A series of wooden jetties like fingers reaching into the sea. Lined with modest houses, shops, and cafes, the stilted villages provide a glimpse into Penang's Chinese community of yesteryear. Each 100-year-old jetty belongs to a Chinese family or "clan" who originally moved to Penang to construct Weld Quay, a large port required for the island's booming economy.
Today, 6 jetties with ranging levels of preservation remain. A 7th was destroyed by fire while some others appear weather-worn and are home only to local fishermen. The best-maintained structure, the Chew Jetty is the center of Penang's Chinese New Year celebrations and a popular destination for tourists to shop and snack. Each jetty has a private Buddhist temple for the family to pray and place offerings.
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Look Around
Humble fishing boat
Shack at the end of Tan jetty
Tan jetty entrance
View of a neighboring jetty
Market stalls lining Chew jetty
Wall murals at Chew Jetty
Chew jetty waterfront
Fishing boats
Cafes and snack stallsWho Will Like Weld Quay Clan Jetties
Retail Therapist
Visit the Chew Jetty to pick up a souvenir t-shirt, keyring, postcard, or colorful canvas "Penang" bag at the lowest possible price. Other markets and shops on the island sell the same items for more.
Culture Buff
Peek into the history of Penang's Chinese community with traditional stilt houses and community-centric villages that have barely changed in the past century. Notice the soothing aroma of incense from the small Buddhist temples, one for each clan.
Photography Whiz
Wander along each jetty for landscapes of the unique structures and portraits of fascinating locals, providing they express permission of course.
Insider Tips For Weld Quay Clan Jetties
- Visit early in the morning to avoid crowds and observe locals going about their daily routine and preparing offerings for prayer.
- The most popular jetties to visit are the central Chew, and Tan jetties which also have the most cafes and food stands.
- Keep an eye out for some small but artistic wall murals at the Chew jetty.
- Download a copy of this PDF map on your phone from the official website to make navigating a bit easier, as signage is minimal.
- Chew jetty has some of the cheapest market stalls on Penang Island.
Video
How To Get There
Rideshare
Drivers drop off and pick up outside the Chew Jetty entrance.
BusContainer Hotel, Lebuh Chulia
10, 11, 12, 101, 200, 201, 202, 203, 204, 301, 302, 401, 401E, 502, AT
Walk 3 minutes southwest from bus station along Pengkalan Weld.
Trishaw
Drivers can drop off outside any jetty entrance. The most common is the Chew Jetty.
Tech & Photography
Wifi
Public wifi access: None
Photography
Photography allowed: Yesflash is ok
Tripod allowed: Yes
Selfie sticks allowed: Yes
Best time to shoot: Early Morning
Tips: A top-down drone shot of the striking red Mazu Temple, located at the end of the Tan Jetty, contrasted against the turquoise water, makes a beautiful image. While walking down the narrow jetties keep your camera ready in shutter priority mode (1/250 sec during the day) with continuous zone focus, so you're ready when an impromptu moment presents itself.
Drones
Drones allowed: Yes (subject to national/regional rules)
Bags
Backpacks allowed: Yes
Secured bag lockers available: No
Single shack at the end of Tan Jetty
View of Chew jetty
Looking back over George TownFood & Drink
Several Chinese food stalls are located at Weld Quay. Most are located on the road opposite the jetties or along the Tan and Chew Jetties. Stalls range from selling only bottled water and soft drink to specialties like coconut milkshakes (with coconut milk) and meals like noodle soup and fried chicken. There's even a live seafood restaurant at the front of the Chew Jetty.
Backstory
Named after former Governor of the Straits Settlements, Sir Fredrick Weld, Weld Quay was developed into a port with a series of landing jetties in 1882. Simple sheds were constructed along the jetties to provide shelter for workers, predominantly Chinese Hokkien immigrants, awaiting the arrival of larger cargo ships.
The immigrants shared common surnames, originating from similar hometowns. Immigration peaked in the early 1900s as poverty in China contrasted against Penang's booming rubber and tin industries. Immigrants used clan ties to secure employment, help, and protection, and the jetties' humble shelters soon became home to 7 competing clans. The Ong, Lim, Chew, and Lee clans used their shorefront locations to shuttle cargo for larger ships at sea while the Tans, Yeos, and Koays focused on charcoal and firewood trading.
The original Lee jetty was demolished to make way for the new ferry terminal during the 1960s and moved to its current location. A new, Mixed Surname Jetty was also constructed at a similar time. Two additional jetties constructed in the 1950s and 60s, the Koay and Peng Aun jetties, were demolished in 2006 to make way for high-rise housing developments.
Technically squatters, the clans were assured residential security by the British but following Malaysian Independence in 1957, issued Temporary Occupancy Licenses requiring renewal every year. Deeming the modest communities' lowly slums, authorities threatened demolition of the jetties several times during the 1900s. The clan jetties are now covered within Georgetown's World Heritage listing and as such, conserved.
Etiquette
- Ask permission before taking photos of locals, their homes, and temples.
- Watch your step as some wooden planks are missing or loose.
- Make lots of noise while walking near private homes.
- Disrespect or argue with locals.
Scorecard
- Glimpse into the history of traditional Chinese communities. The structures have barely changed in over 100 years.
- Unique stilt buildings and structures hat make interesting subjects for photographers.
- Different style and use of each jetty meaning there's always something interesting to see and explore.
- Cheap shopping opportunities on the Chew Jetty.
- Small, family-run Buddhist temples provide a refreshing change from larger, more elaborate temples.
- Prone to congestion due to the narrow boardwalks. Most commonly occurs on the Chew Jetty or around Chinese New Year.
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