Pearl of the Orient - Penang Island
Penang is one of the most popular places to visit in Southeast Asia, with the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Georgetown being the major drawcard. Penang is a state of Malaysia that comprises the island of Penang, and the adjacent land on the Malay peninsula. When visitors say they are going to Penang they usually mean Georgetown, which is where the majority of hotels are. If you are staying in Georgetown for a while there are somethings to do on Penang Island as well.
Penang has plenty of must-see attractions that you should cover in your itinerary if you wish to experience Penang in a short space of time. In our list of Top 10 Things to Do in Penang, we skip the unimportant sights, and instead focus on places that can be considered the essence of the island - so much so that to miss them would be as good as not having been to Penang in the first place. The 10 Best Things to Do in Penang:
Penang has plenty of must-see attractions that you should cover in your itinerary if you wish to experience Penang in a short space of time. In our list of Top 10 Things to Do in Penang, we skip the unimportant sights, and instead focus on places that can be considered the essence of the island - so much so that to miss them would be as good as not having been to Penang in the first place. The 10 Best Things to Do in Penang:
1. Penang Hill
Penang Hill, or Flagstaff Hill (Bukit Bendera) as it is officially known, rises 821 metres above sea level, providing a welcome break from the heat below. One of Penang’s most popular attractions, a trip up is a not-to-be-missed experience, providing visitors with breathtaking views of the whole island all the way to the top. The best way to reach the summit is to hop onboard the funicular train that travels all the way up in half an hour. Highlights at the peak include a pretty Hindu temple, church, mosque and even a snake show where you can take photos with a tame python for a fee.
From the top of Penang Hill on a clear day, you can see the mountains of Langkawi and north Kedah but it is the night time sight of lit-up Georgetown that is especially rewarding. Most people simply come to enjoy the cool, unpolluted air and walk under 30m-high trees along the nature trails. Additionally, over 100 species of birdlife, ranging from ordinary garden species to exotic deep forest inhabitants, call this hillside home.
The home of an influential Chinese industrialist in the early 1890s, the award-winning Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion represents the best of 18th and 19th-century Chinese architecture. Relying heavily on feng shui design, a team of master craftsmen from China took more than seven years to build the mansion, including its five granite courtyards, 38 rooms, seven staircases and 22 stained glass windows. Locals call it the Blue Mansion and it remains one of only three traditional Chinese mansions outside of China. In 1989, it was restored and converted into a 16-room boutique heritage hotel/museum combo best known for its indigo blue façade. Guided tours take place at 11:00, 13:30 and 15:00, with an entry fee of RM12 per visitor.
4. Chew Jetty
Penang is rich with the cultural heritage of various ethnic and migrant communities - the Acehnese, Arabs, Burmese, Chinese, Eurasians, Indians and Japanese amongst others. However, many of the communal sites are in danger of the process of disappearing and some or have vanished. The Clan jetties are named after the last name of the residence. The Clan jetties consist of eight jetties, named after their surnames, “Lim”, “Chew”, “Tan”, “Lee”, “Yeoh”, “Koay”, “Peng Aun” and Mixed Clans. “Chew” is the famous last name and it means the entire long stretch of the jetty are residing with “Chew” as their last name. Chew Jetty, an old Chinese waterfront settlement, is the largest and most lively jetty at the end of Gat Lebuh Armenian. The Chews originated from the south-eastern coast of China - from Tung Aun District, Xin Lin She Village, Quan Zhou Prefecture of Fujian Province. They were maritime clan communities in China. Thus when they emigrated, they also built homes for themselves at the waterfront. The Chew Jetty settlement is the biggest of the lot, having grown from about 10 families back in the 20s to over 1,500 residents today.
5. Street Art in George Town
6. Escape Adventure play
4. Chew Jetty
Penang is rich with the cultural heritage of various ethnic and migrant communities - the Acehnese, Arabs, Burmese, Chinese, Eurasians, Indians and Japanese amongst others. However, many of the communal sites are in danger of the process of disappearing and some or have vanished. The Clan jetties are named after the last name of the residence. The Clan jetties consist of eight jetties, named after their surnames, “Lim”, “Chew”, “Tan”, “Lee”, “Yeoh”, “Koay”, “Peng Aun” and Mixed Clans. “Chew” is the famous last name and it means the entire long stretch of the jetty are residing with “Chew” as their last name. Chew Jetty, an old Chinese waterfront settlement, is the largest and most lively jetty at the end of Gat Lebuh Armenian. The Chews originated from the south-eastern coast of China - from Tung Aun District, Xin Lin She Village, Quan Zhou Prefecture of Fujian Province. They were maritime clan communities in China. Thus when they emigrated, they also built homes for themselves at the waterfront. The Chew Jetty settlement is the biggest of the lot, having grown from about 10 families back in the 20s to over 1,500 residents today.
5. Street Art in George Town
It all started back in 2009 when the State government, to physically brand the UNESCO World Heritage town of Georgetown, and make it more interesting and informative for public, opened an international pitch (under the campaign ‘Marking George Town’) for artists to come together and put forward their ideas, that retell the history of the streets and stories of its communities in a local voice. The winning ideas culminated a series of steel-rod-caricatures, under the creative direction of a local artist named Tang Mun Kian, who won the commission with the theme “Voices of the People,” a retelling of Penang history by Penang characters with their own peculiar brand of wit and humour. In 2010, the work started. To date, the town has completed a total of 52 steel-rod-sculptures.
6. Escape Adventure play
The few hours spent at Escape Adventureland Penang are likely to rank as some of the most thrilling and emotionally-charged moments of your life. After all, hurtling speedily through the open air, dozens of feet off the ground is pretty memorable. A park specialising in zip-lining (or, as Australians call it, flying foxes), there are other fun activities here including a free fall from a 20m jump platform, an inner-tube slide and tree rope swing. Open: 09:00 - 18:00 Tuesday - Sunday Address: 828 Jalan Teluk Bahang,11050 Penang Tel: +604 881 1106
7. Batu Ferringhi
Batu Ferringhi is such a tranquil and friendly place that you may just find yourself browsing through real estate brochures before your trip is over. However that is not to say that there is not much to see and do here – on the contrary, whether you are looking for a wet and wild time in the water, or just interested in immersing in the local culture, Batu Ferringhi has the go-to spots to accommodate all travellers. From learning how to batik-paint, visiting a charming butterfly farm, strolling through a one-of-a-kind spice garden, or enjoying watery thrills and spills in an amusement park, this area has something for everyone.
8. Fort Cornwallis
Fort Cornwallis is one of Penang’s most well-known landmarks. Within its ten-foot-high walls (which are laid out in the shape of a star), you can see a 17th-century chapel, some prison cells, ammunition storage area, and more. There are even some pretty cool old bronze cannons, including a Dutch one which superstitious locals believe has a positive effect on women’s fertility. Named after Charles Cornwallis, the former Governor-General of India, it was originally built entirely out of wood, but refurbishment over the years has led to its current concrete facade.
9. Adventure Zone Theme Park
While on vacation, parents can find it a little hard to keep the little ones entertained while simultaneously having a good time themselves. The 10,300sqft, Adventure Zone Theme Park is Penang’s answer to that. Geared towards families, with plenty of offerings to keep youngsters of all ages occupied, it is home to more than 30 activities and is divided into three zones – the special features section, kids area and toddler sector with modular play equipment.
The major highlight for both kids and adults can be found at the special features section, where there are three slides – the first two (Astra slide and double drop slide with ball pit exit) are designed for children, but the third is a 24ft-high drop slide perfect for all ages. At the kids’ area, you can expect ladder climbs, swinging steps, pull up ramps and hurdles and more, while the toddler section is filled with padded ramps, climb and tumble towers sure to excite kids under the age of four. There is free Wi-Fi available, which is great for parents that just want to chill out at the onsite café, or you can go for a 15-minute Segway ride. Open: 10:00 – 19:00 Address: centre Shangri-La Rasa Sayang Resort & Spa and Shangri La Golden Sands Resort, Jalan Batu Ferringhi Tel: +604 886 1911
10. Wat Chaiya Mangkalaram Temple in Penang
A Thai temple built-in 1845, Wat Chaiya Mangkalaram houses the giant Reclining Buddha statue. Measuring 33 metres long, it is said to be the third-largest of its kind in the world and signifies Buddha’s total detachment from worldly matters during the last days of his life. Famous as Buddha’s final resting pose before his death, besides the lounging Buddha statue you can also find smaller Buddha sculptures in various guises and positions around the temple, as well as those of Thai deities. Furthermore, the temple is also home to colourful murals depicting Buddha’s life story.
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