Wat Phra That Chae Haeng dates back to 1355 and is located a couple of kilometers east of town on a low rise accessed by an enormous naga stairway.

Though Wat Phumin is usually of more interest to visitors, this temple is in fact more highly revered by locals; in fact it’s the main temple in the entire province. It has a distinct, slender gold chedi in Laotian style, which is around 55 metres tall.

During the full moon of the first lunar month, a festival with fireworks and processions takes place at Wat Phra That Chae Haeng.

The chedi of the wat is bell-shaped, and although it looks gold, it is really a combination of copper and brass. The temple also features good stucco work and some magnificent examples of Nan fine art (check out the statues in the viharn), while the grounds and general upkeep of the place are top notch.

Best visited by bicycle or motorbike, but also accessible by songthaew or tuk-tuk in about 10 minutes from downtown Nan. Nan-bound buses depart from Chiang Mai regularly, taking around 5 hours.

  • What is it? One of Nan city’s most beautiful temples.
  • Opening hours: 06:00-18:00, daily.
  • Entrance fee: Free.
  • Address: Just off H1168
  • Where: a couple of kilometers southeast of Nan town, on the east side of the River Nan.