Former Cheng Ho Seah Building

Former Cheng Ho Seah Building (14 January 2015)


Cheng Ho Seah is a Chinese association on China Street that dates back to the 19th century, a period of prosperity for George Town. Its ornate façade reflects the opulence of the time. The upper floor has three full-length windows comprising jalousies and panels. They altenate with the highly moulded pilasters. The stucco decorations continue to the arches, cornices and brackets. Sculptured characters support the keystones above the arches.

The awning over the five-foot way is in the Chinese style, with an alternate between the flat-plate slates (板瓦, in Penang Hokkien, pan1hia33) and the cylindrical tiles (筒瓦, tang3hia33)

There is probably some religious elements to Cheng Ho Seah, as it counts Chor Soo Kong (the deity associated with the Snake Temple) as its patron deity.

For the recent decades, the Cheng Ho Seah Building has seen various occupants. It housed a a motorcycle dealer for many years. At the turn of the 21st century, it was taken over and restored by conservation architect Tan Yeow Wooi. The building reopened as an art gallery on 7 November, 2003. It was taken over as Alpha Utara Gallery in 2005, but has remained vacant since late 2014.

Getting there

If you are coming down China Street from Pitt Street (Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling), the Cheng Ho Seah Building is on your right.