Secret-society past
Former Kien Tek base.
Sin-siōng — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Marufish from Alor Setar, Malaysia — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Marufish from Alor Setar, Malaysia — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Marufish from Alor Setar, Malaysia — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Foryou42686 — CC0
An old Chinese temple on Armenian Street in George Town, dating from the mid-nineteenth century and dedicated to Tua Pek Kong, the god of prosperity of Southeast Asia's Chinese, with an altar to the Jade Emperor on its upper floor. The temple has a turbulent past: for decades it was the headquarters of the Kien Tek, a Hokkien secret society that was a main party to the Penang Riots of 1867, when a bloody street war between rival secret societies raged for days. The society was dissolved in 1890, and the temple remained. A side passage in its yard is said to have led to the grounds of its ally, the neighbouring Khoo Kongsi clan house, for an easy escape in times of danger. Today the temple is peaceful, with a roof decorated with dragons and ceramic figures and a red hall lit by lanterns. Entry is free, and it is a working place of worship. Combine it with Armenian Street, its murals and Khoo Kongsi on one walk.
Former Kien Tek base.
To Khoo Kongsi.
Ceramic figures.
Armenian Street, George Town, next to Khoo Kongsi
Khoo KongsiYou enter from a narrow lane and suddenly face a wide stone square with the most1 minute walk4.3
Armenian StreetA narrow street and one of George Town's best known, at the heart of the area on2 minutes walk
Acheen Street Mosque (Masjid Melayu Lebuh Acheh)One of Penang's oldest and most storied mosques, built in 1808 on land given by 2 minutes walk
Kapitan Keling MosqueFounded by Muslim traders from South India in the early nineteenth century, a fe2 minutes walk4.7
Chulia StreetOne of George Town's oldest streets, laid out soon after the city was founded in3 minutes walkA bloody street war in 1867 between rival Chinese secret societies and their allies, which raged for days in George Town until the British authorities stepped in.