Overview
On the island, the state capital of George Town is home to landmarks such as colonial Fort Cornwallis, the ornate Chinese clan house Khoo Kongsi and the Kapitan Keling Mosque, all testaments to centuries of foreign influence.
Description
Penang is a state in northwest Malaysia comprising mainland Seberang Perai and Penang Island. To the west, a funicular ascends Penang Hill, with its trails, flower gardens and panoramic views. If there's a more thrilling cocktail of Eastern cultures than in Penang, we've yet to find it. Penang has long served as the link between Asia’s great kingdoms and an important outlet to the markets of Europe and the Middle East. At its heart is diverse, cosmopolitan George Town, Penang Island's main city and an urban centre that delivers old-world Asia in spades, from trishaws pedalling past watermarked Chinese shophouses to blue joss smoke perfuming the air. The freshest aspects of modern culture are present, too, in the exceptional art scene and free-spirited carnivals, all fed by an infectious local enthusiasm for Penang's long history and kaleidoscope of cultures.
Penang Island, Pahang
Malaysia
URL:
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/malaysia/peninsular-malaysia-west-coast/pulau-penang