This stately mansion beautifully captures what life was for a wealthy Straits Chinese family in the 19th century.
With its mint green walls, carved wooden doors inlaid with gold and wrought-iron balconies, the Pinang Peranakan Mansion is a sight to behold. Venture into this replica of a 19th-century, upper-class home for an insider's look at the grandeur enjoyed by wealthy Straits Chinese in the past. The grand mansion houses more than 1,000 antiques and collectibles, and you will notice gorgeous Asian lacquer ware boxes and trays, Chinese prints, and antique European furniture as you stroll through the grand entrance hall. The luxurious dining hall recreates a sumptuous Chinese dinner with its teak furniture and exquisite European dinner service.
Formerly the residence of a prominent Chinese Straits immigrant who made his fortune in mining, the mansion was built towards the end of the 19th century using a fusion of tiles from England, intricate ironwork from Scotland, and decorative Chinese wooden panels.
Admire the elaborate cast-iron handrails as you walk up the staircase to the bedrooms, where numerous antiques are strewn about, as if the lady of the house had left them there and stepped out just for a moment. Take a peek into the bridal chamber, decked out with essentials for wealthy women like lavish silk bedclothes, opulent bracelets, hair pins and sandals. Family portraits hung on the walls in the hall tell a tale of the privileged dwellers of the mansion, while balconies offer a view over the street. Don't miss out the family temple included in the admission price.
For a better understanding of the objects on display and to learn about those who lived amongst all this affluence, join a guided tour given by insightful volunteers, offered twice daily.
Pinang Peranakan Mansion is located on Church Street, in Georgetown and can be accessed by the free Central Area Transit (CAT) shuttle bus, which stops at major attractions in the Georgetown district. Open daily except for Sundays and public holidays, the mansion charges an entry fee.
