Penang information and travel guide

Penang - Pearl of the Orient

From its establishment as the first British trading post in the Far East in 1786, Penang is today a bustling city with a unique blend of the East and West. This is reflected in its heritage buildings as well as in the lifestyles, food and customs of the local people.

Georgetown, named after King George III of England, is the seat of the state's administration as well as the centre for commerce, education, social activities and entertainment. Among the places of interest in this city are Khoo Kongsi, Kapitan Keling Mosque, Sri Mariamman Temple, Fort Cornwallis and Wat Chaiya Mangkalaram, a Buddhist temple with one of the world's longest reclining statues of Buddha. The Khoo Kongsi, an impressive clan house built by master craftsmen from China features a magnificent hall embellished with intricate carvings and richly ornamented beams of the finest wood. This unique architectural heritage gives Georgetown its charming appeal and distinctive character. Trendy restaurants, sidewalk cafes, "nasi kandar" stalls, discotheques, night markets, department stores and 'quaint pre-war shops together with a host of other places all combine to give the city its lively and colourful character. Traditionally known as the 'Pearl of the Orient', Penang owes much of its fame to its fine beaches which are ideal for all types of water sports. Resorts of international standards have mushroomed along its beaches offering full facilities for rest and recreation. Other established tourist spots on the island are Penang Hill, Kek Lok Si temple, Butterfly Farm, Botanical Gardens, Snake Temple and the Penang Bird Park on the mainland. A characteristic sight in Penang is its gaily decorated trishaws which offer tourists a fun way of taking in the island's sights at a leisurely pace. For an exhilirating experience, cross over to the mainland by the Penang Bridge, one of Asia's longest or experience the romance of travelling on its famous ferry, once the only link with the mainland.

Take a refreshing drive up forest clad hills to enjoy the scenic beauty of the island. On your way back, stop at Balik Pulau and sample its highly acclaimed durians and nutmegs.

State
Penang

Capital
Georgetown

Head of State
Yang DiPertua Negeri: Tuan Yang Terutama Tun Dato' Sri Haji Abdul Rahman bin Haji Abbas

Head of Govt.
Ketua Menteri: Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon

Population
1,200,000

Location
Located just 5 degrees north of the Equator, Penang, the only island state in Malaysia, is also known as the Pearl of the Orient. The turtle-shaped island, measuring 285sq.km., is situated on the northwestern coast of the Malay Peninsula, at the entrance to the Straits of Malacca.

Bordered in the north and east by the state of Kedah and to the south by the state of Perak, it consists of the island of Penang and a coastal strip on the mainland called Seberang Prai.

The island and mainland are separated by a channel 2 km wide at the narrowest point and 13km at the widest. They are linked by the 13.5 km Penang Bridge, the third longest in the world, and by a 24-hour ferry service. The urban centre is Georgetown.

Population
Penang has 1.2 million people, more than half live on the island. The population is multi-racial, young and almost equally distributed between male and female. The racial breakdown is: Chinese 59 %, Malay 32 %, Indian 7% and others 2%.

Districts
- Penang Island
- Seberang Perai