The newly restored western moat at Fort Cornwallis in George Town is set to reopen with an upgraded walkway and improved drainage, reviving a historical feature that once protected the 18th-century fort from invasions.
Fort Cornwallis at Night
Tag: esplanade
Penang Isle : Fort Cornwallis Moat at Night
The newly restored western and southern moat at Fort Cornwallis at night. Together, both moats will form a water basin covering about 4,000 m², about 0.9 m deep, and holding roughly 3,600 cubic metres of water. The restoration uses traditional construction methods, with features like mechanical sand filters and bio-retention swales built into the design for ecological health and long-term stability. The project is part of Penang’s North Seafront Improvement Programme, with funding from the state government and partners like Think City and Yayasan Hasanah.
Penang Isle : Fort Cornwallis Moat
The Fort Cornwallis moat in Penang has undergone a major restoration set to be fully completed and opened to the public by July 2025, featuring the reinstatement of its southern and western sections to form a 4,000 square meter water basin about 0.9 meters deep, holding approximately 3,600 cubic meters of water. Using traditional building methods for long-term stability, the restoration includes ecological enhancements like a mechanical sand filter and a vegetated bio-retention swale, aligning with sustainable development goals. The project, costing around RM23.4 million and supported by the Penang state government, Think City, and Hasanah Foundation, also includes landscaping improvements, new visitor amenities, and a rebuilt food court adjacent to the moat, designed to complement the historic site.
This restoration revives the fort’s original defensive features from its 1804 construction, enhancing heritage conservation and turning the moat area into an attractive green public space and educational site for both locals and tourists, particularly timed to coincide with the George Town UNESCO World Heritage celebrations.
Originally constructed by the British East India Company in 1804 as a defensive measure during the Napoleonic Wars, the moat was filled in 1921 due to public health concerns (malaria) and construction developments.
Penang Town Hall during George Town Festival
Terang, meaning “bright” in Malay, is a projection mapping spectacle by the Malaysian digital art collective Filamen. The showcase reimagines George Town’s historic Town Hall by turning its colonial facade into a radiant display of digital artistry, blending light, motion, and colour to create an immersive visual experience. This event will end tonight, as part of the George Town festival activities.
George Town Festival 2025 : After Dusk “Terang” Projection Mapping (till 10th August)
“Terang”, the centerpiece of After Dusk at George Town Festival 2025, was a breathtaking projection mapping show by digital art collective Filamen, displayed on the historic Town Hall at Padang Kota Lama. Using vibrant visuals and dynamic light, the installation explored the festival’s Rojak theme—celebrating Malaysia’s diverse cultural layers—by blending heritage architecture with cutting-edge digital storytelling. It wasn’t just a light show, but a sensory experience that transformed the colonial facade into a luminous canvas of identity, imagination, and shared memory.
This event now runs till 10th August from 8-11pm at the Penang Town Hall, near the Esplanade.
George Town Festival 2025 : Colored Curtains
George Town Festival 2025 : After Dusk
“After Dusk”, the opening event of the George Town Festival 2025, transformed Padang Kota Lama (Penang Esplanade) into a vibrant nightscape on August 2–3 (update: extended till 10th August now) from 5pm-11pm with projection-mapping on Town Hall by Filamen (titled “TERANG”), cultural performances like “Starry Night” and “Transmute: Dengung Dalam Sepi”, a musical fusion set “Rhythms & Roots”, and a bustling night bazaar called “A Market Under a Starry Night” featuring local crafts and food. All events were free and celebrated this year’s theme, Rojak, symbolizing Malaysia’s colorful blend of cultures.
Light Street View: LED Tree Lights
George Town’s Light Street has been transformed into a vibrant tourist attraction with the installation of a new LED light display at the Esplanade’s Municipal Fountain Park. The Penang Island City Council’s initiative, costing RM261,000, aims to enchant locals and tourists alike, enhancing the city’s nightlife and boosting tourism. The LED strands, adorning trees, create a magical ambiance, receiving positive feedback from the community. With plans to refresh the display colors periodically and expand to other areas, George Town is set to maintain its allure as a must-visit destination.
Light Street View: Esplanade Trees Decorations
The enchanting sight of brightly illuminated trees along Light Street at night. These trees are located along the walkway of Esplanade, on the opposite side of the Penang Chinese Chamber of Commerce.
