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- 100waysoftravel
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Exploring George Town, Penang: An Ancient Town of Murals, Cafés, and Street Food
📍 Itinerary & Sightseeing:
Wandering through George Town, Penang’s ancient town and UNESCO World Heritage site, felt like stepping back in time. We began by strolling through Armenian Street, admiring its colonial architecture and vibrant street art, including the famous “Children on a Bicycle” mural. The old shophouses and temples showcased the town’s rich history, blending beautifully with modern creativity.
🚇 Transportation:
We parked in the city center and explored the ancient town on foot, the best way to take in its narrow streets and hidden corners.
🏨 Accommodation:
We stayed at a heritage boutique hotel in the heart of the ancient district, with its charming wooden shutters and Peranakan tiles, perfectly reflecting the town’s timeless vibe.
📷 Photo Spots:
Every corner of this ancient town is photogenic. The murals on Muntri Street and the intricate details of Khoo Kongsi Clan House were some of our favorite spots. A cozy heritage café also provided the perfect photo op with its vintage décor.
🍜 Local Cuisine:
We savored Penang’s famous char kway teow, flavorful stir-fried noodles, and indulged in rojak, a tangy fruit salad. For a refreshing treat, we tried ais tingkap, a rose-flavored drink that’s a local favorite.
💡 Tips:
• Start early to beat the heat and enjoy quiet streets.
• Bring cash for street food.
• Don’t forget comfy shoes and sunscreen.
George Town is a captivating blend of ancient charm, modern art, and culinary delights—a place where history meets the present in every alley and bite.
I think this place is worth a visit, the main temple is very beautiful and I loved the murals and carvings on the wall. However I thought there would be more halls and areas to visit.
Penang has many temples, Longshan Tangqiu is the only one listed as a world cultural heritage, which can be seen as precious. [Views] Wood carvings, stone carvings and gold ornaments are extremely exquisite and are not enough to describe the beauty of their intensive farming. [Interesting] Learn about the struggle of the early Chinese Nanyang to make a living. [Cost-effective] The scale is not large, the ticket 15RM, you can visit it in half an hour. The price is average. In Penang's so many temples, the scale of Longshan Tangqiu is not the largest but the most gorgeous and most ornamental. If you only visit one residence, choose the most famous Longshan Tangqiu.
We went during non peak hours and had the entire place to ourselves. We were able to take our time to marvel at the carvings and paintings. Downstairs was a mini museum about the history of the building and the Khoo clan.
In fact, there is nothing interesting here. It is also a historical place. The main thing is the significance of commemoration. It costs 10 horse coins to go in. Don't expect anything. The building is not perfect enough. It will be finished in a moment. Nevertheless, the construction is exquisite, so we should make some contribution to the construction here.
Although there are many companies of various surnames in the ancient city, most of them are still on the streets, but Qiu Company, hidden deep in the alley, is the most famous. As soon as you enter, you will see colorful and magnificent buildings, whether it is the colorful roof, stone columns and railings, or wooden beams, everything is meticulously carved and painted.
On the way to the mural street, I passed by Longshan Hall Qiu Company and walked in to take a look. I bought a ticket for 10 Malaysian ringgits to visit the architectural monuments, stone carvings, wood carvings, murals, and the genealogy, origins and history of the Qiu clan. The museum also displays the achievements of the Qiu clan and some visitor information...
The Qiu Company of Longshan Hall has extremely fine carvings from the outside to the inside. I have confirmed with my own eyes that it is indeed a combination of Chaozhou wood carvings and Cantonese clay sculptures. It is even better than the existing buildings in China and is well worth a visit.