The statue of the seated Buddha is said to have shed tears the day the town was sacked by the Burmese in 1769 and it is perhaps for this reason that it is so venerated today. All day long, Thais carry out merit-making activities (such as offering tulle scarves), which are thought to be essential for reincarnation. It is thanks to this imposing 19m-high, gold-covered statue that Wat Phanan Choeng, built in 1324, is so famous. The temple is also home to an impressive collection of 80 000 Buddhas.