Penang Heritage Sites

Penang heritage sites are one of the most numerous in Malaysia. With the inscription of George Town as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in July 2008, garnering much prestige for Penang, more attention will certainly be paid to its many heritage sites.

The heritage sites of Penang encompass buildings constructed by the British during the colonial era, clan temples of the various Chinese clan associations, religious structures including temples, mosques, churches and shrines, and other structures, including pre-war shophouses within the inner city.

In Penang Travel Tips, I am working to document all the heritage buildings of George Town, digging up old records and making documentation of the buildings and houses, so that their history will never be forgotten. I am encouraged to see more people beginning to appreciate heritage and are paying attention to conversation issues in inner cities. The list on this page represent just a small proportion of the heritage sites within George Town. I am still working to add more into the list. Check back often for new additions.

How are streets in Old George Town numbered

The streets in Old George Town (the original grid bounded by Beach Street, Light Street, Pitt Street and Chulia Street) are numbered from Beach Street towards Pitt Street. As a result, when these streets were extended, a decision was taken to name the extensions after the ghauts (the stone steps leading down the shore) they replaced. In that way, the numbering for the extended streets can start anew without having to revise the existing numbering. For example, the numbering of China Street and China Street Ghaut start from Beach Street going in opposite directions.

When describing the historic buildings in George Town, I try to number ensembles of buildings from left to right, as seen from the street, as far as possible. By reading the ascending or descending number, you will be able to determine the direction that the numbering was done. As this was decided after I started writing, some of the articles will not consistently follow the rule.

To help people get to know Penang heritage sites better, we have created the George Town Walking Tours, enabling visitors and anybody interested in Penang to walk the streets and get to know their history. These walking tours are provided free and can be used by tour guides as they are, or form a basis for their own itineraries of George Town.