Donating Water to Jui Tui and Bang Neow Shrines
On 15 October 2026, the Andaman Surprise team visited two Chinese shrines in Phuket Town, Jui Tui and Bang Neow, to donate drinking water for this year's Phuket Vegetarian Festival. We gave drinking water to each shrine to support the festival.
The festival runs from 10 to 18 October 2026, and both shrines are part of it. We kept our gift simple: drinking water, handed over with thanks.
Two shrines, one festival
A few days earlier we visited Kathu Shrine, where the festival began in 1825. You can read that story in our Kathu Shrine post. Jui Tui and Bang Neow show the other side of the festival: the shrines of Phuket Town, where the Chinese community still gathers every October.
Jui Tui Shrine
Jui Tui sits at the end of Soi Phutorn in Phuket Town, close to a fresh market. It is dedicated to Tean Hu Huan Soy, a Chinese god worshipped for good health and protection. The shrine has a red roof decorated with dragons, a small stage for Chinese opera during festivals, and it has been renovated and extended several times.
During the Vegetarian Festival Jui Tui is the busiest site in town. The Go Teng pole goes up in its courtyard on the evening before the festival starts, processions form here, and ceremonies such as firewalking take place over the nine days.
Bang Neow Shrine
Bang Neow stands on Phuket Road at the Bang Neow intersection, on the southern side of Phuket Town. It is also known as Tao Bo Keng, a shrine for Tao Bo, Mother of the Dipper and mother of the Nine Emperor Gods. It shares that dedication with Kathu Shrine.
One travel site gives 1904 as the year the shrine was first built. The first shrine stood on Soi Romanee in what is now the Old Town, and a fire destroyed it. A second shrine on Phuket Road also burned down, and the present shrine stands across the road from that site.
Bang Neow's ceremonies for 2026 are listed as a street procession on 15 October, fire walking on 17 October and a bridge crossing on 18 October. Times can change, so check with the shrine before you go.
Visiting the shrines
Entry to both shrines is free, and donations are welcome. During the festival, wear white, dress modestly and follow the guidance of shrine staff. Both are working places of worship, so go quietly and keep clear of ceremonies in progress. For what to expect across the festival, see our guide to the Phuket Vegetarian Festival and our Phuket festivals 2026 guide. Vegetarian stalls change completely in October; see our guide to Phuket local food for what to eat.
Why we give back
Our guests come to Phuket for the sea. We also live here, and we want to support the places that make the island what it is. Phuket's history is just as much a part of a good visit as the beaches. If you have a free day outside your tour, our Wat Chalong history guide is another way to see it.
Jui Tui and Bang Neow shrines: frequently asked questions
Where are Jui Tui and Bang Neow shrines?
Both are in Phuket Town. Jui Tui is at the end of Soi Phutorn near a fresh market, and Bang Neow is on Phuket Road at the Bang Neow intersection.
What did Andaman Surprise donate?
We donated drinking water to each shrine in support of the 2026 Phuket Vegetarian Festival.
Are Jui Tui and Bang Neow free to visit?
Yes. Entry is free and donations are welcome.
When is the 2026 Phuket Vegetarian Festival?
The festival runs from 10 to 18 October 2026.
