[Updated 2020] Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion @ Penang

I’d like to say that this tour at Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion has got to be the most value for money tour ever. With an entrance fee of RM 18 per person, I got to hear exciting stories and history about Cheong Fatt Tze (張弼士) and his blue Mansion from a plump middle aged lady for an hour. Her story telling skills surprised me and she’s quite funny.

Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion @ Penang

According to her, Cheong Fatt Tze was a successful Hakka Chinese businessman and politician back then and he is a person who believes strongly in Feng Shui. Many things about him are related to the number 8. For instance, he started building the mansion in 1880 and it took 8 years to complete the whole construction in 1888. The mansion consists of 38 rooms, 5 granite-paved courtyards, 7 staircases & 220 vernacular timber louvre windows. The place was once known as Lotus Flower Lane but there’s no lotus flower there anymore.

He also had 8 wives (WOW!). The tour guide even mentioned that it is a pity he only found his true love with his 7th wife when he was 60+ and she’s 18! But I was like: What?! Pity him? I pity his other wives more because he married them for business purposes! Further more, the tour guide did mention that he got the capital to start-up his business because his father-in-law was very wealthy.

She also explained about the architecture of the house but it is too long to explain here so I advice you to go there and listen it yourself :-p

Cheong Fatt Tze mansion has been sold in year 1989 after his 7th wife and her son died. He has made this condition in his will because he doesn’t want his beloved wife to be homeless after his death. His descendants has since emptied the mansion and sold it off. The property has now been privatized and the investors have put in a great amount of money in reconstruction and buying furniture that are similar with what the mansion previously had. In year 2000, Cheong Fatt Tze mansion has won UNESCO ‘Most Excellent’ Heritage Conservation Award. It is also a Boutique Heritage Hotel now so you can stay in this state of the art building.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tour available at 11am / 2pm / 3.30pm daily. Admission fee (price as at February 2020): RM 25 per adult, RM 12.50 per child under 12 years old Address: 14 Leith Street, 10200 George Town, Penang Tel: +604 262 0006 If you feel like staying in a Penang villa after seeing this mansion, follow this link: Penang villas