With its curved roofs dropping almost to ground level and its gilded wood façade, Vat Xieng Thong (1560) is without doubt the most beautiful temple in Luang Prabang (and possibly all of Laos). The interior is covered with gilded stencils depicting charming scenes from daily life. To the rear, the mosaic of the Tree of Life symbolises the connection between the earthly world and the celestial universe. One of the chapels in the square houses a rare and graceful 16C reclining Buddha made from bronze.