For nine-year-old Amelia Tan, this Chinese New Year offered a moment of quiet transformation.
Standing before a mirror at the Penang International Commercial City (PICC) festive open house, she saw herself for the first time in a hanfu – the flowing, traditional attire of the Han Chinese that dates back four millennia.
“When she saw the booth, she immediately asked if she could dress up,” said her mother, Clarisse Tan, 44, a local restaurateur.
The silk and embroidery were “very beautiful” to Amelia; a tangible link to the figures she had previously only seen on television.
For her mother, the moment held more weight.
“It was a chance for Amelia to learn about her culture and tradition,” she said.
The Chinese New Year open house hosted by Hunza Properties Bhd drew a large crowd to the PICC sales gallery in Bayan Lepas.
Against a backdrop of festive songs and the rhythmic thrum of wushu performances, 24-season drums and war drums, families queued for a glimpse of a heritage being reimagined for a modern audience.
The celebration was anchored by a yee sang tossing ceremony, led by company founder Datuk Seri Khor Teng Tong, group chief executive officer Datuk Lily Tan and executive director Khor Tze Ming.
Beyond the high-pole lion dances and appearances by the God of Prosperity, the event’s treasure hunt theme saw visitors tracking clues across checkpoints to unlock “Lucky Golden Horse” treasure boxes.
Festive treat tastings and a “Golden Guess Challenge”, where visitors guessed the number of gold coins and ingots in a mystery box, drew hundreds over the two days.
However, the festivities also served as a window into the rapid transformation of the local landscape.
The event was live-streamed to international audiences, showcasing “Senze@PICC”, a serviced residence that forms part of a masterplan aimed at capturing Penang’s “Golden Five Years” (2025-2030).
The first 10 homeowners in the Hunza DoubleUp biannual lucky draw received RM50,000 in rewards.
With Penang on the cusp of major infrastructure overhauls – including the Mutiara LRT Line, airport expansion and the Penang Silicon Island project –Teng Tong said the company is positioning PICC as a central hub.
“With Penang’s major infrastructure upgrades taking shape, such opportunities are rare.
“The event gives homebuyers and investors the chance to secure a strategic foothold early and reap the long-term benefits,” he said.
Visitors toured the models of the fully furnished homes set to be linked to a future shopping mall and an LRT station.
The development features up to 70 facilities, smart home systems and layouts aimed at young professionals and families.
