Express buses ply the route from Penang to / from Kuala Lumpur and major cities in the country. Please visit (http://www.plusliner.com/) for more info. The main bus terminal in Penang is located next to the Ferry Terminal.
By Taxi
To get to Penang Island, long distance taxi service can be hired at Weld Quay, Penang. Tel: +604-2625721
By Plane
Daily flights via Malaysia Airlines (www.malaysiaairlines.com, tel:1 300 88 3000 ) and AirAsia (www.airasia.com, tel: 1-300-88 9933) to / from Penang to major cities in Malaysia. Penang's Bayan lepas International Airport is roughly 20km (45-minnute drive) from the Georgetown city centre.
By Rail
You can take the train from Kuala Lumpur to Penang, where it stops at the Penang Railway Station, close to the ferry terminal. For more information, visit www.ktmb.com.my or call their call centre at +603-22671200.
By Boat
Ferries can be boarded at Butterworth, in the mainland portion of Penang. Among Ferry Services available are:
Langkawi Ferry Services (Tel: +604-2643088
Ekspress Bahagia (Tel: +604-2636255)
From the Ferry Terminal you can easily get a taxi ride into Georgetown city centre.
Chinatown is located in the heart of Georgetown City and is easily accessible via trishaws to Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling. A trishaw ride is also an ideal way to negotiate Georgetown's backstreets, and it costs around RM1.50 per kilometre.
To drive to Penang, from Kuala Lumpur, get onto the North-South Expressway heading north. Get onto the Penang Bridge (Tol is RM7 for cars), then head for Georgetown.
Chinatown
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Penang's Chinatown is so large and well preserved, visitors can feel the lifestyle of Chinese immigrant settlers who came to Penang in the 1800s."
Introduction
If you are visiting the city of George Town in Pulau Pinang, then Chinatown, which today is roughly bordered by Lebuh King, Lebuh Stewart, Lebuh Muntri, and Lebuh Campbell, should be a priority in your itinerary. Just a short walk from Fort Cornwallis, Chinatown is one of the places where you can still absorb the historical ambience of the beginnings of the Chinese settlement in Penang.
Walk through the arches of the walkways of old two-storey shop lots still used today, housing the many traditional trades and occupations which has somehow survived the decades. Among the surviving trades you can still witness today are the traditional lantern makers, joss-stick makers and signage engravers whose skills and knowledge have been passed down from generation to generation. Visitors to Chinatown will be intrigued by the many clanhouses, shophouses and temples found along these streets.
History
Chinatown's past is a colourful montage of migrants and fortune seekers from China who saw in Penang, the opportunity to build a new life and one of the most prominent figures, Cheong Fatt Tze, arrived in Penang in 1856 and made Penang his home base. Today, one can still see the Cheong Fatt Tze mansion along Lebuh Leith.
Under colonial rule, the immigration of various settlers from China, India and the Malay archipelago was closely organised by Francis Light. Originally, the Chinese settlers were alloted the China Street as their main settlement area. But this quickly changed as more and more settlers from China arrived and today's Chinatown spreads across to Lebuh Muntri and Lebuh Campbell.
People
Due to its location close to Little India, visitor to Chinatown can expect to see a multitude of races in and around Chinatown. Most of the Chinese here speak Hokkien and run businesses from privately own shop lots.
Related Events & Festivals
The annual celebration of Chinese New Year in George Town centres in the Chinatown area. On Chinese New Year day, Chinatown is lit up with red lanterns and dragon dance performances.
Travel Advice
If you happen to be exploring the traditional shops and tradesmen at work in the Chinatown area, do ask for permission if you'd like to take photographs of these tradesmen. Although they are mostly quite genial and welcome curious visitors, it can sometimes be quite trying when a whole string of visitors descend on their little establishment in any given day. It would also be polite to make a small purchase from their shop as souvenir.
For more information, please contact: Penang Tourism Action Council
56th Floor, KOMTAR
10000 Penang
Tel : +604-262 0202
Fax : +604-263 1020
Email : enquiry@tourismPenang.gov.my
Penang's most popular attraction, the Kek Lok Si Temple is the biggest and most beautiful Buddhist temple complex in Malaysia. It is also one of the first being built in the South East Asia region.
Penang's Little India is a colourful place which offers many specialised Indian stores and eating places. Take time to indulge in Indian specialities like spices, Indian music, garlands, trinkets and gold jewelry.
"OH MY GODdddddddd~~~~!!!!!!thats a fantastic place must view!!!!got lots of foodss!!hehehe.hope u all enjoy ya~" by SPY
"This is just the precinct for a special blend of culture and architecture of part of Malaysia's past. You should experience it by day and by night." by Ole
