Great temple for worship with deep rooted history! My family has been coming here for 20 years to pray as a yearly tradition and we've always enjoyed the serenity it brings to us afterwards. The caretakers/family who volunteer at this temple are very caring, responsive and helpful. Helen, one of the friendly caretakers took time to explain the history of the temple and Bok Kai is a deity that controls water/floods. You can learn more about this on the Bok Kai temple's website, it's well worth reading! My family and I really appreciate this temple and will continue to drive 2.5hrs to pray and keep this temple as part of our tradition. What a gem in the Marysville community, we love it! BTW If you're lucky to see the attached museum (it was being restored/work in progress for a long time), you'll see an amazing collection of historic relics! I was blown away by the massive size and detail of the dragon head, truly an incredible treat for my family to see it!! Many thanks to the continuous dedication of the Marysville community and caretakers who protect and improve this beautiful temple for all of us to enjoy! read more

See all

I want to take the time to thank the caretakers and their family for their many years of dedication to the worshipers and to the Bok Kai Temple. It is quite a commitment to give up every weekend to receive people at the temple. One of the reasons this temple is still around and has not been converted to a museum, like most of the Chinese temples in Northern California, is because Bok Kai Temple volunteers are willing to sacrifice weekends and holidays so people can come and pray and pay respect. The Bok Kai Temple is truly a treasure and we are very fortunate that it is still available to people to enjoy. read more

Bok Kai Temple - Buddhist Temples Near Me - Marysville, California

For 149 yrs and going strong, the Bok Kai Temple has its festival. This is my 2nd time and I love the experience. The area comes alive for the parade and festivities. The heritage places are open such as a museum and school. The school houses the famous dragon from the parades long ago. I enjoy taking part in the rituals of incense and fortune telling. There are fortune tellers there for you. If you sit in the restaurant next door to the Temple, you can watch the parade go by as sit eating at a window seat! read more

The Bok Kai Temple is pretty cool because it's history. It's part of Marysville, CA Chinatown and it's on the National Historical of Historical Places. Check out Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bok_Kai_Temple We went on Sun 3/9/08 when it was open for Bok Kai Festival. Tours are by Appointment only. We saw people bringing whole roast pig to offer to their ancestors I guess. I'm not into Chinese culture so I'm not really sure what (Bai San...what I heard it as) really is all about. They seem to offer to their deceased (they later took it & had a picnic outside on the lawn), then burn incense, and burn fake money or whatever. So time consuming but some people are really into it. We just stood around and watched. There was a fortune teller too. Separate men & women bathrooms. Women was just 1 toilet & sink. Drive: 2.5 hrs from Fremont. It's near Yuba City. Website: http://www.bokkaitemple.org/ read more

I've been coming here with my family once a year for the past several years. As stated by Ann L., you need to call ahead of time so that someone will be there to open the temple. It's kinda small inside and can get crowded very quickly, as it did when we went on 3/2/08. There was a lady there who was "regulating" everyone making sure that walkways weren't blocked and food being offered for prayer was removed in a "timely" manner. I understand she needs to do her job but she was rude and pushy! Totally uncalled for at a temple - that was my only negative experience here. This place has lots of history and dates back to the Gold Rush days. I have a tremendous amount of respect for this temple and make sure I get in my prayers every year! BTW - If, and only if, you really believe in it, your prayers will come true - several of mine have! It's quite a drive here from the Bay Area, but well worth it! read more

I've been meaning to visit this temple for 2 years but because it's so far from San Francisco, I wasn't able to make the trip. But I have no excuse now because I live 10 minutes away so during major Chinese occasions and New Years, I'll be at Bok Kai praying. I visited Bok Kai Temple today for the very first time and had a nice chat with the owners. They are very nice and showed me where to place all the incense (they're $5 a pack) throughout the temple. Keep in mind they are only open on the weekends and suggest calling before heading there just to make sure someone is there. read more

Located about two hours from San Francisco, the Bok Kai Temple is a sacred treasure that is almost unnoticeably tucked away in the quaint, 'throwback' town of Marysville, CA.. The Bok Kai Temple, located at the 'dead end' of D Street, the main street through the town center, is ironically located just behind the towns most popular bar, The Silver Dollar Saloon. The original temple built in 1850 was destroyed by fire and a replacement was erected very nearby in 1880 where it exist today. Besides having state and federal historical status, the Bok Kai Temple actively serves worshipers coming from near and far to this day. Although a few tourist straggle in from time to time just to observe the antiquity of the temple, the temple is not a museum per se. Slowly, as time and contributions permit, some original artifacts with informative descriptions are now beginning to be displayed for visitors to see. The Bok Kai Temple, primarily, remains a unique and important place of worship. Many people come regularly to the temple to pray with their families. Some seeking the blessing of a birth, others success with business or school and others praying for the wellbeing of an ill relative or friend etc.. Many worshipers will attest to being the beneficiaries of miracles as the result of their praying at the temple. Worshipers are probably unaware of how much maintenance and effort goes into keeping the doors of the Bok Kai Temple open for worshipers and visitors who wish to come year round. The Soon family, particularly sisters Helyn and Mable, have been dedicated VOLUNTEER caretakers of the temple for many, many years, graciously administering the requirements of worshipers, working diligently to insure the safety and quality of experience for any and all visiting the temple. After the lunar New Year and the yearly Bok Kai festival, when visitations begin to slow, the temple is accessible by appointment. The number can be easily searched on the web. Caretakers will arrange to meet you and open the temple per your request. Visitors are expected to arrive at the agreed designated time or to have the courtesy to call and cancel their request if they are unable to keep their appointment. Please remember, the temple is maintained on voluntary basis. Caretakers will only arrange to open the temple on an 'as needed' basis. read more

First visit here and it turned out to be a very crowded weekend. The line wrapped up near the pagoda which ended up being an hour long wait. By the time I got into the door, not knowing what the tradition is, the lady at the front desk (entry table) was nice enough to provide instructions on what to do for 'worship'. You can buy incense/candles for $5 at the entry table, she also informs you where to place the incense/candles/burning the joss paper as you walk through the temple. There is also fortune telling (kau chim) and a reader that will help interpret it (donations optional and common). read more

Nice excursion. Grounds are very pleasant. Plenty of 'on' street parking. Nice restaurants almost next store, so you can park, tour and have lunch all within steps of each destination. Nice opportunity to see a little bit of Chinese history. read more

Bok Kai Temple - Nice entrance to grounds. - Buddhist Temples Near Me - Marysville, California

See all

The temple is quite sacred. You can read its history on their website. I've been to this temple twice. The first time was during some festival and it was really crowded. The second time, I decided to make an appointment. I don't remember her name, but the lady was really nice and helpful. She can speak both Cantonese and English. She told us what to do and gave us a brief history. A lot of people go to this temple to make their prayers to Bok Kai, the Northern God. I heard that if you make a wish there, it will come true. The lady told me many stories. VERY VERY KIND LADY! I told her about my auto accidents and she called her friend right away (Year of the dragon) to ask if I can still pray to Tai Shui. I suggest calling in if you want to visit. read more

My cousin family visiting the Book Kai Temple every year around Chinese New year to give thank for all our blessed. Very nice place to take pictures. Food is good. If you want to go there week days have to call make appointment. They don't open regular day. read more

My family and I visit the Bok Kai Temple every year (around Chinese New Year) to give thanks for all our blessings. It's quite a drive (almost 2 hrs from SF and an hr from Davis) but it is quite worth it (in terms of spirituality). I believe you have to call them ahead since they are not always open when you want to visit. I don't know much about the history but you can surely read up on it on their website. From my understanding, this temple is quite sacred. If you make a wish here, it will be granted/become true. Besides this temple, there's a McDonald's a block away. Other than that, everything around this temple is dead. We come here every year and it always looks like an old, empty western town like you see in the movies. Ironically, there is a saloon next to the temple. A "saloon", not a "bar". read more

Beautiful, quite, calming, and gorgeous. Look around, read all the info on the plaques that ate all around. It's perfect for family pictures, and scenery. If you want to read, bring a book there's a small park near by. read more

Bok Kai Temple - Buddhist Temples Near Me - Marysville, California

See all

The Temple is not the problem, it's the person managing the temple that gives off bad vibes. She's always in a pissy mood and is rude. But she smiles as soon as you hand her money and pays for services at the temple. Initially it was her mom that manages the temple she was a very nice lady and she actually is very passionate about keeping the temple open to welcome everyone. Now her daughter is taking over, it's just so not a peaceful place anymore with her roaring pissy snarky remarks. read more

Helen is awesome! She opened the temple, showed me how to do the proper praying and waited for me today! She also made me a 'fu' which brings good luck to keep in my wallet. read more

I've been there many times in the past. Each time it brings tears to my eyes. The last time I was there, the old man in charge turned out to be the older brother of my PE teacher at Francisco Junior High School, Mr. Kim, in San Francisco. I told Mr. Kim abut it at a class reunion. Emotional moment, indeed. As an old first generation Chinese, I know well of the history of this temple and Marysville. One year during the flooding of this city by the Feather River, only this temple was spared. And the temple sits adjacent to the river. read more

The Bok Kai Temple is a very beautiful and historic landmark. The only thing that makes the experience that much better is the caretakers of the place. It is a pleasure to visit this place year after year, and the caretakers are always accommodating to our needs and times of worship. I feel like the whole family takes an extreme extent to welcome us every time we visit the temple. Have you been to their orchard to pick their persimmons? It's an amazing experience! =) *Hey Cynthia! Try walking a mile in other people's shoes. I wouldn't want that pushy lady's job for squat having to regulate a bunch of unruly Chinese people. read more

This beautiful temple is a hidden jewel in Marysville, CA. The temple has history dating back to the 1850's. Bok Kai is the only temple in CA that is owned and operated by the Chinese. It is run off donations only and is in need of more renovations and support. My girlfriend and I came here to supplement our learning of Taoism. We were able to orchestrate a private tour of the temple by calling Ric Lim, president of the Chinese American Society in Marysville. He opened the temple for us on a Wednesday (the temple is usually only open on Saturdays for worship), and he and his wife gave us a very nice tour of the temple. They were very knowledgeable about the history of the temple, and even though our tour was only scheduled for an hour, they let us stay for two hours so we could see it all. The temple itself is absolutely incredible. There are many wooden carvings that have been sent over from China. There are statues of the deities, old lamps, representations of Chinese weapons, an offering table, among many, many, other artifacts. We walked around the temple four times and I still feel like we didn't see it all. Everything is so detailed and ornate. While it is my understanding that this is mainly a Taoist temple, there are hints of Buddhism and Confucianism throughout the temple as well. I would highly recommend this temple for anyone who is interested in Chinese religions or Chinese history in the United States. The temple is well maintained and beautiful, and the staff is welcoming and knowledgeable. The correct website for the temple is www.bokkaitemple.com (NOT .org as Google insists) Donations and support can be mailed to Marysville Chinese Community PO Box 2384 Marysville, CA The Bok Kai festival is in March and I'm told that is is an absolutely amazing display of Chinese culture. I will most definitely come back to this temple, as well as to Marysville, CA for the Bok Kai festival in March. read more

Very small temple and limited hours. I think they open on weekends during the month of Chinese New year. I found this place a few years ago when i was researching chinese temples up north online. They town has annexed the pagoda which is a provides great shade on a warm, hot day. Nice outside area to picnic on the grass or on the seats for people and furry friends. read more