George Town is the capital city of the island and state of Penang, on the west coast of peninsular Malaysia.
It is the second largest city in Malaysia and was listed by UNESCO in 2008 as a ‘World Heritage Site’, together with fellow former Straits Settlement, Malacca.
It has a history dating back to the beginnings of British colonialism in South-East Asia in the 18th century, with its multi-cultural appeal reflected in its architecture, festivities and food.
Touted as the food capital of Malaysia, George Town offers an amazing array of street food, blending Malay, Chinese, Indian, Thai and European influences.
Penang’s modern history began in 1786, upon the establishment of George Town by Francis Light. Penang formed part of the Straits Settlements in 1826, which became a British crown colony in 1867.
Direct British rule was only briefly interrupted during World War II, when Japan occupied Penang; the British retook Penang in 1945.
Penang is known for being the “food paradise” of Malaysia with a wealth of street food or “hawker food” that emphasizes noodles, spices, and fresh seafood.
Penang was later merged with the Federation of Malaya (now Malaysia), which gained independence from the British in 1957.
Following the decline of its entrepôt trade towards the 1970s, Penang’s economy was reoriented towards hi-tech manufacturing.
In 2012, as part of the George Town Festival, Lithuanian artist Ernest Zacharevic created a series of 6 wall paintings depicting local culture, inhabitants and lifestyles.
In addition, several wrought iron caricatures have been installed within George Town, with each caricature detailing the city’s history and the daily lives of its inhabitants.
In recent years, the street art scene has also begun to grow out of the city, in areas such as Balik Pulau and Butterworth.
