Wihan Thep Sathit Phra Kitti Chaloem (Nacha Sathai Tzhu Shrine)

Wihan Thep Sathit Phra Kitti Chaloem — better known locally as the Nacha Sathai Tzhu Shrine — sits on the coastal road linking Ang Sila and Khao Sam Muk, a short drive from Bang Saen beach. What began in 1937 as a small roadside shrine has been rebuilt and expanded over the decades into a four-storey Chinese-Taoist temple, its facade thick with carved dragon pillars and gold-on-red lacquer work in the style of southern Chinese temple architecture. Entry is free, with donation boxes for those making merit; the grounds are open daily, roughly 08:00-17:00.

The shrine is arranged by floor rather than by hall: the ground floor houses Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva (known locally as Phra Kasitikkhun, or “Ti Tsang Wang” in Chinese tradition), while the upper floor holds the building’s namesake — a statue of Nezha (Na Ja), a Chinese folk-religion protection deity, cast in a form replicated from a temple in Sichuan province. Worshippers come specifically for Nezha, believed to grant the “four blessings”: long life, rank, happiness, and strength. It’s a genuinely different flavor of religious site from the Thai Buddhist wats that dominate this stretch of coast — expect burning joss sticks the length of your forearm, red lanterns, and offerings of fruit and sweets rather than lotus flowers.

Insider Tip: Weekday mornings are quietest. Weekends draw a steady stream of Chonburi and Bangkok visitors making offerings before a big decision — pleasant to watch, but the small upper floor gets crowded fast.

Photography is generally fine in the public areas of the shrine, though it’s worth asking before pointing a camera at anyone actively praying. Dress modestly — shoulders and knees covered is the safe default even though this isn’t a Buddhist temple — and bring small bills if you want to make a donation or buy incense at the entrance.

Watch out: The upper floor with the Nezha statue involves a narrow staircase that gets genuinely tight when a tour group arrives — time your visit around them if you want the room to yourself.

The shrine sits within the Bang Saen area, on the coastal road toward Ang Sila, the old fishing village and market a few minutes north, and Khao Sam Muk, the monkey-covered viewpoint hill a few minutes south — an easy string of three stops along the same short stretch of coast.