Penang Isle: Tan Kongsi

Tan Kongsi

Tan Kongsi

Tan Kongsi
The Tan clan members’ townhouses.
Tan Kongsi

The Tan Kongsi (or also known as Eng Chuan Tong) is the clan temple of the local Chinese people with the surname Tan in Penang. The old temple is located within a small compound that can be accessed via Beach Street, George Town. The compound itself is called Seh Tan Court and is surrounded by a number of old heritage style townhouses belonging to the Tan clan members. It was revealed that the Tan clan association had its origin back in the early 1800s, making it one of the earliest Chinese clan that settled in Penang. Tan is also one of the most common Chinese surnames in Penang.

Tan Kongsi
Tan Kongsi (view from Beach Street)

King Street: The Clan Houses

The various minor Chinese clan houses and associations in King Street, George Town.

Chin Si Thoong Soo which was built in 1914 and incorporating Cantonese Straits Eclectic style, is a Chin clan association building.

Chin Si Thoong Soo

Chin Si Thoong Soo

Chong San Wooi Koon is a Cantonese district association that represents the Cantonese clansmen from Guangdong Province in southern China.

Chong San Wooi Koon

Chong San Wooi Koon

Kar Yin Fee Kuan (Kar Yin Association) is a Hakka district association founded in early 1800s that represents the clansmen from the Kar Yin District of Guangdong Province in southern China.

Kar Yin Fee Kuan

Tseng Lung Fui Kon is another Hakka district association for Hakka people from the Tseng Lung district of Guangdong Province in southern China and is located next to Kar Yin Association.

Tseng Lung Fui Kon

Koo Saing Wooi Koon is a combined clan temple for people of the surname Lau, Kuan, Teoh and Teo.

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Lee Sih Chong Soo (or also known as Lee Kongsi), is the clan association for the Chinese surnamed Lee.

Lee Sih Chong Soo

The Ng Kongsi is a clan association for the Cantonese people surnamed Ng.

Ng Kongsi

Ng Kongsi

Poe Choo Seah is an association for Straits-born Chinese, the Baba Nyonyas which was built in early 1900s incorporating the Straits Eclectic style.

Poe Choo Seah

Poe Choo Seah

Penang Street View: Moey She Temple

Moey She Temple

The Moey She Temple in Penang Street (or Lebuh Penang), George Town, is a temple for the Moey clan of the Chinese community in Penang. This old and heritage temple was built in early 1900s with Chinese Cantonese-style architectural design.

Penang Isle: Lim Kongsi


The entrance gateway of the Lim Kongsi (Lim Clan Association), a Hokkien association located at Ah Quee Street, George Town.


The full name of Lim Kongsi is Kew Leong Tong Lim Kongsi. Kew Leong Tong (or ‘Hall of Nine Dragons’) is the primary association of Lim clan here. It was said that the name ‘Kew Leong Tong’ was to serve as a memorial to the sons of a certain Lim clan who were promoted as the chief magistrates during the Tang Dynasty in China.