Wat Phanan Choeng in Ayutthaya, Thailand, established in 1324, predates the city itself, highlighting its early historical significance. The temple is famed for its enormous 19-meter-high gilded seated Buddha, Luang Pho Tho, revered by mariners and believed to have miraculously shed tears before Ayutthaya's fall. This site, rich in history and legend, serves as a guardian figure and a spiritual beacon, drawing both Thai and Thai-Chinese communities for worship and reverence.