Category: Places to Visit / Attractions

Penang CNY: The Jade Emperor Birthday (Weld Quay)

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Today marks the birthday of the Jade Emperor deity.

During the Chinese New Year’s 15-days period in Penang, the celebration for the birthday of the Jade Emperor will fall on the 9th lunar day of Chinese New Year. This day is particularly celebrated a lot by the Hokkien community in Penang and is also commonly referred to as the Hokkien New Year. There will be lots of prayers, food offerings and various festivities held for the Jade Emperor on this day. Two popular areas in Penang where this day is celebrated are the Jade Emperor Pavilion temple at Ayer Itam and the Clan Jetties area at Weld Quay, George Town.

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The Kek Lok Si Temple Turtle Pond

The Kek Lok Si Temple Turtle Pond

The Kek Lok Si Temple Turtle Pond

The Kek Lok Si Temple Turtle Pond

This old but large ‘turtle liberation pond’ of Kek Lok Si temple complex can be found near the entrance of the temple if one decides to walk up the hill from the Ayer Itam town. The pond is surrounded by many souvenir and gift stalls and similar stalls are set up along the way to the pond and the temple.

Penang Street Art (The Paris-Penang Mural)

The France-Penang Mural

The France-Penang Mural

The France-Penang Mural

This 20 meter art mural at Alliance Française de Penang was created by local Malaysian artist Elan Hasyim and it was painted in a way to portray the relation between the two cities, Paris and Penang.

It can be found on the wall of the building of The Alliance Française de Penang (a French learning center), which is located right at the corner of Jalan Phuah Hin Leong, George Town:

The Alliance Française de Penang Building

Penang Street Art Map (Part 14 – Balik Pulau Town Center)

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Click on the image for a larger size.

Street arts featured in this map:
The Old Fisherman Mural, The Silat Master and The Rubber Tapper by Julia Volchkova.
The Old Man Portrait by Ernest Zacharevic.

For other street arts in Penang, please click HERE.

Penang Street Art (The Old Fisherman)

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A large art mural portraying an old fisherman mending a fishing net can be found at the side wall of an pre-war shophouse in Balik Pulau town, Penang. This amazing and vivid painting was done by Russian street artist Julia Volchkova. This is one of the two murals painted by her in Balik Pulau town.

For Volchkova’s other works in Penang, please refer HERE or for her Facebook page; https://www.facebook.com/volchkovastreetart.

Evening at Ayer Itam Dam

Ayer Itam Dam Landscapes

Ayer Itam Dam Landscapes

Ayer Itam Dam Landscapes

A popular recreation area for the locals, the surrounding hills of Ayer Itam Dam host a number of forested paths for hiking, jungle trekking and cycling activities. The hills are also linked to the Penang Hill. The Ayer Itam Dam is the first dam to be built in Penang.