Tag: Heritage

Queensbay Mall : Deepavali Festive Decorations 2026

Queensbay Mall in Bayan Lepas welcomes Deepavali 2026 with “Wings of Light,” a vibrant festive display featuring a magnificent giant peacock as its centrepiece, symbolising beauty, grace and splendour. The colourful decorations transform the mall’s central atrium into a celebration of Indian culture, complemented by traditional dance performances, family-friendly workshops and festive activities. Running from 15 October to 10 November 2026, the celebration offers visitors a chance to admire the elaborate decorations, capture colourful photographs and experience the joyful spirit of the Festival of Lights.

Penang State Museum

Located on Farquhar Street within George Town’s UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Penang State Museum is a must-visit destination for anyone interested in the history, culture and multicultural heritage of Penang. Housed in a historic building originally associated with Penang Free School and later Hutchings School, the museum reopened in July 2026 following an extensive restoration, unveiling 15 galleries featuring nearly 1,200 artefacts, alongside interactive displays and multimedia exhibits.

Visitors can discover stories about Penang’s development, its diverse communities and the people and events that shaped the state over the centuries. Whether you are a history enthusiast or a traveller hoping to understand Penang beyond its famous food and street art, the museum offers a fascinating glimpse into the island’s past and cultural identity. It is an excellent stop to include in a heritage walk around central George Town.

Visitor information: The museum is at No. 1, Lebuh Farquhar, George Town, and is open from 9am to 5pm daily except Fridays and specified public holiday.

Penang History Gallery

The Penang History Gallery is an immersive, interactive museum on Bishop Street in George Town that recreates life in Penang from 1786 to 1957, spanning two floors with 37 distinct historical themes covering the colonial era, World War II, Japanese occupation, and independence. Housed in a beautifully restored colonial-era Anglo-Malay townhouse, the gallery features meticulously recreated scenes like old alleys, traditional grocery stores, a classic barber shop, and a vintage kopitiam, complete with costumed mannequins, period props, photographs, and AI-enhanced exhibits that bring the past to life.

Visitors can try on traditional Nyonya attire, ride a retro tram, enjoy nostalgic coffee, and join guided tours, making it Malaysia’s first interactive history museum where fun meets learning. In summary, the Penang History Gallery offers a unique, hands-on journey through Penang’s rich multicultural heritage in the heart of the UNESCO World Heritage zone. The gallery is located at Bishop Street and opens daily from 10am to 8pm.

Tanjung Tokong Seaside View

The coastal area of Tanjung Tokong (or Tanjong Tokong) near the Tua Pek Kong Temple with one of the old World War II relics spotted. This pillbox is one of the several concrete bunkers and pillboxes constructed by the British to defend the coastline against potential sea attacks.

Today, they serve as stark reminders of the island’s wartime past and the hardships endured during that era.

A pillbox bunker overlooking the sea.

Bukit Mertajam Temple CNY Decorations

Pek Kong Cheng (Bukit Mertajam) has a notable Chinese New Year decoration setup this year featuring lots of red lanterns plus a special “Leaping Fish” theme using fish-shaped lanterns. The installation consists of more than 300 fish-shaped lanterns in the area around Pek Kong Cheng Temple (also known as Hock Teik Cheng Sin) at Jalan Pasar.

Penang Miaohui Festival

Penang Miaohui (槟城庙会) is Penang’s major Chinese New Year “temple fair” held around George Town’s UNESCO World Heritage streets, where clan halls, guilds, and cultural groups open their doors for public open houses, performances, exhibitions, and hands-on heritage activities. It typically spreads across about 12 heritage streets and features cultural showcases plus large food and interactive booth areas, highlighting Penang’s Chinese heritage in a multicultural, community-focused way.

Penang Lion Dance during Chinese New Year

Lion dance on poles performance for GAMA Departmental Store during Chinese New Year opening.

During Chinese New Year in Penang, lion dances fill public and temple spaces with percussion-driven, acrobatic performances meant to welcome prosperity and chase away negative energy, often culminating in the cai qing blessing for homes and businesses.

In Malaysia, Master Siow Ho Phiew is a Malaysian lion dance coach and lion-head craftsman, widely called the father of Malaysia’s high-pole lion dance for creating a high-pole sequence that became a new standard and for spreading the style internationally through teaching.

Tai Por Kong Temple

Tai Por Kong Temple in Penang commonly refers to San Jiang Temple (三江庙) at Macallum Street Ghaut, a Chinese temple that began as a small shrine founded in 1920 and was later rebuilt after fundraising when the old premises aged. It is associated with the Hui’an Hokkien community, and the name “San Jiang” is said to come from the original Tai Por Kong temple in Hui’an, China, which overlooks three rivers.
​The temple is also one of the famous temples that conducts the Tai Sui rite, especially during the Chinese New Year. A Tai Sui rite (拜太岁 / 安太岁) is a Taoist-style prayer/appeasement ritual done to seek protection, smoothness, and to “make peace” with the year’s Tai Sui (the annual celestial authority linked to the lunar year), especially if your Chinese Zodiac is believed to be “offending Tai Sui” that year.

Chinese New Year 2026 Southern Lion Dance Blessing Ceremony at Kuan Yin Temple (Kuan Yin Teng)

A blessing ceremony for the lions which takes place at the old Kuan Yin Temple in George Town during Chinese New Year. Several vibrant southern-style lions in turquoise, pink, and yellow can be seen performing at the temple courtyard as part of the blessing ceremony.

Penang’s southern-style lions trace back to southern Chinese migrant roots, were sustained by local martial arts and community groups, and later evolved in Malaysia into a highly trained, competition-driven performance tradition while remaining central to festive and blessing ceremonies.

Armenian Street Lanterns

Armenian Street comes alive at night in this cozy, lantern-lit scene, where rows of glowing red Chinese lanterns float above the narrow lane and warm streetlights bounce off the old shophouse walls. The bright yellow road markings lead your eye into the distance, while little details (plants by the gates, hanging wires overhead, and small storefront corners) give the street its lived-in Penang character.