Penang Queensbay Mall’s Chinese New Year decorations for the year 2019.
Tag: asian
George Town Street View: A Heritage Facade
Penang Isle: Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion
Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion is a historical and cultural rich building located along Leith Street in George Town, Penang. A winner of multiple historical and heritage awards including the ‘Most Excellent project’ Award at the UNESCO Heritage Awards 2000, the blue mansion is one of the most visited and a definite tourist destination in Penang. The mansion is said to be one of the two of its kind outside China which also features architecture design of both Chinese and Western influences. The mansion was built by a famous Chinese merchant in 1880s named Cheong Fatt Tze and it has 38 rooms, 5 granite-paved courtyards, 7 staircases with 220 vernacular timber louvre windows.
The mansion now serves as both a museum (with guided group tours) and a boutique hotel at the heart of Penang’s heritage zone. There is a daily guided heritage tours of the house in English (11am / 1.30pm / 3pm) with an admission fee RM 12 per person. For more information, please visit its official page HERE.
King Street: Cantonese Tua Pek Kong Temple
The Cantonese Tua Pek Kong Temple located along King Street of George Town’s Heritage Zone is an old Taoist temple was built by the local Chinese communities during 18th century. Tua Pek Kong, literally “Grand Uncle”, is worshiped as the god of prosperity by the Chinese.
Penang Street Art (‘Under Protection’ Mural)
This large mural can be found painted on the wall facing a small alley of Hotel Penaga‘s Clarke Terrace. Phrases of “Under Protection” can be seen inscribed upon the art work, probably to mean the things that should be protected by people less they are extinct. The painting depicts a tiger caring for her cubs, an old pre-war house structure and a man resting on a trishaw amidst tropical trees and birds.
Penang Street Art (The Lady in Qipao)
A wall mural art depicting an oriental lady wearing a cheongsam or qipao waiting by the sidewalk. This painting can be found at the sidewalk of a building along Nagore Road.
Pre-War House Facades
Penang Isle: Pavilion of the Jade Emperor
Pavilion of the Jade Emperor is a temple complex built on the slope of the Penang Hill and is nearby the lower tram station.
The temple was built for the worship of the Chinese Jade Emperor (Thnee Kong). The birthday of the Jade Emperor, which falls on the ninth day of Chinese New Year, is celebrated by the Hokkien community who offer prayers and food items to the protector of their ancestors in China.
The Taoist temple complex has been undergoing major renovation since 2002 but its history and existence stretches much further to 1905. It was still a small Taoist shrine back then.
The Jade Emperor deity statue. Prayers and offerings are made during his birthday on the ninth day of the lunar new year.