Penang New Year Flavor: Searching for the Old Nanyang Dreams and Childhood Dreams

As I grew up, I always felt that the school atmosphere was getting stronger and the Spring Festival atmosphere was getting weaker. I didn’t expect to find the childhood atmosphere in Penang. I sighed that the time here seemed to be frozen in the past. I was looking for an old dream in Southeast Asia. The Chinese who crossed the ocean still retained the Chinese tradition in Penang. Those quaint and exquisite ancestral hall buildings, the high-hanging red lanterns, and the small boats drifting on the sea have endless old stories. Penang is very suitable for those who are traveling abroad for the first time. In addition, if you are from the Chaoshan area in southern Fujian, the cultural atmosphere here will make you feel more familiar. 💁‍♀️Recommend several free ticket must-visit attractions: Georgetown Art Street, also known as Mural Street 💡💡Recommendation reason: The streets and alleys are full of colorful murals, each of which tells the story of Penang. Time seems to have stopped in the past, with big red lanterns, worn-out bicycles and tricycles, and you can also browse snacks and souvenir shops on the street. Surname Bridge 💡💡Reason for recommendation: In the past, when the Chinese came to Penang, they made a living by the sea, built bridge boards, and constructed houses. People with the same surname lived on the same bridge, so it was called the Surname Bridge. Walking on the creaking bridge planks, passing by the houses living on the water, every household has a shrine, retaining the custom of worshiping gods just like in the Chaoshan area in southern Fujian. You can sit at the end of the bridge and enjoy the sea breeze. Opening hours: 9:00-21:00 Batu Ferringhi Beach, also known as Batu Ferringhi Beach🏝️ 💡💡Recommendation reason: Watching the sunset in the evening, accompanied by the cool sea breeze and the surging white waves, is very photogenic. There are restaurants next to the beach where you can eat seafood, watch the torch show, and feel the leisurely atmosphere of the seaside. 🍝Food recommendations: There are night markets in George Town or near the seaside, and you can hardly go wrong with the food. Fried crabs, nasi lemak, bak kut teh, fried kway teow, laksa, durian, etc. are all available here. Don’t miss it! 🏨Accommodation recommendation: In George Town, I stayed at the Sunway Georgetown Hotel Penang, which has an outdoor swimming pool and has a high overall cost-effectiveness. I stayed at the DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Penang near Batu Ferringhi Beach. Although it didn’t have a first-line sea view, I could see the sea view from the room and the overall price/performance ratio was good.