Tanjong Tokong, Penang

Tanjong Tokong, Penang (2 January 2019)

Tanjong Tokong (GPS: 5.45127, 100.30556; Traditional/Simplified Chinese: 丹绒道光; Pinyin: Dānróng Dàoguāng) often written as Tanjong Tokong nowadays, is a neighbourhood on the northeastern part of Penang Island. Formerly a fishing village, it derives its name from the Tua Pek Kong temple located on the northern part of the neighbourhood. Although originally a separate entity from Tanjong Bungah, Tanjong Tokong is today a suburb and postal district of Tanjung Bungah.

The postal code for Tanjong Tokong is 10470.

The coastline of Tanjong Tokong was significantly affected by the December 2004 tsunami. The force of the wave was so great that it broke a retaining wall at the famous seafood restaurant near the Tua Pek Kong temple. It also hoisted several fishing boats and deposited them along Jalan Tanjong Tokong, the main road.

Until the 1970s Tanjong Tokong was just a quiet fishing village. This is the destination of townfolks escaping the noise and bustle of George Town. Tanjong Tokong was where you can enjoy good seafood or take a dip in the (then) pristine sea. During that time, the coastline of Tanjong Tokong north of the Tua Pek Kong Temple comprises stretches of white sand interrupted by rocky coastal boulders, while south of the temple, the shore was a series of mudflats interspersed by groves of estuarine mangrove.

Apart from a few seaside bungalows, there was limited residential development in the area, and most of the houses until then comprised wooden village sheds haphazardly strewn along the coast and within the village of Tanjong Tokong. All this changed since the turn of the 21st century, as Tanjong Tokong gradually morphes into a skyscraper neighbourhood, with a large part of the latest development occupying reclaimed land. The high-rise development continues unabated as time of writing (this update: Nov 2016).

The heart of Tanjong Tokong is at the intersection of Jalan Tanjong Tokong with Jalan Fettes and Jalan Seri Tanjung Pinang (GPS: 5.451206, 100.305647), in front of Island Plaza. Measured from this intersection, Tanjong Tokong is 6.0 km to Komtar, 13.1 km to the Penang Bridge, 20.9 km to the Second Penang Bridge and 22.4 km to the Penang International Airport.

Videos about Tanjong Tokong

Things to know before you move to Tanjong Tokong

Sunshine in Tanjong Tokong

Map of Tanjong Tokong, Penang

Apartments and condominiums in Tanjong Tokong, Penang

City of Dreams (GPS: 5.44588, 100.31003)
City Residence (GPS: 5.44992, 100.3049)
Costa Villa (GPS: 5.45647, 100.30516)
Desa Bella (GPS: 5.45743, 100.30507)
Desa Tanjong (GPS: 5.45154, 100.30647)
Dua Tanjung (GPS: 5.45297, 100.30764)
Fettes Residences (GPS: 5.45229, 100.3052)
Grandview (GPS: 5.44077, 100.30634)
Horizon Tower (GPS: 5.46237, 100.29991)
I-Santorini (GPS: 5.45444, 100.30843)
Indah Bay (GPS: 5.45978, 100.30518)
Jazz Residences (GPS: 5.45787, 100.30988)
Kayangan Puri Mutiara Apartment (GPS: 5.45718, 100.29921)
Leisure Bay (GPS: 5.45522, 100.30624)
Marina Bay (GPS: 5.44294, 100.30695)
Marinox Sky Villas (GPS: 5.45437, 100.31041)
Mutiara Villa (GPS: 5.43971, 100.30676)
Palm & Nipah Court Apartment (GPS: 5.4485, 100.30765)
Pangsapuri Tanjong Tokong (GPS: 5.46114, 100.30588)
Puncak Erskine Apartment (GPS: 5.45274, 100.29764)
Quayside (GPS: 5.46014, 100.31106)
Selasih Court (GPS: 5.45706, 100.30919)
Seri Taman Tanjung (GPS: 5.45057, 100.30425)
Seri Tanjung Pinang (GPS: 5.45775, 100.31196)
Skyhome (GPS: 5.46338, 100.30378)
Springtide Residences (GPS: 5.46437, 100.30101)
Sri Bunga Raya (GPS: 5.44771, 100.30428)
Sri Golden Bay (GPS: 5.46479, 100.29879)
Straits Residences (GPS: 5.45691, 100.31309)
Taman Batu Bukit (GPS: 5.45318, 100.30504)
Taman Seri Tanjung (GPS: 5.45242, 100.30428)
Tanjong Park (GPS: 5.44927, 100.30367)
Tanjung Villas (GPS: 5.46122, 100.30481)
The Bayu Apartment (GPS: 5.44799, 100.30457)
The Brezza (GPS: 5.45369, 100.30767)
The Crown (GPS: 5.45579, 100.3097)
The Landmark (GPS: 5.45707, 100.31015)
The Latitude (GPS: 5.44979, 100.29844)
The Meg @ Andaman Island (GPS: 5.44393, 100.32092)
The Peak Residences (GPS: 5.44979, 100.29844)
The Penthouse (GPS: 5.45627, 100.30596)
The Tamarind (GPS: 5.45707, 100.31015)
Tri Pinnacle (GPS: 5.44944, 100.29562)

Businesses in Tanjong Tokong

Chinese Temples in Tanjong Tokong

Chooi Bee Keong Temple (GPS: 5.44176, 100.30701)
Hong San Si Temple (GPS: 5.45217, 100.3033)
Heong Sun See Temple (GPS: 5.45919, 100.30558)
Ngor Teik Keong Temple (GPS: 5.46346, 100.30775)
Tanjong Tokong Tua Pek Kong Temple (GPS: 5.46381, 100.30778)

Churches in Tanjong Tokong

Fettes Park Baptist Church (GPS: 5.46199, 100.30286)

Commercial Properties in Tanjong Tokong

Fettes 10 (GPS: 5.45171, 100.30502)
Precinct 10 (GPS: 5.45039, 100.30605)
Prima Tanjong (GPS: 5.45039, 100.30605)
The Bayu (GPS: 5.44808, 100.30498)
Wisma Binjul (GPS: 5.44843, 100.30504)

Eateries in Tanjong Tokong

Palace d'India Restaurant (GPS: 5.44748, 100.305)
Sea Pearl Lagoon Cafe (GPS: 5.46388, 100.30813)
~~Seawind Beach Cafe~~ (GPS: 5.46386, 100.30585)
Viva Local Food Haven (GPS: 5.4629, 100.30506)
Xiang Yun Vegetarian Delight at Vantage Desiran Tanjong (GPS: 5.45653, 100.30752)

Hindu Temples in Tanjong Tokong

Sri Muneeswarar Temple (GPS: 5.44206, 100.30686)

Hotels in Tanjong Tokong

8 Boutique by the Sea Hotel (GPS: 5.45039, 100.30605)
118 Residence Island Plaza (GPS: 5.45039, 100.30605)
Four Points by Sheraton (GPS: 5.46384, 100.30177)
Gurney Zahra Inn (GPS: 5.44089, 100.30761)
Hompton By The Beach Hotel (GPS: 5.46384, 100.30177)
Hotel Sentral Seaview (GPS: 5.46389, 100.30547)
Jazz Hotel Penang (GPS: 5.45787, 100.30988)

Markets in Tanjong Tokong

Mount Erskine Market (GPS: 5.44846, 100.3008)

Mosques in Tanjong Tokong

Masjid Tuan Guru (GPS: 5.45914, 100.30609)

Neighbourhoods in Tanjong Tokong

Pedestrian Bridges in Tanjong Tokong

Tanjong Tokong Ideal Pedestrian Bridge (GPS: 5.45093, 100.30558)
Tanjong Tokong Ideal Pedestrian Bridge (GPS: 5.46183, 100.30678)

Petrol Stations in Tanjong Tokong

Caltex Jalan Tanjong Tokong (GPS: 5.44601, 100.30476)
Petronas Jalan Tanjong Tokong (GPS: 5.45257, 100.30634)
Shell Jalan Tanjong Tokong (GPS: 5.44434, 100.30575)

Public Park in Tanjong Tokong

Jalan Cengai Pocket Park (GPS: 5.46077, 100.30193)
Lebuh Orchard Pocket Park (GPS: 5.46077, 100.30193)
Penang Avatar Secret Garden (GPS: 5.46429, 100.30757)
Persiaran Lengkuas Pocket Park (GPS: 5.45084, 100.30371)
Straits Green (GPS: 5.46092, 100.3092)

Roads in Tanjong Tokong

Schools in Tanjong Tokong

Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan (Cina) Hun Bin (GPS: 5.45837, 100.30447)
Sekolah Kebangsaan Tanjong Tokong (GPS: 5.44944, 100.29562)
Stonyhurst International School (GPS: 5.45999, 100.31005)

Serviced Apartment in Tanjong Tokong

118 @ Island Plaza

Shopping Malls in Tanjong Tokong

City Junction (GPS: 5.44992, 100.3049)
Island Plaza (GPS: 5.45039, 100.30605)
Lotus's Tanjung Pinang (GPS: 5.4588, 100.30867)
Straits Quay (GPS: 5.45906, 100.31327)

Sights in Tanjong Tokong

Cahaya Tanjung Bungah (GPS: 5.46349, 100.30247)
Kompleks Institusi Pendidikan Tanjung Tokong (GPS: 5.45017, 100.30242)
Mount Erskine Hokkien Cemetery (GPS: 5.43814, 100.30186)
~~Museum of Glass~~ (GPS: 5.44828, 100.30218)
Penang Chinese Swimming Club (GPS: 5.46325, 100.3045)
Seri Tanjong Pinang Promenade (GPS: 5.45669, 100.31438)
Stella Maris Retreat Centre (GPS: 5.46385, 100.30666)
Tanjong Tokong Muslim Cemetery (GPS: 5.45873, 100.30368)
Tanjong Tokong World War II Relics (GPS: 5.46432, 100.30793)

About Tanjong Tokong

Tanjong Tokong is believed to hold the earliest Chinese settlement on Penang Island. It predates the arrival of Francis Light by a few decades. The settlement was founded by Zhang Li, who like many of his countrymen during the period following the collapse of the Ming Dynasty, decided to vote with his feet. He set sail for Sumatra, but somehow landed on Penang Island instead, and there, he founded a Chinese settlement at Tanjong Tokong. His grave is beside the Tanjong Tokong Tua Pek Kong Temple, where he is deified as an honourific Tua Pek Kong.

Urbanisation of Tanjong Tokong began in the 1970s, and gathered speed in the subsequent decades. Today, Tanjong Tokong villagers can feel the urban spawl of George Town pressing up against them, threatening to end their unharried lifestyle. The sea off Tanjong Tokong has undergone reclamation. This extended the shoreline outward, erasing the original curve of the bay known as Teluk Ayer Rajah and blunting the point of the cape that gave Tanjong Tokong its name. It also affects the currents which in turn impacts the lifelihood of coastal fishermen, who may eventually be forced to abandon fishing for other jobs.

Tanjong Tokong is also famous for the Fatty Loh Chicken Rice which had its original outlet at the junction of Fettes Park Road. This road has also seen much changes in tandem with the rest of Tanjong Tokong. New retail outlets that have been added to Tanjong Tokong include Island Plaza and Prima Tanjung.

From the 1980s onwards, Tanjong Tokong began to witness urban development. The earliest apartments to be built here were low rise, among them Villa Saujana and Excel Court. By the early 1990s, grander development projects were planned for Tanjong Tokong. They include Marina Bay Condominium and Island Plaza Shopping Centre. Since then, Tanjong Tokong began to transform into an upscale residential area and extension of affluent Pulau Tikus. This is reflected in the development of several high-end condominiums including Tanjung Park and Fettes Residences. As with elsewhere on Penang Island, Tanjong Tokong is seeing a mushrooming of high rise apartments. In addition to the aforementioned upscale projects, there are also low-cost and medium-cost apartments in the area, among them Palm Court Apartment and Taman Tanjong.

Buying properties in Tanjong Tokong

Tanjong Tokong is today an upscale property neighbourhood to George Town. Although there are pockets of low-cost housing, generally developers in the past decade focus on luxury real estate.

Being hemmed in by the hill lands and cemetery grounds of Mount Erskine, Tanjong Tokong has limited flat land. Even neighbourhoods such as Fettes Park comprises undulating hill land. As such, it is not surprising that Tanjong Tokong has experienced land reclamation in the form of the upscale Seri Tanjung Pinang neighbourhood. Reclamation is expected to continue into the future decades with the creation of a man-made island that would be the second phase of Seri Tanjung Pinang.

Tanjong Pinang benefits from its proximity to George Town. This makes it the choice location for many business owners and members of the upper management to find properties.

Going to Tanjong Tokong

To reach the Tanjong Tokong, take Rapid Penang bus 101, 103, 104 from Weld Quay Ferry & Bus Terminal.

Traffic situation in Tanjong Tokong

Traffic is often heavy along the main road, Jalan Tanjong Tokong. Now that it has been widened, the traffic flow is smoother, even though the nonsensical way the road lines are drawn require motorists to swerve in and out at every approaching traffic light.

Seri Tanjung Pinang, a new township in Tanjong Tokong, created out of reclaimed land. (6 October 2020)

Tanjong Tokong condominiums (15 February 2020)

High-rise residential properties in Tanjong Tokong, Penang (29 January 2020)

Angler at Tanjong Tokong, Penang (23 December 2003)

Within sight of George Town, the township of Seri Tanjong Pinang in Tanjong Tokong was developed on reclaimed land. (30 November 2012)

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Dear visitor, thank you so much for reading this page. My name is Timothy Tye and my hobby is to find out about places, write about them and share the information with you on this website. I have been writing this site since 5 January 2003. Originally (from 2003 until 2009, the site was called AsiaExplorers. I changed the name to Penang Travel Tips in 2009, even though I describe more than just Penang but everywhere I go (I often need to tell people that "Penang Travel Tips" is not just information about Penang, but information written in Penang), especially places in Malaysia and Singapore, and in all the years since 2003, I have described over 20,000 places.

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