Clan Jetties of George Town

From the late nineteenth century Chinese immigrants working the Penang waterfront built houses on stilts out over the water along Weld Quay, and they organised by surname: the Chew Jetty, the Lee Jetty, the Tan, Lim, Yeoh and Koay jetties, each a plank walkway running out into the harbour with houses on both sides and a shrine at the end, each occupied by one clan. Several survive as living settlements, part of the George Town World Heritage inscription. Chew Jetty is the longest and by far the most visited, now lined with souvenir stalls and cafes; the others are quieter and remain almost entirely residential, which is worth remembering when walking down them. One jetty was lost to fire in 2021. The view back at the George Town skyline from the end is the standard photograph.

What you actually see

• Plank walkways over water - houses on piles running out into the harbour.
• One surname per jetty - Chew, Lee, Tan, Lim, Yeoh and Koay settlements.
• Shrines at the jetty ends - the small temples over the water.
• A skyline view back - George Town from the end of the boards.

When to go

All year; early morning or late afternoon; Chew Jetty is quietest early. Two hours.

Honest expectations

Most jetties are people's homes, not attractions - do not photograph into houses. Chew Jetty is commercialised and crowded. Boards are uneven and gappy; watch your footing.

Nearby

The George Town heritage core, Fort Cornwallis and the ferry terminal are close.