Raja Uda (Butterworth) is Penang’s well-known CNY “lantern street,” with thousands of red lanterns spanning roughly a few kilometers and best enjoyed after nightfall. At night, the lanterns form a continuous red canopy that’s become a major “check-in” / photo spot in the area. It’s also a long-running local tradition that has been done annually (with pauses during the pandemic period). The lit-up stretch runs from the south junction of Jalan Telaga Air through Jalan Raja Uda.
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.
Colorful animated light projections illuminate the walkway at the Esplanade (near the coastal food court and Cenotaph area) each night.
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.
Despite its name, Armenian Street (Lebuh Armenian) was not originally settled by Armenians. It was named after the small Armenian community that once lived there in the early 1800s, who were influential traders and philanthropists in Penang. Interestingly, the famous Eastern & Oriental Hotel was founded by the Armenian Sarkies Brothers, who also established Singapore’s Raffles Hotel.
Today, the street is a UNESCO heritage hotspot known for its murals, cafes, and historic shophouses.
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.
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.
“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.
Once Coffee cafe located at Jalan Datuk Koyah, The Sugar Tang place at Carnarvon Street, Yap Kongsi Temple at Armenian Street and a liquor store at Campbell Street.