Cheong Fatt Tze mansion

Side view

Lucia snagged the guess for the first entry of the Penang interests. The Cheong Fatt Tze (CFT) mansion is a sight one cannot miss when walking about Leith Street. While there are other sights in this part of Georgetown such as the Eastern & Oriental hotel, the Cathay Hotel and the rows of refurbished shop houses turned into pubs, you’ll easily spot the Blue House. Belonging to the late tycoon, Cheong Fatt Tze who was involved in various enterprises in Malaya where he emigrated from China. His holdings ranged from natural commodities, government appointments and even some said triad connections. The mansion was to be his home and he spared no expenses to hire the best craftsmen from China for its construction.

Entrance

The mansion lay forgotten and in disrepair after his death but was fortunately revived under Laurence Loh whose efforts won him the UNESCO Asia Pacific Heritage Award 2000. The only grouse that I had and prohibited me from wanting to enter the premise was the inflexible visiting hours (which is relegated to 4 guided visits a day), steep entrance fees (around RM10) and the no photo taking rule. So scratch that, I did manage to get some shots from the outside but unless it becomes more tourist friendly, it won’t draw much visitors to its doors. Adrian kept on saying these places only attract tourists from out of the state while the local never bother to check them out.

Leith St