Features
- Travel Destination
Penang
Khoo Kongsi
W
hen the first immigrants from the Hokkien province of China arrived in Penang,
one of the first things they set out to do was build one of the most magnificent clan
houses in Penang. Work began on the clan house in the 1890’s which resulted in
what was said to be a palace which rivalled that of the Emperor of China. As the
story goes, this extravagance incurred the wrath of the Gods and on the first night of the clan
house’s completion, an unexplainable fire broke out and burnt the house down! It wasn’t until
1902 that the current clan house began construction.
One of five clan houses still standing in Georgetown, the Khoo Kongsi clan house takes on a
remarkable resemblance to a mini clan village. One of the grandest clan houses in Penang, the
Khoo Kongsi features tall thin columns supporting a gently sloping, red tiled roof, topped with
carvings of dragons, phoenixes, mythical animals and various scenes from popular Chinese
legends.
The clan house also has a grand hall adorned with resplendent and intricate carvings and richly
ornamented pillars which are said to have been crafted by master craftsmen from China. Other
major Hokkien clan houses that can be found in Penang are the Cheah Kongsi, Yeah Kongsi,
Lim Kongsi and Tan Kongsi.
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