Cannon Street

Cannon Street, with the mural by Ernest Zacharevic (30 June 2012)


Cannon Street (Malay: Lebuh Cannon, Penang Hokkien as Tua33 Cheng3 Hang33 ) is a street in George Town, Penang. Located within the George Town World Heritage Site, it connects Armenian Street to Acheen Street.

Many of the houses along the left side of the street, as one approaches from Pitt Street, belong to the Leong San Tong Khoo Kongsi. The Penang Tourist Guide Association has its office here, along with Arts-Ed, an organisation that initiates arts education programs for young people, especially those living in the Inner City.

Old Cannon Street road sign (1 February 2009)


An opening in the shophouses leads to an open courtyard called Cannon Square. This is where the Leong San Tong has its immensely opulent clan temple. The approach to the clan temple is through the narrow corridor, to prevent hostile elements from infiltrating the clan community - a necessity in the volatile 19th century.

On the right side of Cannon Street are residential townhouses built in the early part of the 20th century. Many are finished in Shanghai plaster. On the right side of the intersection of Armenian Street and Cannon Street is the Choo Chay Keong Temple, better known as the Yap Temple.

The present Cannon Street road sign (1 February 2009)


Cannon Street got its name from the cannons that were fired during the Penang Riots which erupted in 1867, pitting the Kean Teik Tong at Khoo Kongsi and neighbouring Poh Hock Seah, against the Ghee Hin Secret Society. The Malay community of George Town was also split into two camps: the Red Flags aligned to the Kean Teik Tong while the White Flags supported the Ghee Hins.

Today Cannon Street is quiet except for the occasional tour bus disgorging another load of tourist to gawk at the beauty of the clan temples in the area.

Getting there

Rapid Penang buses that you can take include CAT Free Shuttle or Nos. 10, 103, 301, or 401 to Pitt Street. Get down at the bus stop at Pitt Street and walk south to reach Cannon Street which starts at the intersection with Armenian Street.

Cannon Street at night (1 July 2012)

Street Art

Cannon Street has the mural "Reaching Up" by Ernest Zacharevic and the "Cannon Hole" steel-rod sculpture by Tang Mun Kian. Near the junction with Armenian Street is the Poh Hock Seah Ink Painting.

Map of Lebuh Cannon, Penang

Murals along Cannon Street

Sights along Cannon Street

Eateries on Cannon Street

Businesses on Cannon Street

List of Streets in Penang and Streets in Malaysia