The old town of George Town, Malaysia was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008 for the variety of architectural styles from both East and West influences. The diversity of religious temples and churches from many religions is also legion.
My favorite styles, forgoing elegance and frills, are the Chinese Clan Jetties. Immigrant Chinese from the 1880's on were landing at the waterfront and assisting in loading and unloading cargo on the jetties. Simple housing built on the jetties (to avoid taxes from building on land) evolved into each clan having a unique jetty with diversified work.
Two of the original nine jetties were destroyed during urbanization, but having UNESCO status and increased tourism has helped save the other seven jetties. The information comes from signs in front of each jetty.
Ong Jetty - was never a residential jetty - it is now just a long pier at the beginning of the series of residential jetties.
Lim Jetty - Was once a large settlement but was destroyed by the Japanese in 1941. The homes were slowly rebuilt.
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| Home with fishing equipment at end of Lim Jetty |
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| Fun art on the side of a Chew Jetty residence/shop |
Tan Jetty - The ancestors of this clan were fisherman and oyster harvesters from a coastal village in China. This is one of the most scenic jetties.
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| Tan Jetty has a scenic long tail into the bay |
Lee Jetty - The ancestors of Lee Jetty came from impoverished villages. The ferry terminal is now at the site of the original jetty so it was moved in the 1960's to its present location.
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| Lee Jetty had decorative arches and newer homes |
New Jetty - Also called Mixed Jetty because it is home to people of various backgrounds and clans. Many people moved here from other jetties when this one was built in 1960.
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| New Jetty had neat houses with small alters on the wall next to each door |
Yeoh Jetty - The ancestors of Yeoh Jetty made a living by transporting goods ashore. The jetty was bombed during WW2 and many of the residents never returned.
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| View of the Floating Chinese Temple from Yeoh Jetty |
It was very fun seeing all these jetties and gaining a better understanding of their history. If you are intrigued, you can read much more in Wikipedia!
