Leng Buai Ia Shrine, in Bangkok's ancient Chinatown, is the oldest Chinese shrine in all of Thailand. An inscription at the shrine notes that it was established in 1658, during the Ayutthaya Era. The Teochew-style shrine was built in the sleepy fishing village of Bang Gok (today, Bangkok) to service the spiritual needs of the merchants and traders who would sail from China up the river to the Siamese capital of Ayutthaya.
Historically, the shrine would have been both the spiritual and social center for the Chinese merchants in Siam. It would have been used by Chinese businessmen aiming to pray for the prosperity of their businesses, as well as to establish social connections
