Wat Xieng Thong

One of the oldest (1560) and most important temples in the country, Wat Xieng Thong (Golden City Temple) sits at the tip of town, where the Khan River meets the Mekong. The various temples in the complex are decorated with intricate and colorful mirrored mosaics inside and out. One of the buildings was a royal funeral chapel with a huge golden funeral chariot built in the form of several bodies of parallel naga with fangs and long tongues curling out. It’s very dramatic.