Dr Sun Yat Sen was the leader of the 1911 Chinese revolution, which established China as the first republic in Asia. He lived in George Town with his family for about six months in 1910. This house – the central meeting place for his political party – is now a museum documenting his time in Penang. Even if you’re not interested in history, it's worth a visit simply for a peek inside a stunningly restored antique shophouse.
Sun Yat Sen Museum
George Town
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
0.4 MILES
The most photographed building in George Town, this magnificent 38-room, 220-window mansion was built in the 1880s and rescued from ruin in the 1990s…
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Lovingly restored, this ostentatious, mint-green structure was one of the most stunning private residences in George Town. Every door, wall and archway is…
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The most spectacular clanhouse in George Town, Khoo Kongsi is an explosion of colour. Intricate ceramic mosaics of immortals, carp and dragons dance…
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Dedicated to Kuan Yin, goddess of mercy, this temple is the liveliest place of worship in George Town. The current temple was built in the early 19th…
4.71 MILES
Bordering one of Penang's two virgin rainforest reserves, the spine of this fantastic addition to the Penang Hill experience is a finely crafted 1.6km…
Nearby George Town attractions
1. Teochew Puppet & Opera House
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A family collection of puppets, costumes and traditional instruments form the basis of this charming specialist museum.
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The contents of a former portrait studio have been relocated to this shophouse on Lr Armenian. A guided tour escorts you to a camera obscura, more than…
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The main structure here, built in a curious art deco-meets-Straits-Chinese' style in 1924, is painted a distinctive shade of light green. It is not always…
0.08 MILES
Built in 1808 by a wealthy Arab trader, the Acheen St Mosque was the focal point for the Malay and Arab traders in this quarter – the oldest Malay kampung…
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This 1850 temple is dedicated to its patron deity, the Taoist God of Prosperity. Resplendent in red, gold and polished black columns, it has quite a few…
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The most spectacular clanhouse in George Town, Khoo Kongsi is an explosion of colour. Intricate ceramic mosaics of immortals, carp and dragons dance…
7. Batik Painting Museum Penang
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Penang artist Chuah Thean Teng is credited with applying the age-old local craft of batik (a dye-resist process) to making works of art. Several of his…
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Penang’s first Indian Muslim settlers, troops from the East India Company, built Masjid Kapitan Keling in 1801, named for the captain who had the idea…