George TownGeorge Town
Penang Sights - Cities and Towns
George Town, Penang
George Town is the administrative capital of the state of Pulau Pinang and is also the largest city in the state. It is located on the north-eastern corner of Penang Island.
Established since the 18th century, the ingestion and fusion of different races, beliefs and customs through the centuries have made the city rich in multicultural heritage. Today, George Town is listed as a UNESCO World heritage site. This administrative centre is a bustling cosmopolitan city with a mix of old and new, east and west; a colony of historical architecture juxtaposing with brand new skyscrapers.
George Town is the place to see the busy rich heritage of Penang. It has the largest cluster of 18th and 19th century houses in South East Asia. Foreign travellers can catch a free ride on shuttle buses that runs through the historical enclave of George Town. Moving round the city you will see many cultural and heritage sites - Chinese clan houses, colonial buildings, old temples, mosques and the many pre-war shop houses (built during the 18th and eary 19th century).
Heritage and historical enclave of George Town
The best way to see George Town is to walk the streets of and alley in the city or take a trishaw ride. See the mix cultural heritage that is both Asian and European - from the activities in the streets to the architectural diversity of the urban landscape. A walk through the streets of Georgetown will take you through a cultural landscape that can only be found only in this part of South-east Asia. You can also hop onto the free George Town shuttle bus (map of George Town) and see George Town. Walk round the historical enclaves of Penang around Armenian Street, China Town, Queen Street, Lebuh Farquhar, Lebuh Leigh, etc and see some of these cultural and historical sites, Chinese kongsi houses, Indian temples, museums, fort, colonial houses, etc and observe some of the economic activites of Penang.
UNESCO World Heritage listed on July 2008
The city of George Town, Penang (with Melaka), was listed as a World heritage site in 2008 - Melaka and George Town, historic cities of the Straits of Malacca (Malaysia) have developed over 500 years of trading and cultural exchanges between East and West in the Straits of Malacca. The influences of Asia and Europe have endowed the towns with a specific multicultural heritage that is both tangible and intangible.
Where to eat in George Town
George Town is also the place for a heritage food discovery. Be sure to sample the infinite array of Penang street food and Nyonya Cuisine - you will not find some of these food anywhere else in the world.
There is a wide variety of food that is uniquely Penang, whether of Malay, Chinese, Indian, Thai, Peranakan (Nyonya/ Nonya) or peranakan origin. Penang offers the best of Malaysian street food or better known as hawker food or street food. Hence, Penang is often referred to as the food capital of Malaysia. The best of Penang hawker food can range from rice dishes to noodles and snacks. The most famous of her street food is usually a fusion of what is a combination of Asian food - Sino-Malay, Indian-Muslim, Chinese-Thai, etc.
Sample some of what is typically Penang hawker food such as: Penang hokkien mee, Penang laksa, Penang char kueh teow, chee cheong fun, Penang lobak or otak-otak, pasembur, etc. (More about food at Penang food page). Don't leave Penang without tasting the unique local Nonya Cuisine (Nonya / Peranakan Cuisine), which is a mix of Chinese and Malay cooking - often Nyonya dishes are cooked with aromatic herbs. And of course Nyonya Kueh - famed throughout Malaysia that originates here, or at least the northern part of Peninsualar Malaysia.
Check out some of the and popular hawker food stalls and restaurents in Penang HERE
Shopping
Penang also offer visitors many shopping delights. You can shop at open-air markets, at bazaars or in air-conditioned shopping complexes. A unique experience is to walk through the night market or pasar malam, a place for you to get all sorts of bargains, from clothes to food. The most popular night market is at Batu Ferringhi, Penang Island.
You can shop for branded or high-end merchandise to cheap treats. For the thrifty shoppers, shop at roadside stalls, shopping complexes or even night markets (pasar malam). As you shop, walk the streets and sample of the Penang hawkers fare - from sweet snacks to hot spicy dishes. Branded goods are usually sold at specialty shops or at shops in shopping malls.
Shopping places in Penang: Shops along Penang Road (Jalan Penang),
Shopping Malls: Gurney Plaza (Gurney Drive), Komtar, Prangin Mall (Jalan Penang, George Town), Queensway Mall (Costal Road, Sg Nibong, Penang Island), Times Square (Jalan Dato Keramat
http://penangtimessquare.com/ ), etc.
Bazaars , Shopping malls, Roadside/ Street stalls, pasar malam or night markets, flea Markets, wet markets, supermarket
Learn about best buys in places to shop in Penang in My Penang.
Entertainment and clubbing
Cinemas, theatres, nightspots are found mainly on Penang island. Pubs, lounges and discos are common in big hotels or located in the heart of George Town for those who want to dine or dance, go to Upper Penang Road, Batu Ferringhi, Jalan Gottlieb, Jalan Burma, etc. are places to go for a night in town. Penangites however will also be found at night mainly at hawker stalls and food courts or centres, scattered all over - Pulau Tikus, New Lane, Gurney Drive, etc.
Nearby Island
From George Town, you can also travel to other parts of Penang island, Pulau Jerejak, Pulau Aman and Seberang Perai. Great island destination are the nearby islands of Pulau Payar and the 100 over islands of Langkawi (both in the adjacent state of Kedah) - fabulous exotic vacation destinations in Kedah