George Town Chinese New Year Festival

CNY Fest @ George Town

CNY Fest @ George Town

CNY Fest @ George Town

CNY Fest @ George Town

CNY Fest @ George Town

CNY Fest @ George Town

CNY Fest @ George Town

CNY Fest @ George Town

CNY Fest @ George Town

CNY Fest @ George Town

Held annually at the heritage area of George Town, the Chinese New Year festival and celebration in Penang usually attracts a huge turnout of visitors. Various cultural performances and events (such as lion dance, traditional opera, heritage show, etc) are being held at the festival.

A Scene at Thaipusam Festival

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Today marks the day of the Thaipusam festival, celebrated by Hindu devotees in the country.

Thaipusam is a Hindu festival celebrated mostly by the Tamil community annually. Outside India, Malaysia is the only country which widely observes this festival. In Malaysia, it was popularly celebrated by many Hindu devotees either at the Batu Caves in Selangor or the Waterfall Temple in Penang. Carrying the ‘kavadi’ or pulling chariots via ropes pierced on the bodies of devotees are common sights during the festival.

Penang Isle: Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion

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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.

Penang Street Art (Cultural Girls)

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A mural caricature depicting three different girls in traditional costumes from the three primary races in Malaysia. This art mural can be found at the purple-painted wall of a shophouse located along Armenian Street. The same wall faces the Soo Hong Lane and also houses another steel rod sculpture.

For the art’s location, please click HERE for the map.

The Goddess of Mercy Temple (Kuan Yin Teng)

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The newly renovated Kuan Yin Temple at Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling (or formerly Pitt Street). Locally known as ‘Kuan Yin Teng’ (literally Kuan Yin’s Pavillion), this old temple is dedicated to Kuan Yin, who is the Goddess of Mercy according to Chinese belief.

King Street: Cantonese Tua Pek Kong Temple

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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.