Wat Mangkon Kamalawat (Wat Leng Noei Yi)

Wat Mangkon Kamalawat, also called Wat Leng Noei Yi, is a Chinese Buddhist temple in Bangkok’s Chinatown. Its red lanterns, dragon motifs and detailed carvings set it apart from the city’s Thai-style temples. Inside, you can explore halls and shrines with Buddhist, Taoist and Confucian imagery, or pause to pray and make a wish. The temple is also a lively setting for Chinese New Year and the Vegetarian Festival. Visit on a weekday morning for a quieter look around, and dress respectfully for this place of worship.

A Chinese Buddhist temple in Chinatown

Wat Mangkon Kamalawat, also known as Wat Leng Noei Yi, is one of Bangkok’s major Chinese Buddhist temples. It sits in Chinatown and is associated with the Mahayana Buddhist tradition. The temple is also known as the Dragon Lotus Temple, a name reflected in its dragon and lotus decoration.

Its history is linked to the Chinese Buddhist community in Bangkok. The temple opened in the late 19th century and became a place for Chinese Buddhist practice in the city. Its importance is especially visible during major religious and Chinese calendar events, when people come to pray and take part in ceremonies.

What to see inside

The street entrance, marked by red lanterns and dragon decoration, gives only a partial sense of the complex beyond it. Courtyards, halls and smaller shrines sit within the temple grounds. The main hall is flanked by guardian statues, while other spaces contain further shrines and sacred figures.

Look for the carved details, Chinese-style paintings and bright colours across the buildings. Dragon imagery appears in the temple’s decoration, alongside floral motifs and lanterns. The halls also contain Buddhist statues, including a laughing Buddha, as well as figures associated with Chinese religious traditions. The mix of Buddhist, Taoist and Confucian shrines makes the site a place to encounter several strands of Chinese religious practice together.