Established in 1810 Cheah Kongsi is one of the oldest Hokkien clan associations in George Town, Penang. Its members have their ancestral origins from Sek Tong Seah in the Sam Tor District of the Hai Teng County at Cheang Chew Prefecture, Fujian Province, China.
Malaysia: George Town – 15 great things to do
George Town is the colorful, multicultural capital of the Malaysian island of Penang. Once an important Straits of Malacca trading hub, the city is known for its British colonial buildings, Chinese shophouses and mosques.
George Town, located on the island of Penang, is the capital city of the Malaysian state of Penang in the north-western corner of the country. It is attached to the mainland by a huge 13km bridge. With a population of over 700,000, the city is the second-largest in the country after the capital of Kuala Lumpur.
One of the things we really like about George Town is the blend of the multicultural communities; Malays, Chinese, Indian, and the odd western expat. This results in a wonderful diversity of history, culture (lots of festivals), architecture and of course food. The latter is what has made George Town a ‘foody’ destination with some of the best street food in Southeast Asia.
The old part of George Town is a maze of small narrow streets, many of them cobbled. In its heyday, it was one of the busiest trading ports in the world which attracted people from everywhere. This resulted in a diversity of architecture. Within the two-and-a-half square kilometres of the old town, you can British colonial buildings, old Chinese shops and a mix of temples for various religions. In recognition of this diversity George Town was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage Site list in 2008. Within this listing, UNESCO identified “Street of Harmony” as the prime example of how diverse communities have come to live together and create a unique multicultural space.
Wandering the streets of George Town is one of our favourite things to do. There is so much to see. In recent years it has developed a reputation for ‘street art’ which can be seen all over the old town.
There are so many things to do in George Town. Below is a list of our favourite things to do in this vibrant city.
Contents
Things to do
1. Blue Mansion
2, Pining Peranakan
3. George Town Street Art
4. Chew Jetty
5. Khoo Kongsi
6. Kek Lok Si Temple
7. Penang Hill
8. Harmony Street
9. Fort Cornwallis
10. The Wonder Food Museum
11. Batik Museum
12. Cheah Kongsi
13. Hin Bus Depot
14. KOMTAR
15. Food Tours
The Best time to visit George Town
1. CHEONG FATT TZE (THE BLUE MANSION)
Built between 1896 to 1904, teams of master craftsmen from China were hired. The majestic blue house was built with 38 rooms and 5 courtyards. At that time, 3 of his wives occupied the Blue Mansion. The Blue Mansion (otherwise known as Cheong Fatt Tze’s Mansion) was large enough to accommodate his extended family.
2. PINANG PERANAKAN MANSION
The Pinang Peranakan Mansion is a museum dedicated to Penang’s Peranakan heritage. The museum itself is housed within a distinctive green-hued mansion at Church Street, George Town.
3. GEORGE TOWN STREET ART
George Town’s street art scene boomed in 2012. That year Ernest Zacharevicm, a Lithuanian artist, created 6 wall paintings during the celebration of the annual George Town festival. These murals soon achieved worldwide fame.
4. GEORGE TOWN – CHEW JETTY
Chew Jetty was one of 5 wooden jetties constructed in 1888 as part of a development project on the quayside in George Town. 2 other wooden jetties were built in the same area in the 1960s. One jetty burnt down so only five remain.
5. KHOO KONGSI
Leong San Tong Khoo Kongsi, or Khoo Kongsi for short, is one of the most distinctive Chinese clan associations in Malaysia. It is known for its extensive lineage that can be traced back 650 years ago, as well as its closely-knit and defensive congregation of buildings and a magnificent clanhouse.
6. KEK LOK SI TEMPLE
Kek Lok Si Temple is a Buddhist temple situated in Air Itam, Penang, Malaysia. It is the largest Buddhist temple in Malaysia, and is also an important pilgrimage centre for Buddhists from Hong Kong, the Philippines, Singapore and other countries in Southeast Asia.
7. PENANG HILL
Penang Hill, also known in Malay as “Bukit Bendera”, or Flag Hill was developed by the British colonial powers as the very first Hill Station in Malaysia in 1787. Today, Penang Hill is a major tourist destination, with over 1.6 million visitors each year. It has also been designated as a UNESCO biosphere location.
There are lots of things to do on Penang Hill, including some interesting-sounding hikes. The hills are also littered with large bungalows put there by rich colonialists and wealthy immigrants.
The most popular way to reach the top of Penang Hill is by the funicular railway. This railway is a single-section funicular that first opened in 1923 as a two-section railway. The system was overhauled in 2010 and re-opened in 2011. The track is about 2km long and rises in elevation 491m, with a maximum slope of around 52 degrees. It does this all in a rapid 5 minutes!
8. HARMONY STREET
When we were in Malacca, we took a trip down Jalan Tokong Besi, which had earned the name ‘Harmony Street’ due to the presence of three temples along its length representing three different faiths. We were excited to hear that Penang has a similar street, known as Pitt Street. Indeed this ‘street of harmony’ outdoes Jalan Tokong Besi – it has four temples of different religions: Goddess of Mercy Temple (Buddhist), Kapitan Keling Mosque (Islam), Sri Mariamman Temple (Hindu) and the St George’s Church (Christian). As well as these four there are some other interesting religious institutions close by; Choo Chay Keong Temple, a Chinese temple and Malay Central Mosque Lebuh Acheh.
9. FORT CORNWALLIS
Fort Cornwallis was built by the British East India Company in the late 18th century. It is the largest standing fort in Malaysia. The fort’s purpose was to protect Penang from pirates and Kedah but never engaged in combat during its operational history.
It was named after the then Lieutenant-General The 2nd Earl Cornwallis (1738–1805), the Governor-General of Bengal at the time of the fort’s construction, who had also been involved in the American War of Independence, surrendering his army to George Washington at Yorktown in 1781.[1] Lord Cornwallis was later created, in 1792, The 1st Marquess Cornwallis, and he was promoted to being a full-ranking General in the British Army in 1793.
Not much has been done with the fort. The walls are impressively intact, but when you get inside it seems to be mainly a place to gather to eat and drink. There are a few canons set on the walls, gunpowder storage and a statue of Lord Cornwallis
10. THE WONDER FOOD MUSEUM
The Wonderfood Museum is a unique museum in Penang that features oversized replicas of traditional Malaysian dishes, art and historical information. There are larger-than-life delicacies on display from across Asia.
11. PENANG BATIK MUSEUM
This Musuem aims to tell the historical story of how this art form began in the 1950’s and its subsequent development by a good number of talented artists in Malaysia.
12. CHEAH KONGSI
Established in 1810 Cheah Kongsi is one of the oldest Hokkien clan associations in George Town, Penang. Its members have their ancestral origins from Sek Tong Seah in the Sam Tor District of the Hai Teng County at Cheang Chew Prefecture, Fujian Province, China.
13. HIN BUS DEPOT
HIN BUS DEPOT is a creative community hub in George Town. Home to a gallery, arts & events spaces and creative business outlets, we are working towards a sustainable community and providing a platform for artistic execution.
14. KOMTAR
The KOMTAR Tower in George Town is Penang’s tallest skyscraper, standing at almost 249 metres tall. KOMTAR, an acronym for Kompleks Tun Abdul Razak, is actually a multi-purpose complex containing administrative offices of the Penang state government and the Penang Island City Council, retail outlets and a transportation hub. Due to its towering height, it serves as one of the most prominent landmarks on Penang Island.
There is a viewing platform on the Tower’s Skydeck and a theme park inside the KOMTAR!
15. FOOD TOURS
Penang is known for its diverse and delicious cuisine offering a unique blend of Malay, Chinese, Indian, and British influences. One of the best ways to experience Penang’s culinary scene is by embarking on a food tour. A food tour in Penang will take you on a journey through the island’s various neighbourhoods, where you can sample local delicacies from street food vendors, hawker centers, and restaurants. These tours are typically led by knowledgeable guides who can provide insights into the history and cultural significance of the dishes you’ll be trying.
The best time to visit George Town
The climate of George Town
George Town, in Malaysia, has a prominent Af Köppen climate classification. This delineation identifies the area as having a Tropical rainforest climatic zone, imbued with high temperatures and abundant rainfall year-round – two main characteristics driven by its latitude close to the equator.
Throughout the year, the city is marked by high temperatures, consistently ranging from a minimum of 23.8°C to a soaring 31.6°C. Each month, there are limited fluctuations in such thermal readings, as the lowest temperature seldom falls below 23.8°C while the upper temperature rarely surpasses 31.6°C. Correspondingly, relative humidity remains comparably high throughout the year, primarily within 76% to 81%, thus contributing to the overall sensation of warmth.
Rainfall in George Town varies from month to month, judging by the parameters provided. The range dips to a low of 65mm, and climbs a high of 193mm, marking December as the month with the heaviest rain showers. Correspondingly, the number of rainfall days has a similar trend, with a peak in November and December, where rain is expected for more than 28 days.
Observing the number of sunshine hours, they fluctuate narrowly from a modest 7.6 hours in November to a bright 9.3 hours in February, reflecting the region’s tropical nature. In conjunction with daylight hours, they remain quite constant throughout the year, hovering approximately around 12 hours daily.
The best time to visit George Town
Taking into consideration predominantly the temperature, humidity, and rainfall, the period from February to April emerges as the most suitable time to visit George Town. In these months, rainfall measures stay below 106mm and the days with rain are notably fewer than other times, below 24 per February. Concurrently, the temperature hovers between the comfortable 23.8°C and 31.3°C, allowing for outdoor exploration without extreme heat. During this time, hours of sunshine are also in their peak, exceeding 9 hours daily.
Where to stay Penang
1. MID-RANGE – NOORDIN MEWS
Nestled in the heart of Penang’s heritage centre, Noordin Mews is an intimate 1920s Peranakan shophouse turned hotel. With rooms meticulously restored to capture the essence of a simpler age, Noordin Mews is a living memory of Penang’s colonial architecture.
Set within a working-class neighbourhood known as the Seven Streets Precinct, our converted Straits Eclectic shophouse was originally for the trishaws and hand carts that populated Noordin Street in the early 1900s.
Abandoned after its purpose declined over the years, the main hotel building was rediscovered by an acclaimed hotelier, who skilfully restored it to its glorious years, coupled with modern times’ finer touches.
2. LUXURY – EASTERN & ORIENTAL HOTEL
The Eastern & Oriental Hotel – known simply as the ‘E&O’ to generations of travellers – exudes a charm that is inimitably its own. For most of its history, its passageways and halls were the preserve of the rich and privileged from the Western world – intrepid travellers that included acclaimed writers and aspiring literati who arrived in steamships seeking to experience the exotic East. Even with the passage of time, this unique pearl at the heart of George Town continues to shine as a testament to the grand elegance of the British colonial era, the embodiment of both a special time and a special place. Indeed, at the E&O, life’s true pleasures never go out of fashion. For over 138 years, the hotel has welcomed the world in timeless style. This legacy is conserved and further elevated with the re-opening of the Heritage Wing that is now setting the new standard as a leading destination in classic hospitality.
3. BUDGET – SWING & PILLOWS @ BEACH STREET
Swing & Pillows @ Beach Street is located in George Town, within 1.5 miles of Northam Beach and a 17-minute walk of Penang Times Square. Among the facilities at this property are a shared kitchen and a shared lounge, along with free WiFi throughout the property. Straits Quay is 5.1 miles from the hostel and Penang Botanic Gardens is 5.3 miles away.
All guest rooms at the hostel feature air conditioning and a desk.
More to Explore
