that stand for power and protection. The inside is mostly red and gold, which are colours that bring good luck and keep evil spirits away.
- The Stage for Chinese Opera: During festivals, the shrine has traditional Chinese opera shows on an outdoor stage. The actors wear fancy costumes and painted masks for these colourful and dramatic shows that tell moral stories from ancient Chinese folklore. People in the community give the opera as a gift to the gods and as a way to have fun.
- Statues and murals that mean something: The shrine is full of statues of guardian spirits, dragons, and Chinese zodiac animals, all of which stand for protection and good luck. The walls are covered in murals and calligraphy panels that tell stories of loyalty, virtue, and divine intervention.
- Burning incense and giving gifts: Lighting incense at the Jui Tui Shrine is a simple but deep way to show your devotion. There are small stalls at the entrance where visitors can buy incense sticks and candles.
- Photography of Culture: For people who love to take pictures, Jui Tui Shrine is a great place to go. The red and gold interiors, the intricate details, the glowing lanterns, and the crowds during the Vegetarian Festival all make for interesting pictures.
- Experience in the Local Market: The Ranong Road Fresh Market, which is right next to the shrine, is a lively place to see how people live every day. It has a lot of stalls selling tropical fruits, flowers, spices, and snacks, which is very different from the calm of the shrine.
Tips before you visit in Jui Tui Shrine
- Your shoulders, chest, and knees should be covered.
- Don’t wear clothes that show too much skin, like short shorts or sleeveless tops.
- Take off your shoes before you go into the main shrine area.
- Don’t talk inside the shrine.
- Don’t touch statues or offerings that are holy.
- Don’t ever point your feet at statues of gods or Buddhas.
- Before taking close-up pictures of monks or worshippers, ask them first.
- Don’t use flash inside, use natural light instead.
- Bring water, it can get hot in Phuket.
- You can visit Phuket Old Town and the nearby Bang Niew Shrine at the same time.
- Bring cash for small gifts or donations.
FAQs about Jui Tui Shrine
The Phuket Vegetarian Festival is known for Jui Tui Shrine, which is also one of the most respected Chinese temples on the island. People come from all over to see its beautiful Hokkien-style buildings, grand ceremonies, and the devotion of its worshippers.
No, there is no cost to get in. But small gifts are welcome and appreciated to help keep the shrine up and running and support temple activities.
The Phuket Vegetarian Festival happens in September or October, depending on the lunar calendar. It lasts for nine days, and Jui Tui Shrine is the main place for ceremonies, rituals, and parades during that time.
Yes, tourists are welcome to watch and join in as long as they are respectful. But don’t get in the way of rituals or touch holy things. Stay a safe distance away from intense ceremonies like firewalking or piercing for your own safety and out of respect.
