Khoo Kongsi Mansion, George Town

Khoo Kongsi Mansion, George Town (must see)

The Khoo Kongsi Mansion in George Town is not easy to find. It is embedded among shop house clusters on Cannon Square. The main entrance to the mansion compound is a tunnel in an alley through the wall of shop houses.

The mansion is in a wide paved courtyard, defensively surrounded by the walls of other buildings. It is in three parts: the Prayer Pavilion; the main building and its grand staircase; and a kitchen on the left wing.

The architecture is in the temple style of Southern Fujian province of China: the traditional prayer pavilion with a low bungalow type front porch. The porch is four feet above ground. In the middle of the front steps is a "Stone Of The Royal Way." The flat stone carries the character "Fu", representing five different types of luck.

The first clan house was built in 1851. In 1901 it was struck by lightning and burned. It was thought the style of the house angered the gods for its resemblance to the imperial palace in China. The more moderate present-day hall was built in 1906.

The hall is elaborated with complex wood carvings and beams. The temple is dedicated to the gods of the clan. It also holds a collection of ancestral tablets. In the back are mural paintings illustrating moral precepts and traditional tales. The paintings also honor leaders of the Khoo family who have led the clan in a competitive environment.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in George Town. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Khoo Kongsi Mansion on Map

Sight Name: Khoo Kongsi Mansion
Sight Location: George Town, Malaysia (See walking tours in George Town)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Walking Tours in George Town, Malaysia

Create Your Own Walk in George Town

Create Your Own Walk in George Town

Creating your own self-guided walk in George Town is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
George Town Introduction Walking Tour

George Town Introduction Walking Tour

Some felt in Malaya that the city of George Town should be renamed Tanjung Penaga ("Cape Penaga"). That was the name of the area where George Town now stands. But the Chinese, British, Muslim, Malay and Indian movers and shakers of the town wisely declined. It might be bad for business.

Captain Francis Light, R. N., came to Tanjung Penaga in 1786. He wanted to set up an entrepôt for...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.3 Km or 2.1 Miles
George Town's Historical Religious Buildings

George Town's Historical Religious Buildings

George Town, Malaysia, has much to be proud of when it comes to religious heritage. The city boasts a plethora of wonderful churches, temples, mosques, and other religious sites – each beautifully decorated and with its own unique story. Follow us on this self-guided walk and see some of them up close.

We start at the Acheen Street Mosque. Dating back to the early 19th century, this is one of...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.8 Km or 1.1 Miles
Farquhar Street Walking Tour

Farquhar Street Walking Tour

Farquhar Street, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2008, is a culturally rich thoroughfare in George Town, Malaysia, and home to many interesting historic properties. Let's take a brief journey down this storied street and see what they are.

At the outset of Farquhar stands the impressive Supreme Court building, a symbol of justice and governance in Penang. Just a stone's throw away,...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.4 Km or 1.5 Miles