Khoo Kongsi
Khoo Kongsi
4
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
1,783 reviews
Excellent
759
Very good
739
Average
232
Poor
31
Terrible
22
Harry Li
Guilin, China15 contributions
Feb 2023 • Friends
There are countless temples in my hometown China, but this temple is different from ALL of them in China. A fusion of Chinese, pernakan and Malay culture, very colorful doorways and decorations (that’s the biggest difference between Chinese temples in China and Penang). A little secret: If your family name is Khoo’邱’, just show your ID card and you can get in for free! And there are 3.9 million Chinese people who named Khoo all over the world.
Written 16 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
TravelDooey
Melbourne, Australia288 contributions
Dec 2022
Went early & we were literally the only ones there. The ornate detail on this temple was astonishing. I think better than any I have seen in any Asian country - including in China
Written 1 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
pilou12017
Basel, Switzerland15 contributions
Aug 2022
The part you can see is the actual temple, but it's only a small part of what was a huge complex housing hundreds of people at some point, all part of the Khoo Kongsi clan. There is a lot of information about the place, and it's very nicely done for you to understand the local culture, the role of the clans, and of course the role of the houses and temples. Loved visiting this!
Written 25 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Cliff D.
Singapore, Singapore7 contributions
Aug 2022
We visited the place in a hot afternoon. Good thing is that it's not crowded at all. There quite a lot to see. We took our time to absorb many aspects of Penang's history. Highly recommended.
Written 9 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
BABA JERRY KONG
Penang, Malaysia40 contributions
Nov 2021
The Khoo Kongsi is a large Chinese clan house with elaborate and highly ornamented architecture, a mark of the dominant presence of the Chinese in Penang.
Written 9 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
ellycmc7
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia270 contributions
Jan 2022
We went during non peak hours and had the entire place to ourselves. We were able to take our time to marvel at the carvings and paintings. Downstairs was a mini museum about the history of the building and the Khoo clan.
Written 25 February 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
saronic
Zurich, Switzerland25,859 contributions
Nov 2019
Off the small Cannon street is one of George Town's main attractions. Through a rather inconspicuous gate, where one pays an entrance fee of 10 MYR one comes to a square with granite flagstones. In front is a very ornate temple in typical Chinese architecture with upturned eaves at the roof corners and a more than usual opulent decoration. At the front are two lions guarding the temple, also made from granite.
On the sides are now boutique residences. The main sights here are the temple itself and an attached museum with interesting informations about the place. A 'Kongsi', a 'company' in the Hokkien dialect, which was prevalent among the Chinese of South East Asia, was meant to bind together people frome the same place and the same name. Here it was the Khoo from the village of Sin Kang in Fujian province, forming one of the 5 big clans in George Town.
Arriving mainly in the 19th century they belong to a second wave of immigrants, which was called by the already established Peranakan slighty derogatory as 'Sinkeh'. Through the Kongsi the members of a clan were able to worship their patron deities and ancestors, to reminisce about their roots, but also to help each other out, to find work for new arrivals and to develop business contacts. With time the Khoo became wealthy merchants, not the least thanks to the 'bamboo network' of the Chinese in South East Asia.
There were times, as during the Penang Riots 1867, when different clans were fighting each and then together the British, who managed to supress this revolt using Sepoys, Indian soldiers in the British Army. The British were suspicious of the so-called Chinese 'secret societies', but they soon made a difference between the benevolent Kongsi and the Hui, involved in illegal activities, from which the criminal Triads evolved.
On the sides are now boutique residences. The main sights here are the temple itself and an attached museum with interesting informations about the place. A 'Kongsi', a 'company' in the Hokkien dialect, which was prevalent among the Chinese of South East Asia, was meant to bind together people frome the same place and the same name. Here it was the Khoo from the village of Sin Kang in Fujian province, forming one of the 5 big clans in George Town.
Arriving mainly in the 19th century they belong to a second wave of immigrants, which was called by the already established Peranakan slighty derogatory as 'Sinkeh'. Through the Kongsi the members of a clan were able to worship their patron deities and ancestors, to reminisce about their roots, but also to help each other out, to find work for new arrivals and to develop business contacts. With time the Khoo became wealthy merchants, not the least thanks to the 'bamboo network' of the Chinese in South East Asia.
There were times, as during the Penang Riots 1867, when different clans were fighting each and then together the British, who managed to supress this revolt using Sepoys, Indian soldiers in the British Army. The British were suspicious of the so-called Chinese 'secret societies', but they soon made a difference between the benevolent Kongsi and the Hui, involved in illegal activities, from which the criminal Triads evolved.
Written 8 October 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Krithika
9 contributions
Sep 2020 • Couples
A beautiful ornate clan temple in the heart of Georgetown. The intricate carvings on the temple walls and ceiling are sure to leave you spellbound.
Written 9 September 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
OOISIANGLUN@SEU338E
123 contributions
Nov 2019
Khoo Kongsi is one of the most distinctive Chinese clan association in Malaysia. Khoo Kongsi is one of the Penang major historic attraction.
Written 12 June 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
VerityE
49 contributions
Dec 2019
This is a fantastic, ornate clan house that is well worth the visit. My family and I arrived when all the tourist groups had either left or not arrived and it was EMPTY. We wandered around and it was literally just my family. We really enjoyed exploring it and reading up on the history. The building is STUNNING.
The entry fee is very small and completely worth it. In my opinion, this is the best thing to see in Penang.
The entry fee is very small and completely worth it. In my opinion, this is the best thing to see in Penang.
Written 26 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
chanon s
4 contributions
เสียค่าเข้า 10 rm สถานที่สวยงามมาก แต่ถ่ายภาพได้ไม่สวยเพราะจอดรถกันเกะกะมากๆ
chanon s
4 contributions
เสียค่าเข้า 10 rm สถานที่สวยงามมาก แต่ถ่ายภาพได้ไม่สวยเพราะจอดรถกันเกะกะมากๆ
SurfingWild
Bandung, Indonesia40,034 contributions
Yes the place is inexpensive to enter and yes the parking lot is unattractive.
where_is_emily
Seattle, WA33 contributions
How long should you plan on spending here?
Charles_Phua
Singapore, Singapore180 contributions
It will depend on individual and how thorough one wants to be.
I would suggest around an hour or so to have a better view of the place. There are handful of things to see.
waterlily99
Melbourne, Australia3 contributions
I tried to visit today (Monday June 5) at 3.30pm Khoo Kongsi was closed. Is it temporarily closed? I am in Penang until June 8 and would like to visit.
aaru1980
34 contributions
Hi,
The temple is open till 5 pm, so you should be able to visit it. try choosing the morning time.
Lucille F
7 contributions
Is the Khoo Kongsi free entrance valid for the whole day of last Saturday of every month or only at night?
Thanks in advance =)
ibn_batuta_canada
Toronto, Canada310 contributions
How much is the entrance fee and visiting hours ?
Linda G
Melbourne, Australia119 contributions
Yes it was that price in September also
KHOO KONGSI (George Town) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go
Frequently Asked Questions about Khoo Kongsi
- Khoo Kongsi is open:
- Sun - Sat 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
- We recommend booking Khoo Kongsi tours ahead of time to secure your spot. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. See all 33 Khoo Kongsi tours on Tripadvisor
- According to Tripadvisor travellers, these are the best ways to experience Khoo Kongsi:
- Penang: Flexible 6-Hours Highlights (From RM 357.91)
- Penang: Flexible Full-Day Adventures (From RM 447.38)
- Penang: George Town City Half-Day Attractions (From RM 268.43)
- Private Half-Day George Town History Tour (From RM 232.64)
- Penang: Orang Utan Island & City Flexible Full Day Tour (From RM 693.44)
- Hotels near Khoo Kongsi:
- (0.15 km) B Street Hotel
- (0.15 km) Lang Hoose
- (0.07 km) Clans Kongsi Georgetown
- (0.18 km) Spices Hotel
- (0.09 km) Armenian House
- Restaurants near Khoo Kongsi:
- (0.05 km) Sambal 三佰
- (0.06 km) Picco Polo Cafe
- (0.16 km) SUPE - Georgetown Branch
- (0.11 km) My Own Cafe
- (0.08 km) Edelweiss Cafe