Toh Aka Lane (Lorong Toh Aka), George Town

Toh Aka Lane (11 February 2013)


Toh Aka Lane (Malay: Lorong Toh Aka, Penang Hokkien: Phak1 Thik1 Kay1 ), is a narrow lane with much character within the core zone of George Town's Unesco World Heritage Site. The lane has three arms forming the letter "T" - one arm leads out to Beach Street, another to Malay Street while another ends at the back gate of the Acheen Street Mosque. Carnarvon Lane also ends at Toh Aka Lane.

Toh Aka Lane is said to have been named after a Chinese person whom the Malays called "Tok Aka", or Grandpa Ah Ka. The profession along Toh Aka Lane during the early days was ironwork, and its inhabitants are mostly Cheah clansmen of the Cheah Kongsi. For that reason, Toh Aka Lane is often known among the Hokkiens as Phak₁ Thik₁ Kay₁, or Ironworks Street.

The proximity of Toh Aka Lane to Acheen Street Mosque means that it once served the Malay settlement on its western side, which has since shrunk in size, as George Town of the 20th century evolved to be more homogenously Chinese. In fact Toh Aka Lane forms the southern part of the compound of the mosque, and the village houses still standing there are on the same row as Toh Aka Lane.

Map of Lorong Toh Aka, George Town, Penang

Sights along Toh Aka Lane

Street Art on Toh Aka Lane

Businesses on Toh Aka Lane

Toh Aka Lane, George Town, Penang (4 July 2019)


Lorong Toh Aka roadsign (4 July 2019)


Toh Aka Lane, at Eng Tai Association. (11 February 2013)


House at junction of Toh Aka Lane with Beach Street. (11 February 2013)


House on Toh Aka Lane. (11 February 2013)


8 Toh Aka Lane, one of the unrestored townhouse that retains their original tiles (11 February 2013)


11 Toh Aka Lane has a plain, unrestored front (11 February 2013)


Pre-war townhouses along Toh Aka Lane (4 December 2008)


Malay urban village house on Toh Aka Lane, George Town (11 April 2013)


Lorong Tok Aka (11 April 2013)


Tok Aka Lane, near junction with Beach Street (11 April 2013)

Evening at Toh Aka Lane

Toh Aka Lane is very photogenic, particularly during the blue hour of dusk. The following shots were taken in the evening on 4 February, 2009.

Toh Aka Lane, as viewed from Beach Street (4 February 2009)


Toh Aka Lane, at the bend in front of Eng Tai Association (4 February 2009)


Toh Aka Lane after the bend (4 December 2008)


Toh Aka Lane T-Junction, across from Lumut Lane (4 December 2008)


Toh Aka Lane after the T-Junction, as seen from Malay Street (4 December 2008)


Toh Aka Lane, approaching Malay Street (4 December 2008)

Getting there

From the Weld Quay Ferry & Bus Terminal, take the pedestrian bridge across Weld Quay, then turn left and walk along Weld Quay until junction of Acheen Street Ghaut. Follow Acheen Street Ghaut until it intersects with Beach Street, then turn left and continue on Beach Street until you arrive at the junction with Toh Aka Lane on your right.

Lorong Toh Aka road sign (4 December 2008)


History interpretive plaque of Toh Aka Lane (4 December 2008)

In Other Words ...

Toh Aka Lane is known in Hokkien as Phak1 Thik1 Kay1, meaning "ironworks street".

List of Streets in Penang and Streets in Malaysia