Why should you go there and how do you do it right?

This is a place of worship, not a photo stop, and that's precisely what makes it so appealing. The shrine honors Pho Yi Ko Hong, a deity of Chinese folk religion, and has long served Bangkok's Chinese community. You'll find incense, altars set up for ceremonies, and so many intricate carvings that you'll barely take most of it in during a quick five-minute visit.

Half an hour is about right. Longer if a ritual is taking place and you'd like to be a little more secluded. I'd recommend arriving early, shortly after it opens at 8 a.m., when the light is better and there's less traffic on Phlap Phla Chai Road. The shrine is located in Pom Prap Sattru Phai, so close to other shrines and temples that you can visit several in one morning without having to walk far.

Anyone looking for a large project or an English translation won't find it here. It's small, local, and the reward lies in watching people use it.