Penang's Mysterious Clan Jetties

In the northwest of the Malay Peninsula lies Penang Island, home to a unique settlement known as the 'Clan Jetties,' where families with the same surname live on houses built on stilts over the sea. Established by Hokkien Chinese immigrants who settled here in the mid-19th century, it is now a popular tourist destination and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Originally, there were nine jetties in the northeastern part of Penang Island, but only seven remain today. Each jetty is named after a family surname, such as Chew Jetty, Lim Jetty, Tan Jetty, and Lee Jetty, where members of the same clan live together.