The Clan Jetties Penang are unique Chinese settlements that have been around since the 19th century.
Billed as one of the last bastions of old Chinese settlements on the island, this waterfront community is home to houses on stilts erected by various Chinese clans.
Clan Jetties Penang’s ‘clan jetties’ are Chinese water villages and form part of the Penang Heritage Trail.
The Clan Jetties represent another way of living near the sea and on water.
The descendants of these Chinese immigrants share the same beliefs!
George Town’s gems are a living heritage with valuable cultural and historical significance, which earned the city recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2008.
Location of the Clan Jetties Penang
Penang’s Clan Jetties are located along the southern stretch of the island’s coastal road, Weld Quay. In the early years, the settlements were created as part of a massive reclamation project in George Town.
In the 19th century, Chinese immigrants mostly came to Penang from the Tong An district in China’s Fujian province to seek a better life.
Prayer Altars outside the homes at the Clan Jetties in Penang.
History of the Clan Jetties Penang
Penang Port was one of the major ports in Malaya. During British rule, the clan jetties along Weld Quay were built to house the Chinese laborers who worked at the harbor.
After the construction of the Quay in 1882, the waterfront was developed with short public landing stages or jetties.
Settlements grew on these foundations, which were used for loading and unloading goods and mooring sampans (boats).
Built with the bare necessities, the jetty settlements were started by squatters who didn’t have basic amenities like water and electricity.
After the Penang municipal elections in 1957, the clan jetties got piped water and electricity.
Before that, the villagers used to carry water in kerosene tins from a tap on the main road.
When the government first developed the jetties, a shed was built to provide shelter and rest for those waiting for the cargo sampans’ arrival.
This shed was converted into a communal house when the clans took over the jetties.
The close-knit community lived in clusters or villages by their surnames. The houses were built as attap-roofed wooden houses on stilts with anchored sampans for the men who worked as coolies, fishing or ferrying passengers or goods from nearby ships.
From more than 20 clan jetties back in the day.
Seven different clans still reside at the Clan Jetties: the Lim, Chew, Tan, and Yeoh jetties are the oldest, and the Koay, Lee, and Mixed Surname jetties were built afterward.
Two clan jetties — Koay, whose residents were Chinese Muslims, and Peng Aun — were demolished in 2006 to make way for development.
After a Chinese clan, each jetty is named. The Chew Jetty is the most tourist-friendly, with the most stilt houses and the longest walkway.
The Hean Boo Thean Kuan Yin Temple is popularly known as the floating Kuan Yin Temple. The best time to visit is during sunset.
Of the seven remaining jetties saved by the UNESCO listing, many struggle to keep up with the pace of modernity, and some even compromise on their identities.
The wooden houses on stilts extending out to the sea are still there, but many now have zinc roofs.
Image: Chew Jetty Facebook
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Major transportation hubs are still located along Weld Quay today.
- Swettenham Pier
- Raja Tun Uda Ferry Terminal
- Rapid Ferry Terminal
- Rapid Bus Terminal
Village Living in the Clan Jetties
The small villages with wooden huts lining wooden walkways are characterized by old traditions and prayer altars outside the front door to sea-facing temples for the residents’ spiritual needs. These water villages are over a century old.
Village life is now very different.
The once quiet afternoons punctuated by the sounds of clogs on the wooden walkways, the lively chatter of batik sarong-wrapped elderly ladies, and laughing children came with the jarring changes in the wake of the UNESCO World Heritage site recognition.
The traditional houses built on stilts made them look as if they were forever stuck in a capsule.
Many homes on the jetty have been converted into souvenir shops.
Residents sell everything from hats of every shape and size, souvenirs, bowls of noodles, snacks, and drinks to specialty ice cream.
The residents have lost their privacy with the din of vendors and tourists milling about along the main path.
The jetties are major tourist sites – It is now a cross between tourist shops and people’s houses.
Tourists are welcome and are free to stroll about the wooden piers.
Best Time to Visit the Clan Jetties Penang
The clan jetty’s visiting hours are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Don’t go too early, as the shops don’t open until 10:30 a.m.
The best way to experience the village life of the Clan jetties is to live there. You can book a stay or rent a simple room here.
The best time of day to experience the Clan Jetties is early in the morning, around 7 a.m.
If you stay, you can witness the locals going about their daily morning rituals.
You can witness morning prayer at the home altar or the temples.
The housewives prepare food for their families. School children and workers are going to work.
While these traditional jetty houses were pleasing to the eye, visitors should note that the homes belong to the locals, and taking pictures of their residence was prohibited.
Be mindful when you take pictures. Do be respectful and ask for permission before clicking.
The best time for photography is to wait for sunset.
You will be rewarded d with a spectacular splash of orange that contrasts beautifully with the turquoise-blue sea.
If you’re lucky, you may get a shot of a sampan in the foreground.
Image: Oscar Ng Facebook
Location of Clan Jetties Penang
The Clan Jetties are located close to the Penang ferry terminal.
The entrance to the jetties is through the temple on the quayside.
You walk there from KOMTAR.
A trishaw ride costs a few ringgits.
You can also take RapidPG bus numbers 307 and 401E from KOMTAR.
Nearby exciting places include Pengkalan Weld (Weld Quay) near the Swettenham Pier.
If you decide you want to visit Chew Jetty and the many other exciting places in Penang
Source:
CLAN JETTIES – George Town World Heritage Inc.
Clan Jetties UNESCO Listing Boon or Bane?
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