Joss Stick Row, Carnarvon Street

Joss Stick Row, Carnarvon Street, George Town, Penang (18 May 2013)


Joss Stick Row is an ensemble of double-storey shophouses along Carnarvon Street in George Town, Penang. The name refers to the main business conducted here, which is the trade in Chinese prayer paraphernalia.

There are five shophouses along Joss Stick Row. They were built in the "Traditional Shophouse" style, a term in the local architectural nomenclature referring to the squart appearance of the double-storey shophouses built in the late 19th century (some researchers believe this design dates from the mid 19th century until the 1880s, though I cannot state this for sure without further research).

Pilasters separating one shophouse from the other are unadorned. The upper level of each shophouse has a row of five pairs of window shuttles. None of these have been renovated, though they may have been restored over that long period of time.

Getting there

One can reach Joss Stick Row by foot from the Komtar Bus Terminal. Walk heading east on Tek Soon Street until it meets Carnarvon Street. Turn left and go along Carnarvon Street. You will see Joss Stick Row on your right after the intersection with Prangin Road.

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