Born extremely poor in South China, Cheong Fatt Tze was doomed to grow up a farming peasant.
As fate would have it, the young teenager migrated to Indonesia after China went to war with England in 1856. Beginning as a simple shopkeeper, he eventually worked his way to owning his own trading company. Cheong Fatt Tze's three ships ran supplies of tea, coffee, and rubber between Penang and Sumatra. By the age of 37, Cheong Fatt Tze purchased a bank and joined the ranks of the rich.
Through simple perseverance and determination, a farmer boy had beaten the odds and grabbed life by the reigns. Throughout the course of Cheong Fatt Tze's illustrious life, he managed to serve as diplomat, business owner, minister to China, Consul-General in Singapore, and advisor to the Qing Dynasty rulers. He studied industrialization in the U.S. and carried the knowledge back to Southeast Asia. Cheong Fatt Tze is also given credit for founding Southeast Asia's first Chinese school sanctioned by the government.
Although his travels - and his eight wives - kept him away most of the time, Cheong Fatt Tze's prized residence is now open to the public in Georgetown, Penang. Today, the Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion is a beautifully restored work of art converted into a museum and homestay. In the year 2000, UNESCO awarded the mansion the coveted "Most Excellent Heritage Conservation Award".
History of the Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion
The Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion was constructed in the late 1800s. The building process was meticulously carried out over seven years by artists, architects, and feng shui experts brought from China. Such attention was placed on feng shui that the building is not even aligned correctly with the street that it sits on! The indigo-blue paint, made from dye imported from India, stands out in sharp contrast to the surrounding buildings in Georgetown. The mansion sadly sat in disrepair until it was purchased from Cheong Fatt Tze's descendants by a private group in 1989.
The Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion is considered one of only three remaining Qing Dynasty estates of its kind outside of China.
Visiting the Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion in Georgetown
The mansion sprawls across 56,000 square feet - nearly the same as the U.S. White House - with 38 rooms and five courtyards, however tours only cover a fraction of the site. The Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion is open daily between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Visitors may wander around the spacious courtyard and see the libraries, gardens, and ceremonial halls; no photographs are allowed inside.
The museum houses an impressive collection of fine sculptures, tapestries, and antiques from the colonial era.
Tours of the Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion
Historical tours of the mansion and museum can be arranged either at the entrance or by booking ahead. Tours are available between 11:00 a.m. and 3 p.m.; the fee is $4 per person. Photos are not allowed during the tour unless you are a guest.
Cheong Fatt Tze Homestay
For travelers desiring posh accommodation in a historical setting, the Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion operates a homestay of 16 rooms (compare rates). Although Wi-Fi works throughout the mansion, forget about the usual hotel amenities such as television, swimming pools, or even room numbers. Instead, each room portrays a unique theme designed by a local artist. Unlike tourists off the street, guests are allowed to wander much of the house freely and may take photographs.
Staying in the Cheong Fatt Tze mansion is a unique experience, much like getting permission to sleep in a museum! Breakfast is served in an elegant courtyard designed with only the best feng shui in mind.
The popularity of Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion and limited number of rooms mean that reservations must be made well in advance.
- Cheong Fatt Tze Homestay (compare rates)
Getting to the Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion
The Cheong Fatt Tze mansion is located in the northern part of Georgetown directly west of City Hall and Fort Cornwallis. Hard to miss because of the unique color, the mansion can be reached via a short walk along Lebuh Leith from Chinatown. If you do not feel like walking, both taxis and trishaw bicycles can be hailed anywhere in Georgetown.
The official address of the Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion is 14 Lebuh Leith, 10200 Georgetown, Penang.
- Read more about getting around Georgetown.
Contact
Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion
Phone: 04-262-0006
- Read about other things to do in Penang.