Penang Snake Temple (2025 Year of Snake)

The Penang Snake Temple, also known as Temple of the Azure Cloud, is a unique Chinese temple located in Sungai Kluang, Bayan Lepas, Penang, Malaysia. Built in 1805, it is dedicated to the Buddhist deity Chor Soo Kong, a Qing-era monk known for his healing powers and compassion for all living beings, including snakes. Legend has it that after the temple’s completion, snakes appeared on their own and have since inhabited the temple.

The temple is famous for its resident pit vipers, which are believed to be “tamed” by the deity’s presence. Visitors can observe these snakes coiled around statues and altars, seemingly docile. The temple also houses a snake museum and breeding pit.

Penang Street Food: Snake Temple’s Seafood Porridge (Lim Kee)

Seafood Porridge
The porridge is usually served with a generous amount of scallions and fried garlic.

Located just outside the Penang Snake Temple in Bayan Lepas, there is this food stall called Lim Kee Famous Seafood Porridge. Its popular porridge menu includes mixed seafood, prawns and fried grouper fish porridge (there is also an option for noodles). This stall is a popular dinner and supper place for the locals here.

It is closed on Wednesdays and usually opens from 5pm till 10:30pm.

Bayan Baru: St. Presso Coffee

St. Presso cafe is located at the recently completed Elit Avenue in Bayan Baru, far away from the heritage zone of George Town where most such cafes are located. Despite the location, the cafe has been gaining popularity among the locals and people from around the area.

The cafe’s official website is http://www.stpresso.com.

Penang Second Bridge

A view of the Penang Second Bridge in construction. The second bridge will connect Batu Kawan on the mainland Seberang Perai and Batu Maung on Penang Island. The total length of the MYR 3 billion bridge is 24 km (15 mi) and will become the longest bridge in Malaysia and Southeast Asia once it is completed in 2013.

Penang Isle: The Snake Temple

The Snake Temple (also known as Temple of the Azure Clouds) is located at the sourthern end of Penang, not far from the Penang International Airport. The small temple is home to a few varieties of snake species, mostly pit vipers (although the number of snakes there are getting fewer now due to nearby industrial development).

According to legend, the temple was built in to worship a deified monk who was also a great healer. Before the building of the temple, the monk had given shelter to the snakes of the nearby jungle and when the temple was completed, the snakes moved in.