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The Historic City of George Town

More than two centuries of unique history and heritage

makes George Town a worthy recipient as a UNESCO

World Cultural Heritage Site on 7th July 2008. From

its humble beginnings as the first British Straits Settlement

in the late 18th century, George Town went through

tremendous transformations over the last two centuries,

from a swampy fronti er, to a bustling trading post , tothe present city of living history, filled with nuances in

every corners, worthy to be discovered by intrepid

adventurers.

The Historic City of George Town encompasses a rich

collection of historic buildings in various styles. The y

include the indo-Malay Palladian Style, Anglo-Indian

Bungalow, Early Shophouses, Early Transitional Style,

Early Electicism Shophouse, Sino-Anglo Bungalows, Neo

Classical Style, art Deco Style, Early Modern Style, Late

Modern Style, as well as numerous religious buildings

such as Mosques, Churches, Chinese and Indian Temples.These architectures scatter along the many streets of

George Town, bearing witness to the evolution of this

rustic port city.

Venturing deeper, and one will find that these architectures

represent the various ethnicity that had settled in the

city for the past two hundred years: Chinese, Indians,

Arabs, the local Malays, Achehnese from the Indonesian

archipelago, Siamese, Burmese and Europeans, each

living out its distinctive culture while co-existing

harmoniously with one another. It is a testament to the

vitality of peace and multi-culturalism, a shining example

for the world to discover.

www. v i s i t p en a n g . g ov . m y

PENANG DEVELOPMENT CORPORATIONTourism Division

Level 2, No. 1, Pesiaran MahsuriBandar Bayan Baru, 11909 Bayan Lepas

Penang, Malaysia

Tel: (604) 634 0111 Fax: (604) 642 8675Email: enquiry@pdc.gov.my

PENANG STATE GOVERNMENTLevel 53, Kompleks Tun Abdul Razak (KOMTAR)

10503 Penang, MalaysiaTel: (604) 261 9012/650 5136

Fax: (604) 261 8744Website: www.visitpenang.gov.my / www.tourismpenang.gov.my

Published by:

In collaboration with:

All information herein are verified correct at thetime of print, subject to change without prior notice.

Pusat Warisan Pulau PinangThe Heritage Centre, Penang

Lembaga Muzium Negeri Pulau PinangState Museum Board, Penang

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Clock Tower

Fort Cornwallis

War Memorial

City Hall

Town Hall

Convent Light Street School

Court Buildings

House of Yeap Chor Ee

State Assembly Buildings

Cathedral of the Assumption

Penang State Museum

St George's Church

Goddess of Mercy Temple

King Street Temples

The Pinang Peranakan Mansion

Malayan Railway Building

Church Street Pier

Mahamariamman Temple

Kapitan Keling MosqueTeochew Temple

Cheah Kongsi

Khoo Kongsi

Masjid Melayu Lebuh Acheh

Yap Kongsi Temple

Dr. Sun Yat Sen's Penang Base

Islamic Museum (Syed Alatas Mansion)

Saint Xavier's Institution

Leong Fee's Mansion

Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion

Residence Of Ku Din Ku Meh

Christian Cemetery

Saint Francis Xavier Church

Benggali MosqueHainan Temple

Goldsmiths Guild

Carpenters Guild

Little India

Pusat Warisan Pulau Pinang(Penang Tourism Information Centre)

Art Gallery Lebuh Acheh & Lebuh Armenian

Clan Jetties

Chowrasta Market

Gold Bazaar

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Core Zone - 109.38 haThe Historic City of George Town covers an area of 109.38 hectares bounded by the Straitsof Melaka on the north-eastern cape of Penang Island, Lorong Love (Love Lane) to the north-west and Gat Lebuh Melayu and Jalan Dr Lim Chwee Leong to the south-west corner. Thereare more than 1700 historic buildings within this Core Zone align on four main streets ofPengkalan Weld, Lebuh Pantai, Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling and Lorong Love and severalperpendicular streets of Jalan Tun Syed Sheh Barakbah, Lebuh Light, Lebuh Bishop, LebuhGereja, Lebuh China, Lebuh Pasar, Lebuh Chulia, Lebuh Armenian and Lebuh Acheh.

Buffer Zone - 150.04 haThe Core Zone is being protected by 150.04 hectares of Buffer Zone (does not include seabuffer), bounded by stretch of sea area around the harbour, Jalan Perangin to the south-westcorner and Jalan Transfer to the north-west corner.

ZONE IDENTIFICATION

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INTANGIBLE HERITAGE:Culture of the people rituals, social practices, cuisine, costumes, crafts

RATTAN WEAVER- Lebuh Chulia

One of the few surviving rattan (cane)craftsmen at the job: binding, weavingand repairing cane furnitures favouredby many in the state.

SONGKOK MAKER- 157, Lebuh King (10am-5pm)

Set in an alcove next to the NagoreShrine, the experienced master weavesthe Malay Songkok for discerningcustomers with an eye for intricacy.

OTTU KEDAI- Lebuh Market (8am-7pm)

Resembling nothing more than a hutagainst the wall, this little store, likeothers in the vicinity of George Town,is a mini sundry shop supplying thedaily needs of the local neighbourhood.

SIGNBOARD ENGRAVER- 41, Lebuh Queen (11am-5pm)

Masterfully chiselled, these Chinese name plaguesbore the signature of gifted hands that is keepingthis traditional art well into the 21st century.

COFFEE MAKER

Literally home-brewed, the aromatic and rich-bodied local coffee is prepared over wood firein a home factory setting. The final product canbe found in most sundry shops in George Town,while the brew can be savoured at most localcoffee shops within the historic city.

JOSS STICK MAKER- 1, Lorong Muda (8am-10am)

Fragrant and laboriously produced,these hand-made joss sticks have a rarepersonal touch over the typically mass-produced for the Buddhist and Taoistdevotees as a sweet-smelling sacrificeto their gods.

TOMBSTONE ENGRAVER- 11, Lebuh Acheh (10am-12pm)

These stones, hewn by hands, are allthe more precious, fit for the honourand tribute to the deceased.

TAU SA PIAHThe taste buds of Penangnites have apenchant not only for anything savoury,but in traditional confectionaries andpastries that truly melts the heart. Alsocalled Tambun Biscuit, a flaky biscuit withmung bean fillings, it is available at most

biscuit outlets in Chowrasta Market and within George Town.

ROTI BENGGALITraditional Bread- 114, Jalan Transfer (8am-6pm)From the ovens of 'Ismalia Bakery' foundedby Sheik Mohd Ismail from Madras in1932, comes the fragrant and crusty breadthat serves well with butter, kaya and half-boiled egg.

YU CHAR KUIH- 76, Lebuh Cintra; 2C, People's Court;17, Jalan Hutton

Yu Char Kuih/Deep-Yu Whether madeby Malay or Chinese, such as by EncikIbrahim at Jalan Hutton for the past 40years, these crispy dough fritters havebecome the staple item at the breakfast

table for generations, typically consumed together with porridge, kaya (acoconut-based spread), even with coffee.

WOODEN & BAMBOO BLINDMAKER 231 Lebuh ChuliaAt the narrow alley behind this shop comes thecolourful wooden/bamboo blinds, hand-paintedby Mr. Chen of Ngai Sun that adorn the manyoutlets in George Town. These multi-colouredblinds not only serve as shelters from the

scorching sun, but as advertising modules as well.

POH PIAH SKINWrapping Of Spring Roll5, Jalan Chowrasta (8am-11am)Making elastic and paper-thin pastrywrappings for spring rolls is an art in itself,mastered by but a few, like the one herewho has kept the trade for three generations.

CHOWRASTA MARKET- Jalan Penang (opposite Police Headquarter)Chowrasta Market has served the people of George Townfor more than a century, providing its denizens with groceriesof various kinds since 1890 by South Indian Muslims. Meaning'four cross roads' in the Urdu tongue, the present Chowrasta,with traders selling dried pickles, nutmegs and other exoticPenang specialties, was built in 1981, with the front facingPenang Road, built in 1920, serving as its facade.

GOLD BAZAAR- Jalan Masjid Kapitan KelingGold Bazaar Encompasses the areawithin Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling, LebuhBuckingham and Lebuh Campbell. TheBazaar harkens back to the century-oldgold and jewellerytrade in Penang, which was and still

is the industrial leader in Malaysia.

LITTLE INDIA- Lebuh PasarLittle India, covering Lebuh Pasar, Lebuh Queen, LebuhKing and Lebuh Penang, is a microcosm, reflecting thediversity of the Indian way of life in its food, music,religious merchandises, fashion, trinkets and the likes.

CLAN JETTIES - Pengkalan Weld

Clan Jetties are unique Chinese settlements along Weld Quay, with homesbuilt along wooden piers that extend to the Penang Channel. It has been inexistence since the 19th century.The residents of each clan jetty are descendantsof Chinese immigrants that reflect the distinct historical, geographical and

lineage of its populace. There are originally eight clan jetties along Weld Quay(Chew Jetty, Koay Jetty, Lee Jetty, Lim Jetty, Peng Aun Jetty, Tan Jetty, YeohJetty, Mixed Clans Jetty).

ART GALLERIESGet a sense of the local art scene, whether the impressionistic, abstract,the avant-garde, or even the conventional, by visiting the various art galleriesalong Lebuh Armenian and Lebuh Acheh within the heritage enclave.

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Selamat Datang (Welcome) to the Historic City, where history is alive, legacy preserved, and cultures magnified. Take time

to take in the sights, the structures, as well as the sound that buzzes through the colourful streets of George Town.

CITY HALLJalan Padang Kota Lama

City Hall is a magnificentneo-Palladian architecturecompleted in 1903, as theseat of the Penanggovernment. Currently, ithouses the MunicipalCouncil of Penang Island.

TOWN HALLLebuh Light

Town Hall was once the centre ofthe Penang socialite. Declaredopened in 1880 by Gov. Sir FedderickWeld, the Victorian architecture wasused for various purposes, includingtheatrical performances, churchservices and the birth of the PenangState Library.

STATE ASSEMBLYBUILDINGSLebuh Light

Penang State Assembly

Building, formerly the PoliceCourt, was built in early 19thcentury after the neo-classicalAnglo-Indian style. It currentlyserves as the chamber of thePenang State Assembly.

COURT BUILDINGLebuh Farquhar

Penang Supreme Court Building isanother magnificent neo-Palladianarchitecture built in 1809 on a landplot that intersects Lebuh Light, JalanMasjid Kapitan Keling and LebuhFarquhar. It currently houses thePenang High Court.

PENANG STATEMUSEUMLebuh Farquhar

Penang State Museum,built in 1816, holds adistinguished history ofbeing the home of thePenang Free School and theHutchings School.Tel: 604-261 3144

Visiting Hours: 9.00am - 5.00pm daily except Friday

Admission - Adult: RM1.00 Children (below 12): RM0.50

ST GEORGE'SCHURCHLebuh Farquhar

St. George's Anglican Churchis another congregation thatis as old as Penang. Completedin 1818 after the neo-Palladian Georgian style, thechurch has come to be asymbol of religious harmony

in Penang, coexisting with other religious edifices along the intersectingJalan Masjid Kapitan Keling.

CONVENT LIGHTSTREET SCHOOLLebuh Light

Convent Light Street School is theoldest girls school in Malaysia, ofwhich the present location, once thePenang Governor's residence, was

acquired in 1859 to house the school,which functioned as an orphanageat one time.

CATHEDRAL OFTHE ASSUMPTION3, Lebuh Farquhar

Cathedral of the Assumption's historyis almost as old as Penang itself, setupnot long after the l anding of FrancisLight. The faithful believers have keptthe current parish since the mid-19thcentury.

Tel: 604-261 0088Visiting Hours: Mon-Sat: 11.00am - 7.00pm

HOUSE OFYEAP CHOR EE4, Lebuh King

This humble but magnificent abodeat Lebuh King once belonged toPenang tycoon Yap Chor Ee, thefounder of Ban Hin Lee bank. It wasrecently turned into a themedrestaurant.Tel: 604-264 5088

Visiting Hours: 11.30am - 3.00pm and 6.00pm - 10.30pm (Close on Sunday)

CLOCK TOWERLebuh Light

Queen Victoria Memorial ClockTower is located near Fort Cornwallis

at King Edward's Place. The 60-feetclocktower was Penang millionaireCheah Chen Eok's symbol of wealthand opulence, built in 1897 tocommemorate the 60th year ofQueen Victoria's reign.

WAR MEMORIALJalan Padang Kota Lama

Penang War Memorial was dedicated tothe brave soldiers who sacrificedthemselves over a surprised German navalattack on Allied vessels off the harbourof Penang during the first World War.

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FORT CORNWALLISLebuh Light

Fort Cornwallis was built byFrancis Light immediately afterhis landing on the island, withthe present star-shapedstructure completed in early

19th century. It served as theadministrative centre of theisland, housing the SupremeCourt of Penang and later the

Sikh Police force before its present role as a tourist attraction.Visiting Hours - 9am - 6pm daily (Sunday closed) Tel: 604-261 0262 / 261 0263Admission - Adult: RM3.00 Children (below 12): RM2.00

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MAHAMARIAMMANTEMPLELebuh Queen

Sri Mahamariamman Temple, dedicated tothe Hindu deity Sri Muthu Mariamman, isone of the oldest temple in Penang, withits history all the way to 1801, where thepresent site began as a humble Hindu shrine.The gateway, orgopuram, is magnificentlysculptured with 38 Hindu deities.

KAPITAN KELING MOSQUEJalan Masjid Kapitan Keling

Masjid Kapitan Keling was built at the startof the 19th century. It came to representthe Indian Muslim community of GeorgeTown. Its present structure was renovatedtwice, with the faade of the building andits interior decorated in Islamic geometricdesign.

YAP KONGSI

TEMPLELebuh Armenian

Yap Kongsi stands togetherwith other prominentclan temples in the heartof Lebuh Armenian.Completed in the StraitsEclectic style in 1924, theclan temple, of which its

land was donated by Penang tycoon Yeap Chor Ee, houses theancient tablets of the Yap clan.

TEOCHEW TEMPLE127, Chulia Street

Teochew Temple, or the Han JiangTeochew Ancestra l Temple,completed in 1870, was the recipientof the 2006 Award of Merit UnescoAsia-Pacific for Culture HeritageConservation. In the past, it primarilyserved the early Teochew immigrantsfrom China who came here lookingfor new leases of life.

CHEAH KONGSI8, Lebuh Armenian

Cheah Kongsi, with its clanhistory tracing to the turnof the 19th century, is oneof the oldest Hokkien clanin Penang, with the presentopulent clan templecompleted during the 1870s.

Tel: 604-261 3837 Visiting Hours: Mon to Sat: 8.00am - 6.00pm

KHOO KONGSI18, Cannon Square

Khoo Kongsi represents theopulence and prosperity ofthe Khoo clan. Builtbetween 1894 and 1906,it is one of the most ornatec lan temple outs idemainland China.Tel: 604-264 2119Visiting Hours: 9am - 5pm Daily

Admission - Adult: RM5.00 Children (below 12): RM1.00

MASJID MELAYULEBUH ACHEHLebuh Acheh

Masjid Melayu Lebuh Acheh wasfounded in 1808 by a wealthyAchehnese Tengku Syed Hussainbin Abdul Rahman Aideed. Themosque was a centre of Haj travelduring the 19th century, servingMuslims from the NorthernSumatera, Southern Thailand andthe Northern Peninsula Malaya.

MALAYANRAILWAYBUILDINGPengkalan Weld

Malayan Railway Building, aneo-classical architecture builtin the early 20th century, wasonce the tallest building inthe island with its clock tower.It is believed to be the only

railway station in the world without tracks passing through it.

GODDESS OFMERCY TEMPLE

Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling

Goddess of Mercy Temple isone of the oldest Chinesetemple in Penang, with thepresent structure's foundationlaid in 1728.

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KING STREETTEMPLES30-40, Lebuh King

King Street Temples, like thehistorical enclave of LebuhArmenian, represent thediversity of the Chinesecommunities that settled inPenang during the 18thcentury. Along King Street,

one will discover the subtlety of the Cantonese and the Hakka, reflectedin the temples' architecture and its interior artefacts.

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THE PINANGPERANAKANMANSION29 Lebuh Gereja

Peranakan Mansion is one ofthe most ornate privatehomes in Penang. It oncebelonged to Kapitan ChungKeng Kwee, a colourfulpersonality in the late 19th

century. Currently, it is a museum showcasing antiques of thePeranakan/Baba Nyoyian community. Tel: 604-264 2929Visiting Hours - Mon to Fri: 9.30am - 5.00pm ; Sat: 9.30am - 3.00pm

(Close on Sundays and all public holidays)

Admission - Adult: RM10.00 Children (below 12): Free

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CHURCH STREET PIERPengkalan Weld

Church Street Pier, built in 1897, wasonce a busy spot along the channelin the first half of the 20th century.After years of neglect after its decline,the pier was redeveloped and is nowincorporated into the Tanjung CityMarina.

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SAINT XAVIERSINSTITUTELebuh Farquhar

Saint Xavier's Institution isthe oldest Roman Catholicboy school in Malaysia,founded by the De La SalleChristian Brothers in 1850.The present site of SaintXavier was occupied since

1857, which was once used as a Japanese naval base during WorldWar II, before it was destroyed by Allied forces. The school reopened

in the present building in 1954.

DR. SUN YAT SENSPENANG BASE120, Lebuh Armenian

120, Armenian Street was once thebase of operation for Dr. Sun YatSen, the liberator of China fromcenturies of feudalism. An extensivecollection of Dr. Sun's personal

effects are displayed in the gallery.

ISLAMIC MUSEUM(SYED ALATAS MANSION)128, Lebuh Armenian

Syed Al-Attas Mansion once belongedto Syed Mohammad Al-Attas, a Muslimof Achehnese descent who supportedAcheh's struggle against the Dutch inthe 19th century. Built in 1860 afterthe Straits Eclectic style, the mansion

now houses the Penang Islamic Museum.Tel: 604-262 0172

Visiting Hours: 9.00am - 5.30pm Daily(closed on Tuesday)Admission - Adult: RM3.00 Children (below 12): RM1.00

BENGGALI MOSQUELeith Street

Benggali Mosque was founded in1803 catering to the needs ofIndian-Muslims from Bengal, whotravelled to Penang in search ofnew life and opportunities.

CARPENTERSGUILD70, Love Lane

Carpenters Guild acted asa centre for immigrantCantonese carpenters inthe early days of GeorgeTown be fo re theyproceeded to their workplace in other parts of

Malaya. Many of them settled down and contributed their skillsto many of the heritage buildings in Penang.Visiting Hours - Mon to Sat: 9.30am- 5.30pm Tel: 604-261 6663

GOLDSMITHSGUILD41, Lebuh Muntri

Goldsmiths Guild, foundedin 1832, is the oldest andlargest goldsmiths guild inMalaysia, with the presenttemple built in 1903 afterthe typical Cantonesearchitecture adapted tocolonial urban setting.

CHEONG FATT TZEMANSION14, Lebuh Leith

Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion, whichwon the 2000 Most Excellent Awardof Unesco Asia-Pacific for CultureHeritage Conservation, is a grandand intricate estate built by one of

the wealthiest tycoon at the turn ofthe 20th century. The mansion, which

covers the terrace houses at the opposite side, is a fusion of Oriental andWestern architecture. Tel: 604-262 0006Visiting Hours: Conducted Tours at 11am and 3pm everyday. Other times of the day isclosed to the public. Admission - Adult: RM12.00 Children (below 12): Free

LEONG FEESMANSION7, Lebuh Leith

Leong Fee's Mansion, builtat the turn of the 20thcentury, was the abode ofthe Chinese Ching dynasty'sFourth Vice-Consul in Penang.It once housed the St. Xavier'sInstitution before serving asan art school presently.

CHRISTIAN CEMETERYJalan Sultan Ahmad Shah

The Christian Cemetery, under theoverarching shades of fragipani trees,is the final resting place of manypioneers of the island, such as FrancisLight, James Scott, the founder ofthe Penang Free School ReverendHutchings, Reverend ThomasBeighton of the London MissionarySociety and etc.

SAINT FRANCISXAVIER CHURCHJalan Penang

Saint Francis Xavier Church wasfounded by Bishop Boucho in 1857to cater to the needs of the localTamil-speaking congregation. Theoriginal church complex was built in1867, on land donated by theGodfrey family, with the present

church building completed in 1952, on the financial assistance of theGrummit Family from England.

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HAINAN TEMPLEMuntri Street

Hainan Temple, or the'Temple of the HeavenlyQueen', was founded in1866, with the presentbuilding dating to 1895 andwas restored in 1995. Itserved the Hainaneseimmigrants in the 19th

century, who worked as cooks, coffee roasters and sailors inGeorge Town. Visiting Hours: 8am - 8pm Daily

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RESIDENCE OFKU DIN KU MEH20, Jalan Penang

Residence of Ku Din Ku Mehbelonged to Ku Din (1848-1932), aKedah Malay who was theAdministrator of Setul, with hiswritings and administrative recordspreserved in the Thai National

in Bangkok. It offers qualityaccomodation, personalised service and comfort for budget travellers inthe city of Penang. Tel: 604-262 8748