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One tourist attraction that
you should not miss when traveling in Malaysia is the remarkable Khoo Kongsi in
Penang. Located on Cannon Street, the elaborate Khoo Kongsi is by far the grandest
clan house on
the island. The forefathers of the Khoo family who
emigrated from South China built it as a clan house for
members of the Khoo family. The process of building it began around
1853 but was interrupted until it was finally completed
in 1898.
 The building was so magnificent that on its
completion, the roof caught fire because of its
resemblance, some believe, to the Emperor's Palace in
China. The building features a magnificent hall embellished with intricate carvings and richly
ornamented beams of the finest wood bearing the mark of
master craftsmen from China. The colors seen on its
walls are a mixture of bright colors painted using
traditional methods.
During the seventh lunar
month of the Chinese calendar, Chinese opera is held in
the front compound. Another unique characteristic of
this clan house is that the interior walls are inlaid
with gold leaves and has been classified as a heritage
Photo: Khoo Kongsi in Penang
building by the local municipality. The
Penang local government occasionally uses the area
around this famous tourist attraction to celebrate multi
cultural celebrations.
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