Thai police are searching for the presumed Chinese tourist that was caught kicking a sacred prayer bell in a Buddhist temple.

Thai police are on the hunt for a tourist, whom they presume is Chinese, who was filmed kicking a prayer bell in a 14^th century Buddhist temple. Officials are threatening to ban the tourist over the incident, which took place at Wat Phra That Doi Suthep near Chiang Mai.

Locals and tourists consider the temple a sacred site. A gentle ringing of the bell is said to bring good luck. The filmed tourist, who was seen speaking Mandarin in the video, has further increased tensions between Thai locals and Chinese tourists. The video was posted on social media and quickly went viral. Local and immigration police are now searching for witnesses and taking a closer look at the CCTV to identify the tourist.

Police Maj. Gen. Bundit Tungkhaseranee said that once the tourist’s identity has been confirmed, he will be subject to a Thai etiquette and culture education course. If he refuses to attend, he will be barred from re-entering Thailand. Local police have been speaking to Chinese travel agents and guides, and checking outbound Chinese tourists at border checkpoints.

Tour operators are being urged to educate their clients on appropriate temple etiquette. The incident comes shortly after the Thai tourist board began handing out etiquette manuals to Chinese tourists visiting Thailand for the Chinese New Year.

Complaints of Chinese tourist behavior sparked the creation of the manuals. Locals complained of visitors causing traffic accidents and vandalizing tourist attractions. Just a few weeks ago, Chinese tourists were banned from Wat Rong Khun (The White Temple) for half a day because of a bad bathroom behavior.

Thailand’s Tourist Authority estimated that 90,000 or more Chinese tourists would visit Thailand for the New Year holiday. The Tourism Authority of Thailand director says that he has been informed of the bell incident, but also says that he believes the majority of Chinese visitors are fully cooperating with local guidelines.

-- 2015-02-24

Was the bell damaged in any way? if not then just inform temple visitors on how to ring the bells in the future. Funny how religion makes folks irrational.

Big deal. You did invite them over and it's not like he murdered anyone. Authorities could do with spending all this time and resources on something real and useful, like road safety!!

It is not about damaged property . It is also not about religion. It is about respects of Thai culture. Do you know what Thais consider of the feet ?

Maybe they could call in the USA and get satellite imagery of the culprit then drone him.

A better idea.

Send all this investigative manpower down to Phukett/Pattaya Beach and round up the notorious gangs of jet ski thugs that have been assaulting, kidnapping, extorting tourists for the last 20 years......in broad daylight!

It is not about damaged property . It is also not about religion. It is about respects of Thai culture. Do you know what Thais consider of the feet ?

As I said, irrational, culture, superstition, religion, ..... "consider ot the feet" ? yea, can make good money performing foot massage. It is up to the tourism people to inform visitors of any special cultural fetishes.

It is not about damaged property . It is also not about religion. It is about respects of Thai culture. Do you know what Thais consider of the feet ?

As I said, irrational, culture, superstition, religion, ..... "consider ot the feet" ? yea, can make good money performing foot massage. It is up to the tourism people to inform visitors of any special cultural fetishes.

Boggles the mind sometimes. Feet are dirty but they will prepare a meal on the floor...

It is not about damaged property . It is also not about religion. It is about respects of Thai culture. Do you know what Thais consider of the feet ?

so kick boxing and football should be banded, disrespectful to the other person or people.

The guy should not have kicked the bell but sometimes this country goes to the extreme for minor things and do nothing for major things.... Thainess !

What is wrong with these tourists? Drugs, drunks, or plain stupid? You can have a good vacation time without desecration of host country's religion. Utter stupidly!

Guessing unless that guy goes through a checkpoint with attentive police that search won't go far.

Obviously you think such disrespect is OK. Maybe you need to join the tourist in culture education. Or understanding mutual respect.

Guessing unless that guy goes through a checkpoint with attentive police that search won't go far.

Besides, the guy is probably long gone, back in rural Guilin and kicking his cattle...

Guessing unless that guy goes through a checkpoint with attentive police that search won't go far.

Besides, the guy is probably long gone, back in rural Guilin and kicking his cattle...

Perhaps he puts bells around their necks.

What a ding dong. Only a bell-end would show such disrespect for a sacred artifact. If anyone sees this guy do ring the authorities.

It's so comforting that the cops are on the case. There will be no bell kicking in this country. Of course the alleged kicker can claim his arms didn't work. Thailand...your priorities are a bit twisted these days. So it goes in the land of smiles.

It is not about damaged property . It is also not about religion. It is about respects of Thai culture. Do you know what Thais consider of the feet ?

I do indeed. Would not be at all surprised if the Chinese kicked the bell BECAUSE he had received the instruction manual. Sense of humour. A bit drastic but not undeserved.

"Is that the guy who did it?"

"I'm not sure, but his foot rings a bell"

What a horrible crime! Hope the bib works in shifts to find him before any more irrational superstitions can be offended and he can be successfully rehabilitated to the local standards of cultural hubris.

It is not about damaged property . It is also not about religion. It is about respects of Thai culture. Do you know what Thais consider of the feet ?

Yes, most of us do. That doesn't change that the only thing hurt were peoples feelings. There was no theft, no violence, no death.... just hurt feelings, which while don't make it right, in a list of priorities of things wrong with this country, should be well down the bottom. But there is nothing like a dose of Xenophobia to distract people from the real problems.

It is not about damaged property . It is also not about religion. It is about respects of Thai culture. Do you know what Thais consider of the feet ?

Nobody died, nothing was damaged, they have been reminded of how to behave, so forget it happened, put it in the past and tell the police to go and catch criminals and to ensure the safety of it's fellow citizens rather than carrying out border checks, questioning tour operators and generally wasting everybody's time with this futile operation!!!

If ringing the bell brings luck, where is the problem...the tourist created some luck....

It is not about damaged property . It is also not about religion. It is about respects of Thai culture. Do you know what Thais consider of the feet ?

As I said, irrational, culture, superstition, religion, ..... "consider ot the feet" ? yea, can make good money performing foot massage. It is up to the tourism people to inform visitors of any special cultural fetishes.

Boggles the mind sometimes. Feet are dirty but they will prepare a meal on the floor...

...or stand their kids on one of the dining tables at TOPS restaurant in Chiang Mai.

Don't mind all the rapists and murderers running free, coppers -- there's a larger villain on the loose: Put out an all points bulletin for the bell kicker.

I've seen those feet before.

Penance: Take him to a bar in Chiang Mai and have him ring the bell and pay for drinks for everyone

seven times.

Then he may lose his fetish for bells.

They should mark that bell as it obviously won't bring anymore good luck. Its ruined and should be replaced with much pomp and ceremony!

Maybe replace it with a picture of the offender and let people kick it?

Chinese might have mistaken for Muey Thai bells, his bells should be cut off for doing this at a temple!

I must admit this is one of those "culture gap" that I fail to understand... Don't the police have better things to do? Like catching real criminals???

Is there a video of this Thai Etiquette and cultural education course? I'm curious....

OK. What that guy did is wrong.

Even if he didn't know how shocking it is for Thai people and the heavy symbolism of feet in this country, he ought to have some common sense, and show a measure of respect in a temple. But the thing is ... The Maoist version of communism (which never had anything to do with Karl Marx's theories, by the way) worked for years on destroying religious feelings, rites, thoughts, which were deemed 'debilitating products of the feudal system' (and.. are they ? are they not ? the question is worth asking...) The result is that China today is arguably the most a-religious country in the world.

Are Thai authorities aware of that ? Yes, they are. So... what bugs me in this case is that the police are suddenly running around and issuing patronizing statements not so much because the guy did something wrong but because he was filmed doing it.

They say you can't have your cake and eat it, well, you can't have hordes of Chinese tourists visiting Thai temples ... and respect, discipline, manners. Not compatible, solly na krub.

Edited February 25, 201511 yr by Yann55

Kicking a temple bell sparks a manhunt.

Bringing a whole country on their knees, murdering thousands, and you'll earn yourself a free pass to Dubai..

Strange world....