Chao Pho-Chao Mae Kao Liao Shrine

Opening days: Daily

Opening hours: 08.00 - 17.00

 

Chao Pho-Chao Mae Kao Liao Shrine is an important Chinese shrine in Kao Liao District, Nakhon Sawan Province. Located by the Ping River within Kao Liao Municipality, the shrine is a spiritual center for local Thai-Chinese families and one of the key cultural attractions for travelers interested in riverside communities, Chinese heritage, and local festivals in Nakhon Sawan.

 

The shrine is more than a place of worship. It represents the long relationship between the Kao Liao community, the Ping River, trade routes, and the beliefs of overseas Chinese families who settled in the area. For generations, local people have gathered here to pay respect to the guardian deities, ask for blessings, and maintain community rituals that connect ancestors, families, and the younger generation.

 

The most important tradition associated with the shrine is the Chao Pho-Chao Mae Kao Liao procession. Traditionally, the festival is linked with the first day of the first lunar month in the Chinese calendar, which falls around January or February and coincides with Chinese New Year. It is a time when local Thai-Chinese people pay respect to the deities and their ancestors while joining community activities around Kao Liao Market.

 

The procession is known for its strong community participation. Activities include the ceremonial invitation of the deities, processions around Kao Liao Market, Thai-Chinese cultural performances, ritual ceremonies, and cultural street activities. In 2026, the festival marked 120 years of continuing faith and tradition, showing that Chao Pho-Chao Mae Kao Liao Shrine remains a living cultural landmark rather than only a historic religious site.

 

The shrine’s riverside setting adds to its charm. Visitors can experience a calm local atmosphere, observe the daily life of Kao Liao residents, and connect the visit with food stops, community walks, and other attractions in the district. During normal days, the shrine is peaceful and suitable for quiet worship. During the annual festival, the same area becomes lively with processions, performances, vendors, and large numbers of worshippers.

 

Getting There from Nakhon Sawan city center is straightforward by private car. Travel toward Kao Liao District and continue into Kao Liao Municipality near the Ping River. The shrine is around 20 km from central Nakhon Sawan. During the annual procession or Chinese New Year period, visitors should allow extra travel time because the market area and roads around the shrine can be busy.

 

Chao Pho-Chao Mae Kao Liao Shrine is a meaningful stop for travelers who want to understand Nakhon Sawan beyond the main city area. It offers a clear view of Thai-Chinese faith, ancestral respect, riverside settlement, and local identity. A visit here can be combined with Kao Liao Market, the Ping River area, local restaurants, and the wider cultural route of Nakhon Sawan.

 

 

A: It is located by the Ping River in Ban Kao Liao, Kao Liao Subdistrict, Kao Liao District, Nakhon Sawan Province.

 

A: It is an important Thai-Chinese shrine and the spiritual center of the annual Chao Pho-Chao Mae Kao Liao procession.

 

A: The procession is held around Chinese New Year, traditionally linked with the first day of the first lunar month in the Chinese calendar.

 

A: The festival includes deity processions, Thai-Chinese cultural performances, ritual ceremonies, community activities, and cultural street events.

 

A: The shrine is open daily from 08:00 to 17:00.

 

A: No. Admission is free for visitors who want to pay respect or explore the shrine area.

 

A: It is about 20 km from central Nakhon Sawan and is easiest to reach by private car.