George Town Street View: Peranakan Facade

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Ancient sculpture adorning the old rooftop that forms part of the heritage facade of the Pinang Peranakan Mansion, in Church Street, George Town.

Straits Eclectic Style Facades

Straits Eclectic Style Facade

The Straits Eclectic is an architectural style with heavy influence from the The Peranakan Cina, or also known as the Straits Chinese. This architectural style was very popular in the early 20th century in Penang and most town houses in George Town employed such style. This style also incorporated some Western architectural styles and normally includes plaster renderings of floral art and mythical figures on the facade of the building.

Penang Food: Asam Laksa

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Penang laksa or commonly known as asam laksa here is a sour, fish-based soup with noodle usually made with mackerel soup and its main distinguishing feature is the asam or tamarind which gives the soup a sour taste. The fish is poached and then flaked. Besides the fish, asam laksa typically include lemongrass, galangal (lengkuas) and chilli too. A popular delicacy for both locals and foreigners, it is one of the must-try hawker food in Penang.

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Penang Isle: Pinang Peranakan Mansion

Located at Church Street, the Pinang Peranakan Mansion (formerly known as Hai Kee Chan mansion) was originally the home of Kapitan Chung Keng Kwee, a very prominent figure in Penang. It is an unique heritage mansion built at the end of the 19th century with architectural influence from the Peranakans culture, also known as the Babas and Nyonyas. Though not a Baba himself, Kapitan Chung Keng Kwee incorporated the culture during the building of his mansion due its association with wealth and substance.

The Peranakans are a Chinese community adopting selected ways of the local Malays and later, the colonial British, hence, created a unique lifestyle and customs which had not only left behind a rich legacy of antiques but its cultural influences in Penang. The mansion cum museum is also the house to over 1,000 pieces of antiques and relics of the era as well as a testimony of that time’s eclectic design and architecture.

For more information, one can visit the official site of the mansion at http://www.pinangperanakanmansion.com.my/

Visiting Hours
Monday to Sunday including Public Holidays from 9:30 am to 5 pm
Admission Fee: MYR 10.00