Tan Jetty

Tan Jetty, George Town, Penang (4 February 2009)


Tan jetty is one of the six clan jetties in George Town. Known as Snaeh1 Tan2 Kio2 in Penang Hokkien, it is the third clan jetty from the north, located between Chew Jetty and Lee Jetty.

Tan Jetty signboard (4 February 2009)


Tan Jetty houses people of the Tan clan whose forefathers were Chinese immigrants who came from the village of Bing Zhou She, in Tong Aun District, Quan Zhou Prefecture, Fujian Province, China. They arrived at the turn of the century to work in the expanding Penang Harbour. At that time, the shoreline of George Town has just been extended outward to create a deeper port for steamships, which in turn created jobs for port workers and coolies.

The Tan jetty was created to house the coolies who were unable to afford living quarters on dry land, much of which is already owned by the Europeans or the Chinese towkays. Moreover, the proximity of the jetty to the harbour means that they did not have to travel far to get to their work place.

Clan Jetties YouTube Video

Tan Jetty walkway (4 February 2009)

What to eat at Tan Jetty

Eateries at Tan Jetty

Tan Jetty Interpretive Board (4 February 2009)

Location of Tan Jetty on the map

Clan Jetties of Penang