The Chinese constitute the largest ethnic group in Penang and Georgetown. In the center of the historic district, weaving through Colonial Georgetown and Little India, stand shops, workshops of the trades, temples, clan houses and associations dating from the early days of the city. The core of this area is a World Heritage Site. Streets here are lined in an old style Chinese shop buildings originally used by builders from Guangdong in China. This style building can be seen typically in Straits Settlements of Singapore, Malacca and Penang. Sir Stamford Raffles, founder of modern Singapore, decreed that all  shophouses should have verandas that created a continuous and open passage. These are characterized by load bearing gable walls and massive roof beams that span the building. The overhang of the second floor creates a shelter from the sun and the monsoon rains, further shaded with split bamboo blinds.  Old Chinatown is filled with temples. On King Street (Lebuh King) temples and association houses or clan houses sit side by side, filling entire blocks, their extravagant roof lines striking in profile.

PHOTOS: Left Column: 1. Poe Choo Seah, Baba association, built on King Street c. 1903. 2. Lee Association Clan Association house. 3. A blacksmith in his shop, photographed as he moved from hammering on an anvil to welding with a blowtorch. Note the small shrine in the background. 4. Examples of the extraordinary styles of temples and association centers built along King Street. Center, Top: Penang crafted hand painted lantern. Center, Bottom: Portable  furnace used to burn paper prayers, money, and other paper offerings to appease the spirits of the dead. Right Column: 1. Detail, Han Jiang Ancestral Temple, also called Teochew or Chaozhou Temple. It was founded in 1855, with the temple built in 1870. Winner of the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Cultural Heritage Award (2006). 2. Clan house. 3. Ancestral Temple with garden entrance. 4. Goddess of Mercy Temple, Penang’s foremost Chinese temple, established in 1800.

JOURDAN ARPELLE-ZIEGLER                                           BACK TO MAP PAGE