ไทย
“Sapan Hin” is a relaxing and soothing place within the town of Phuket. It features a beach-like setting located at the end of Phuket Road, extending into the sea.
Originally, the area around Sapan Hin served as a crucial port where cargo ships and passenger vessels used it as a docking point. It is considered a major port for travel in the Andaman Sea region. The Sapan Hin port is believed to be the docking point representative of Phuket locals returning from China, carrying the smoke of burning incense in a tradition that has evolved into an important ritual for the people of Phuket today.
The historical significance of Sapan Hin extends to being the location where the world’s first tin dredging took place. Tin dredging was initiated from Thunk Ka bay which is a sea area near Sapan Hin. The captain leading the pioneering tin dredging expedition was Captain Edward Thomas Miles, an Australian, in the year 1899 (2452 B.E.). This event later led to the widespread adoption of tin dredging ships in the Southeast Asian region.
Until the year 1968 (2511 B.E.), the Director-General of the Department had the idea to establish a monument commemorating the world’s first tin dredging expedition. Consequently, a design competition was opened, and in the year 1968, a total of 6 participants submitted their designs. The committee selected the design by Mr. Chavalit Hatsapong for the construction of the monument. The project received assistance from the Tongkah Harbour Tin Dredging Co. Ltd, an English company, which had its headquarters near the tip of Sapan Hin. The monument was constructed along the shoreline at that time.
The 60th Anniversary Monument is considered the iconic symbol of the Stone Bridge in Phuket. It was erected in the year 1968 (2511) to commemorate Captain Edward Thomas Miles. The Sapan Hin area also served as the location for a sports center, swimming pool, public computer service center, youth center under the responsibility of the Phuket City Municipality, the shrine of Admiral Prince Abhakara Kiartivongse, Prince of Chumphon, and the Kiew Tien Keng Shrine – a sacred area for the Guan Yin goddess, and the front area of the shrine has been used for ceremonies during vegetarian festivals.
The current Sapan Hin had been undergone sea reclamation to expand public spaces, utilizing materials such as clay soil dredged from the nearby canal, known as Klong Kor Jarn. This canal was originally dredged to serve as a docking area for small fishing boats. The dredging operations were carried out by Captain Edward Thomas Miles. Another portion of the material used in the reclamation consisted of debris and remnants from demolished structures. The expanded area has been improved and repurposed, serving as a central sports field and various municipal facilities for the Phuket City Municipality. Additionally, part of the reclaimed space is designated as a public park for relaxation and recreation.
In addition, the Sapan Hin now features a new sculpture called ‘Pla Suria’ or ‘Sun Fish’, a collaborative effort between the Phuket Provincial Administration, the Phuket Art Association, the International Association of Art, Thailand Chapter, and the Phuket City Municipality. This sculpture has been installed as a new landmark, and Mr. Amnart Boonsanit is the artist behind this piece.
