Zhongzheng Park is located on the slopes of Dashawan Mountain, to the east of Keelung City. The park is renowned for its striking 25 meter tall white statue of the Goddess of Mercy, which has become an iconic feature of Keelung.
The park offers panoramic views of Keelung City and the harbor and is organized into three levels. The first level features a historic cannon fort. The second level houses a Buddhist library, the Martyrs' Shrine, and the Zhuputan Temple. The temple attracts numerous worshipers on the 15th day of the 7th lunar month for Zhongyuan Ghost Festival. The third level is home to the Guanhai Pavilion, where visitors can enjoy a sweeping view of Keelung and the ocean.
The Goddess of Mercy statue is the park's most prominent landmark and is the largest of its kind in Southeast Asia. Inside the statue, a stairway leads to the top, providing a stunning vantage point. The Zhuputan Temple, a focal point for worshipers during the Zhongyuan Ghost Festival, was originally established...
Wat Thammaram (วัดธรรมาราม)
Wat Thammaram prior called Wat Thamma or the Monastery of the Dharma (the teachings of the Buddha) is located off the city island in the western area of Ayutthaya north of Wat Kasatrathirat.
In situ are monastic structures of modern construction. Remains of the old outer wall, the crystal wall, and the lower part of the old gates still can still be seen.
It is related in the Royal Chronicles of Ayutthaya that on this spot during the siege of Ayutthaya in 1569 Phraya Thamma had set up his stockade to defend the west side of the city of Ayutthaya against the Burmese; an important strategical position because it lies across from Sop Sawan Monastery and was in front of the Rear Palace.
The King of Hongsawadi, Bhureng Noung, planned to launch a decisive attack to seize
Ayutthaya, although Prince Thammaracha of Phitsanulok feared that an attack on the city
would cost dearly in soldiers. He decided to use a ruse instead. He summoned Phraya Chakri, who was one of ...
Wat Sala Pun (also known as Wat Sala Pun Worawihan or วัดศาลาปูนวรวิหาร in Thai, meaning “Monastery of the Pavilion of Lime”) is an active Buddhist temple located off the main city island of Ayutthaya. It is situated in the northwestern area of the ancient city, approximately 2-3 kilometers from the central historical park. Unlike many of Ayutthaya’s iconic ruins, which were devastated during the Burmese invasion of 1767, Wat Sala Pun is a well-preserved, functioning monastery and a second-class royal temple of the Maha Nikaya sect, ranked as “worawiharn” (4th grade) under Thailand’s royal temple classification system established in 1913.
The temple’s exact construction date remains unknown due to limited historical records, but its architecture and features suggest origins in the Late Ayutthaya period (roughly 16th-18th centuries), reflecting the kingdom’s architectural evolution during its prosperous middle and late eras.
The temple remains active ...
Wat Sanam Chai (วัดสนามไชย) is a small, active Buddhist temple located in the historic region of Ayutthaya Thailand, outside the main city island.
It is situated in the Ban Pom Sub-district (ตำบลบ้านป้อม), along the west bank of the Chao Phraya River, approximately 5-6 km southwest of the Ayutthaya Historical Park’s core ruins. This places it in a quieter, riverside area amid lush greenery and local communities, away from the major tourist crowds. The temple is affiliated with the Maha Nikaya sect of Thai Theravada Buddhism and serves as a local place of worship rather than a prominent archaeological site. Its name translates to “Temple of the Victory Field,” evoking themes of triumph and prosperity, which aligns with Ayutthaya’s royal and military heritage.
History
The origins of Wat Sanam Chai are rooted in the Ayutthaya Kingdom (1351–1767 CE), a period when Ayutthaya was the thriving capital of Siam (modern Thailand), known for its grand temples, ...
