Discover Penang
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Penang is a striking triumph of multiculturalism, with Malaysian, Indian, Chinese and more global influences steeped in everything from architecture to food.
As the food capital of Malaysia, it raises the bar for food travellers with no end of hawker centres and moreish street food. Its state capital, George Town, is where you’ll find yourself spending most of your time with endless things to do: from exploring its Unesco world heritage-recognised buildings to its more recent chapter as a street art haven.
Beyond George Town, there’s no shortage of things to do in Penang further out with mountainside temples, tranquil beaches and national parks to explore.

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Things to do in Penang

Pay homage at Penang’s holiest sites

The city’s rich cultural diversity means there’s endless Penang attractions to explore. Kek Lok Si, Malaysia’s biggest Buddhist temple, is a 19th century mountainside complex featuring the awe-inspiring Buddha Pavilion set comprising of 10,000 statues and a large statue of the goddess of mercy Kuan Yin, sheltered by an ornate roof. George Town’s Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling – the ‘Street of Harmony’ – is a beautiful example of Penang’s varied religious beliefs, from the red-lantern strewn Goddess of Mercy Temple to the austere Anglican St George’s Church. The dome-topped Kapitan Keling Mosque is a must-see for Indo-Muslim architecture buffs as well as Sri Maha Mariamman Temple’s rooftop deity sculptures, watching over all those who enter.

Discover Penang’s Peranakan Chinese past

As immigrants from China settled in Penang centuries ago, they added a new hue to the city’s rich cultural tapestry. The Baba-Nyonya community, also known as the Peranakan Chinese community born as new arrivals, merged their own customs with Penang’s and built now historical sites fusing architectural styles. The opulent 19th century Pinang Peranakan Mansion, for example, combines Chinese, Scottish and English elements, and is also home to a Baba-Nyonya museum housing over 1,000 relics. While Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion, the famed 19th century Blue Mansion featured in Crazy Rich Asians, is now a boutique hotel, visitors can join guided tours of the Unesco-recognised site which combines Hakka, Teochew and other Southern Chinese architectural styes.

Experience Penang food culture

From Malay to Chinese, Indian and Thai influences, Penang’s famous dishes are a combination of Asian styles unique to the food capital. Asam Laksa is among Penang’s most distinctive dishes with a tangy tamarind soup base as opposed to popularised coconut-based laksas, as well as White Curry Mee – a fragrant, ivory twist on Curry Mee, topped with seafood and pork blood cubes. Two of Penang’s most unique regional styles include Nyonya cooking – a Chinese-Thai-Malay fusion style dating back to the 15th century by Chinese immigrants – and Jawi Peranakan cuisine, developed by Penang’s Indo-Muslim community with Middle Eastern influences.

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