One of the most iconic things to see and visit is the Penang clan jetties. I found out about them while doing my research on things to do in the city and I was really intrigued. For one, I’ve seen similar water villages in Brunei (the famous Kampong Ayer) and even in Kota Kinabalu which is in Sabah, Malaysia.
Penang clan jetties are still very much in use like these other spots and they also serve as accommodation for the locals. The intriguing layout, the history of the Penang clan jetties and the experience of walking through them is what draws tourists to them every day. There are however a couple of things that you really should know before you visit them.
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Quick Resource Guide For Street Food In Penang
If you are headed to Penang and want to explore the food scene here, these resources will help you plan your trip with ease.
Accommodation In George Town
George town is the best place to stay in because you are close to all the activity and to the best spots for street food in Penang. You can literally walk everywhere!
- Luxury: Cheong Fatt Tze – The Blue Mansion and Macalister Mansion.
- Mid Range: Campbell House and Hutton Central Hotel By PHC
- Budget: Carnarvon House
Best Food Tours In Penang
Street food in Penang is definitely one of the biggest allures and taking a tour to see the local culinary perspective is always a great idea. These are the top food tours on the island.
- Food Tour at Penang – Eat Like a Local, Feel Like a Local
- Penang Harmony Food Trail
- Dinner at Penang Hill
- Penang’s Night Eat – Venture Vespa Food Tour
- Private Dinner at the top with Skywalk Experience
Penang Clan Jetties: Table Of Contents
- History Of The Penang Clan Jetties
- How Many Clan Jetties Are There In Penang?
- Fun facts about the Penang Clan Jetties
- Penang Clan Jetties Entrance Fee
- Etiquette At The Penang Clan Jetties
- Food At The Penang Clan Jetties
- Most Popular Penang Clan Jetties: Chew Jetty
History Of The Penang Clan Jetties
The Penang clan jetties have an interesting history behind them. By now you probably know that I love to dig into the history of every place that I visit. The jetties are little water villages which were established in the 19th century when the Chinese migrants arrived in Penang.
Each of the families or clans established their own jetties and built their houses along these jetties. It was a convenient arrangement for them because most of the Chinese were involved in jobs that revolved around boats and docks. By staying close to the waterfront, they did not have to commute much and they got to live close to their families and clans.
There were initially 9-10 clan jetties. I’m not really sure how many because some of the documents that we read said both. Either way, a couple of these jetties were destroyed and today only 7 of them are left standing.
How Many Clan Jetties Are There In Penang?
There were 9 Penang clan jetties. Each one of them may seem similar but they are marked with subtle differences that differentiate one clan from the other. Unfortunately, 2 of the Penang clan jetties were demolished. Today there are 7 Penang clan jetties that are still standing. The names of the jetties are as follows.
- Chew clan jetty Penang
- Ong clan jetty Penang
- Lee clan jetty Penang
- Tan clan jetty Penang
- New clan jetty Penang
- Yeoh clan jetty Penang
- Lim clan jetty Penang
- Peng Aun Jetty Penang
- Koay clan jetty Penang
What To Expect In The Penang Clan Jetties
The iconic view of the Penang clan jetties.
The clan jetties are very interesting. They have loads of houses that are built over water and are interconnected using over-water wooden paths. These houses have all the amenities that you would expect on land. This includes electricity, phone lines, water supply, etc. I’ve even seen people ride their motorbikes on the wooden platforms and park them next to their houses.
Some of the larger jetties like the Chew jetty even have shops that you can stop at and buy trinkets from. Most of the jetties have a temple at the very end. These temples are lit up at night and look really pretty.
The one issue with these overwater structures is sewage disposal. Unfortunately this is taken care of by the sea.
Fun Facts About Penang Clan Jetties
Most of the Penang Clan jetties have gorgeous temples. This one if from Chew jetty.
- Peng Aun jetty Penang and Koay clan jetty Penang were the two jetties that were demolished.
- Ong clan jetty Penang is almost deserted.
- Chew clan jetty Penang is the most popular of the Penang clan jetties and caters to the tourists.
- The oldest Penang clan jetties are the Chew clan jetty, the Yeoh clan jetty and the Lim clan jetty.
- The New clan jetty Penang isn’t just one clan but is home to multiple families.
- Yeoh clan jetty Penang was bombed in World War II.
- The Lee clan jetty Penang was relocated in 1960. This was done to make the Penang ferry terminal.
Penang Clan Jetties Entrance Fee
There is no entrance fee to the clan jetties. You can enter the jetties during the day as long as you are mindful of the people who live in the area.
Etiquette At The Penang Clan Jetties
There is some base etiquette that you should follow when you visit the clan jetties. For one thing, you must understand that while for you this may be a tourist attraction, it is still a residential area. This means that you will find people going about their daily lives.
- Do not stare or click photographs of people living there without their permission.
- This should go without saying but do not damage property.
- Do not make noise.
- Many of the jetties have their own temples. Be respectful.
- Do not litter.
Food At The Penang Clan Jetties: Tan Jetty Thai Food Restaurant
One of the best places to eat at the Penang Clan jetties is the Tan Jetty Thai Food Restaurant.
There are a lot of great places to catch a bite at the Penang Clan jetties. You will come across a lot of great spots to sit down for a bite along the main road. One place that I really have to suggest is the Tan Jetty Thai food restaurant. We stopped at this restaurant to celebrate our daughter’s third birthday.
The food here was delicious. It was some of the best Thai food that I have tried outside Thailand. You really should try the hotpots. They do take a lot of time to prepare them if it is crowded but that is largely because they run out of hotpots to serve in!
Another great thing about the Tan Jetty Thai Food Restaurant is the ambiance. It has a gorgeous view and is very laid back. It is a place for people to talk, connect and interact with their friends. Our kids loved it! They loved the food too. It was the perfect place for a birthday celebration.
Most Popular Penang Clan Jetties: Chew Jetty
One of the most popular murals at the Chew jetty.
The Chew jetty is one of the most popular Penang clan jetties and is the considered the best one for tourists to visit. This jetty is controlled and maintained by the Chinese Chew family. The entrance to the jetty is easy to locate. There is a lovely temple at the entrance.
We actually spent a little while here because it was pouring and it was the only place that had shelter. The children loved examining the different paintings and sculptures. Its one of the iconic things to do in Penang.
The Chew jetty has a wooden boardwalk that takes you out towards the sea. On either side you will find houses that are relatively well maintained. Unlike the other jetties, the Chew jetty has a number of shops that sell souvenirs to tourists.
The Chew jetty also has some really cool murals and street art. Keep your eye out for them. Again, unfortunately for us, I couldn’t take a lot of photographs of them since it was pouring.
The last interesting part about the Chew jetty is the temple at the end of the jetty. It is gorgeous. In fact, we actually caught sight of it all lit up when we were seated at the Tan Jetty Thai Food restaurant. Trust me, it does not matter whether you visit in the afternoon or the night. The temple will really wow you!