🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026
Hat Yai Municipal Park sits on Kanchanawanit Road in Kho Hong subdistrict, only about 6 km from central Hat Yai — under 15 minutes by car or taxi. The grounds cover more than 900 rai, taking in the lower park area and the summit of Khao Kho Hong at around 371 metres above sea level. The park itself is free and opens every day from early morning. What most people come for are the three shrines on the hill and the viewpoint over Hat Yai that looks out in every direction.
Three Shrines on Khao Kho Hong
The heart of the place is three sacred sites lined up along the hill. Locals and visitors alike come up to pray and make wishes all year round. You can visit all three in one go, since they're all on the same road up the hill.
White-Jade Guan Yin
A figure of the bodhisattva Guan Yin carved entirely from white jade, standing 9.9 metres tall and weighing around 80 tonnes — the largest white-jade Guan Yin in Thailand. It sits at the lower level of the route, which makes it the starting point for paying respects and the base station for the cable car too.
Brahma Shrine
A four-faced Brahma shrine partway up the hill, popular with people praying for success at work and good fortune. When wishes come true, they often give thanks with carved wooden elephants or a dedicatory dance. You can drive right up to it, or stop in on the way up.
Phra Buddha Mongkol Maharaj
A large standing Buddha image in the 'forbidding the relatives' pose, around 19.9 metres tall, enshrined at the summit. It's the highest point and the top station of the cable car. The terrace around the image is the open-air viewpoint over Hat Yai.
Visit all three shrines
If you want to see them all, start at the white-jade Guan Yin at the bottom, then work your way up to the Brahma shrine and Phra Buddha Mongkol Maharaj at the summit. Bring something modest to cover your shoulders and knees, and don't worry about hauling offerings — there are stalls selling flowers, incense, and candles near each spot.
Want more out of Hat Yai? Book tours & activities
Booking online ahead on Klook or GetYourGuide is usually cheaper than the gate and skips the queue. Pick only the experiences you actually want — prices and availability are shown live on each site.
The Cable Car — Hours, Fares, and How to Ride
The highlight many people come for is the Hatyai Cable Car, which carries you from the lower station near Guan Yin up to the top station at Phra Buddha Mongkol Maharaj. The run is about 525 metres and takes around 5 minutes, with wide-open views of the city and the forest around the hill along the way. Each cabin seats about 6–8 people, so it works for families and couples alike.
- Fares — around 100 THB for Thai adults and about 50 THB for children (up to 150 cm tall). Foreign visitors are charged a higher rate (we've seen anywhere from 200–300 THB depending on the period). Fares are round-trip.
- Opening hours — it generally runs from mid-morning to evening (roughly 09:00 onwards), though different sources list different closing times, from early evening into the night, and it's sometimes closed on Mondays.
- Check before you go — hours and fares can change. If the cable car is the main thing you're after, it's safer to call the park or check the Hat Yai City Municipality page first.
- You don't have to ride it — if you'd rather skip the cable car, you can easily drive your own vehicle up to each spot. The road up the hill is paved the whole way, with parking near each shrine.
Straight talk
The cable car is about the views and the fun of it — you don't need to ride it to get up the hill. If you're in a group and have a car, driving up yourself is cheaper and lets you stop and pray at each spot at your own pace. But if you want the view from the cabin and some nice photos, it's worth doing once.
Hat Yai City Viewpoint
The terrace around Phra Buddha Mongkol Maharaj at the summit is the viewpoint that looks out over Hat Yai in almost every direction. On a clear day you can pick out the buildings downtown, the airport, and the surrounding mountains. The busiest time is just before sunset, when the light is at its best and the air starts to cool — and the city looks great in photos as the lights begin to come on.
Best time of day
For nice light without the heat, come in the late afternoon to early evening. But if you plan to take the cable car back down too, watch the closing time — don't lose track of it and miss the last cabin down.
What Else Is in the Park
Beyond the hill up top, the lower park is an easy place to stroll. It's where Hat Yai locals come to exercise and relax, with plenty of open space for kids to run around and families to picnic.
Lake and relaxation garden
A reservoir and open lawns for strolling, exercising, and chilling out in the shade. Plenty of locals come to walk here in the morning and evening.
Bird park and nature trail
A walk-through bird park section and shaded paths through the trees — good for bringing kids to take in a bit of nature.
Astronomy centre / planetarium
There's a science section and planetarium within the park grounds — a good stop on a day when you want an indoor activity.
How to Get to Hat Yai Municipal Park
- Car/motorbike — from the city centre it's about 15 minutes along Kanchanawanit Road, with parking both at the bottom and near the shrines on the hill.
- Taxi/Grab — easy to hail from town, but catching a ride back from the top of the hill can be tricky. It's best to have the driver wait or arrange a pickup time.
- Motorbike taxi/rental — if you're staying in Hat Yai, renting a motorbike and riding yourself is the most flexible option, letting you go up the hill at your own pace.
If you're planning a one-day trip in Hat Yai, the park pairs nicely with Wat Hat Yai Nai or Kim Yong Market in the same outing, since they're all along the same route into town.
Plan your whole Hat Yai trip in one place
See the Hat Yai travel guide →