UNESCO World Heritage Site featuring graphic street art depicting the life of the people of Penang.
In the last few years since 2012, Penang Street Art has become a very popular tourist attraction in the old part of the city, so much so that you will often find crowds of people waiting to have their photo taken in front of the wall paintings.
There are a number of official street arts in Georgetown, painted by a young Lithuanian artist named Ernest Zacharevic.
Historical Streets of George Town
George Town, Panang’s capital city, is a stunning mix of European and Asian influences. Over the past five centuries, the city has grown into a vibrant port town and tourist destination, but without losing the unique legacy that caused her to receive UNESCO World Heritage Site status in 2008.
While George Town’s architecture is impressive anywhere, the old streets around the Lebuh Acheh historical enclave hold the most significance–from old Chinese shophouses to British colonial mansions and clan houses to a number of temples representing several religions, these historical streets are fascinating to explore.
Among George Town’s most significant historical buildings, you’ll find the Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion, one of only three mansions outside China built using traditional Feng Shui architectural principles, and an early 19th-century Chinese temple dedicated to the Goddess Kuan Yin. The Penang State Museum & Art Gallery, which explores Penang’s past and cultural legacy, is a good stop if you want to better understand the importance of this area.
The best way to explore the historical area of George Town is to just walk around and appreciate the rows of wooden shutters, low shophouses, stucco buildings, and colorful details on the most unexpected structures.
