Penang Perspective: George Town’s Chinese New Year Celebration
The annual Chinese New Year celebration which is held in George Town’s heritage area. The celebration usually features various traditional arts and performance of the local Chinese culture.
Batu Kawan: Aspen City Central Island Park (Chinese New Year)
Chinese New Year decorations at the recently built Central Island Park in Aspen Vision City in Batu Kawan, Penang. For the past several years, the Batu Kawan region has been undergoing several major developments including new townships and highways.
Butterworth: Raja Uda Pre-Chinese New Year Celebration
Butterworth: Raja Uda Chinese New Year Decoration
Lanterns adorning the entire stretch of Raja Uda road in Butterworth, Penang.
Happy Chinese New Year!
Penang Gurney Plaza Mall Chinese New Year (CNY) Decorations
Penang Queensbay Mall Chinese New Year (CNY) Decorations
Penang Queensbay Mall’s Chinese New Year decorations for the year 2019.
Penang Kek Lok Si CNY Lightings 2018
Every year, during the Chinese New Year festive period, the famous and iconic Kek Lok Si temple will be illuminated to celebrate the festival.
Penang Snake Temple CNY Festival 2018
This year marks the 6th Ban Ka Lan Chinese New Year celebration at the Penang Snake Temple.
The Ban Ka Lan (or Flame Watching) festival is held annually during the Chinese New Year period, as a ceremony to predict the year’s economy by observing the intensity of the flames during the ritual. The festival is also held to celebrate the birthday of the deity of the snake temple, Cheng Chooi Chor Soo Kong.
The Jade Emperor Temple
The Jade Emperor Temple at the foot of Penang Hill.
During the ninth day of the Chinese New Year, Chinese Hokkien people will be celebrating the birthday of the Jade Emperor. This day is also known as the Hokkien people’s new year, and has its origin back during the Song Dynasty where Chinese Hokkien refugees were saved from being caught and killed by the Mongols on the same day of the Jade Emperor’s birthday. Hence, as gratitude and believing that the Jade Emperor had saved them, the Hokkien people soon marked this day as an important festival to be celebrated.
Most Chinese in Penang are Hokkiens, so this day is usually celebrated more widely (and ‘loudly’) here than the first day of Chinese New Year.