🏛️✨ Kapitan Chung Thye Phin Building: Ipoh’s Forgotten Palace of Opulence ✨

#ipohtrip Once the grandest mansion in Ipoh, the **Kapitan Chung Thye Phin Building** stands as a hauntingly beautiful relic of Perak’s tin-mining glory days. Built in **1909** for Chung Thye Phin—the last Kapitan Cina of Perak and son of mining tycoon Chung Keng Quee—this **Neoclassical-Beaux Arts hybrid** was dubbed *"The Millionaire’s Mansion"* in its heyday. ### **Why This Place Fascinates** 1. **Architectural Drama**: Soaring Corinthian columns, a sweeping double staircase, and ornate plasterwork whisper of forgotten luxury. 2. **Ghosts of Opulence**: Once hosting lavish parties, it later became a WWII Japanese officers’ club, then a mental hospital—layering tragedy onto its grandeur. 3. **Cinematic Decay**: Crumbling frescoes, boarded-up windows, and overgrown gardens make it a photographer’s paradise. ### **Secrets & Legends** 🔸 **The Cursed Ballroom**: Locals claim the ghost of a heartbroken socialite still waltzes here at midnight. 🔸 **Hidden Tunnels**: Rumored to connect to nearby Kellie’s Castle (for secret tin tycoon meetings!). 🔸 **Abandoned Chapel**: A tiny Christian worship space hides upstairs—rare in a Chinese tycoon’s home. ### **Visiting Tips** ✅ **Exterior Only**: The building is structurally unsafe to enter (but the grounds are accessible). ✅ **Golden Hour**: Visit at sunset when the peeling yellow facade glows. ✅ **Nearby Eats**: Try *"Chee Cheong Fun"* at nearby **Thean Chun** café. **Perfect For**: History addicts, urban explorers, and anyone who loves a building with a story. *"A palace where time stopped—you can almost hear the clink of champagne glasses from 1910."* **Rating**: ★★★★☆ (4/5) – Dock a star for no interior access.