MY 2 HOURS AT PINANG PERANAKAN MANSION

*Please make sure you view the ENTIRE post; it’s a visual feast! Thank you!*

Heritage.

Opulence.

Grandeur.

Heritage…Opulence…Grandeur –all in one roof.
Pinang Peranakan Mansion is impressively stunning!
With just an entrance fee cheaper than a venti of Starbucks Coffee, ten ringgit actually (RM10 =PhP 140 or USD 3.16), I took the chance to spend a couple of hours inside this fantastic place with Chinese carved wooden panels, English floor tiles and Scottish ironworks and a thousand and more fascinating pieces. I freely wandered and marveled inside Pinang Peranakan Mansion at my own pace, without time limit. In an instant, my senses were brought back to the bygone era when the Peranakans, also known as Babas and Nyonyas, reigned as a community of acculturated Chinese unique to this part of the world.


Tucked in the heart of George Town, in Church Street or Lebuh Gereja, the mansion in mint green was beautifully restored to its glory meant to be enjoyed by the present and future generations.

The mansion’s second floor boasts of the Bridal Chamber, Family Hall, Glass room and an enormous display of finest porcelains.
But before your steps take you to these lifestyle galleries, must comply….


An ornately decorated bedroom is transformed into a bridal gallery.


I had goosebumps when I saw these…LOL! 😀

If you’re into Tagalog movies back in the 80s, you’ll know what I mean if I state that this room reminds me of “Mga Kwento ni Lola Basyang” that starred the late Chichay and a cast of Regal babies, haha!
I saw 3 ladies who surely look like tourists staring at these…

My attention was focused for few minutes at this telly. Imagine if cable TV had already existed during the 1900s, made me think who would have starred at what show?

The Pinang Peranakan Mansion is apparently a home of affluent people. This thought dawned on me upon the sight of these antique golf clubs and genuine leather suitcases. A tangible proofs of Peranakan’s passion for traveling and sports that present day Tiger Woods champions…

The other bedrooms at the second level have colonial pillar bed with canopy…

and Chinese opium bed adorned with silk pillows and eye-catching tassels…

These pieces are so Oriental! I like! 🙂



I think these Mandarin hats would suit me, haha!

In the Family Hall, no corner was overlooked…

Enormous paintings lord the walls…

Love seat in the middle of the finest porcelain collections…

Tina would definitely LOVE these. On both right and left wings of the mansion’s second level, are voluminous collection of Nyonya famille rose porcelain and the Nyonya’s jewelries…


The Peranakan jewelries are a spectacular collection. Gold craftmanship at its best!

I also found myself walking into several rooms that feature history and crafting of Peranakan shoes. The displays are encased in glass cabinets and apparently, there’s an IMELDIFIC in all Babas and Nyonyas!


Reminds me of my late maternal grandmother’s alphombra slippers…

Every spot has a story to tell and interesting things to showcase. I wish they’re properly labeled and tagged to elaborately state the history and whatnot of the items on display. Nevertheless, let’s just leave it for its improvement.

It was my first time to see a gallery of artworks with glass used as medium. The small room left me in awe.

I know of all the media in sculpture and other forms of artwork, it is glass as the most difficult to use. I don’t know if I already professed it here in this blog that it is one of my wishful thinking to own an Orlina someday. But of course, that’s a luxury and I can go to my grave without it…
Moving on with the dreamy delicate room…

It is only in the second level of the mansion where footwears aren’t allowed. Slippers or shoes can be worn as visitors and tourists admire the exquisite rooms and interesting things on the first floor…
Pinang Peranakan Mansion’s first level houses the Main Hall, some more galleries and Dining Halls.
I cannot imagine myself eating champorado at tuyo in this elegantly set Dining Hall, LOL! 😀

Tina will agree again– One thing Peranakans, Tina and I have in common : the ultimate LOVE for COFFEE! ..particularly after meals *hinanapan talaga ng koneksyon, haha!* 😀

The Central Courtyard is so similar to Cheong Fatt Tze’s. Feng Shui principles were carefully followed maintaining a sacred ground for Yin and Yang…

The Central Courtyard has an open airwell with aristocratic but non-intimidating ambience. Ray of sunshine kisses its ground. Bonsai trees are strategically placed in its corner to provide greens and follow Feng Shui.

Beautiful cuts of Mother of Pearl are embedded in dark wooden furnitures. Nice! Nice! Nice!!!

Can you spot me?

I love the fusion of Chinese arts in gold and dark wood made into panels!

And it’s even more wonderful to see those amazing wood and gold panels as part of this traditional main hall…

The experience was more like being in a movie scene…it’s actually SURREAL!

Either you’re already bored and overloaded with photos (which I cannot discard but post to share!) or have been infected with fascination with Pinang Peranakan Mansion as I did…so, which is which? 😀
The mansion has annexe that visitors could missed if they’re in a hurry or something.

Still within the compound, a Nyonya kitchen is located a few steps from the facade of the mansion. It has a small cafeteria that’s fully operational; visitors can enjoy a cup of kopi and other local delicacies and dishes.
This altar-looking-for-chefs and cooks is for me the center of attraction in the Nyonya Kitchen…lovely, is it not?

How many kitchens keep antique baby strollers as display?

My insight here was Peranakan mothers used to cook and prepare dishes for their families with their little ones by their side. Sweet!
The Nyonya Kitchen is also made of these…

I don’t know with you, but I love seeing wooden shutters, so eclectic!

And you thought the Nyonya Kitchen that’s dissociated from the main house is the last attraction of the Pinang Peranakan Mansion. Think again! As you exit this intricate door from where food was being cooked decades ago, a somewhat hidden path will secretly lead you to discover The Chung Keng Kwee Ancestral Temple.

First thing that came to my mind was the Catholic Chapel inside our very own Malacanan in the Philippines. Indeed, even rich and powerful people make efforts to strengthen faith. How inspiring!

The main altar of this Ancestral temple…

That typical wooden panel below the pillars that serve as entrance is common in Chinese temples. I’ve learned that as one tries to pass on it by lifting his feet one after the other, he or she is bowing to the main altar and thus respect and veneration are given.

The main doors of the temple have gigantic paintings of Chinese figures, they appear larger than life literally and figuratively…

Serenity exudes in the central courtyard of the temple…It’s an excellent souvenir as you leave Pinang Peranakan Mansion. 😀

Admittedly, my family and I (my wife, our kid and my parents who were here for a break during those times) had a great time on our visit to a similar heritage mansion here in Pulau Pinang a few months back. Although The Cheong Fatt Tze Blue Mansion has its own charm not only because it’s a B&B hotel that Pinang Peranakan is not, CFT is more of a museum because of the presence of an excellent curator (Ms. Sally aka Lyn Fong); but the guests are only allowed to stay within the CFT Mansion for the one-hour-tour-duration with no photography allowed unlike in Pinang Peranakan Mansion unless you reserve a room and stay for at least a night. Nonetheless, I’ll take both of these mansions over watching a movie; they’re really worth the visit!