Coming together: Festival-goers walking through the festivities during Penang Miaohui 2025 in George Town. — LIM BENG TATT/The Star
GEORGE TOWN: The streets within the heritage enclave here was transformed into a cultural wonderland and brightly lit with red lanterns for an annual temple festival known as Penang Miaohui 2025.
Spanning across 12 heritage streets in the Unesco World Heritage Site, the event showcased Penang’s Chinese heritage through performances, arts, interactive exhibitions and culinary delights
This year’s theme, “Penang Lang, Let’s Celebrate,” placed an emphasis on inclusivity. Lang is Hokkien for people.
The festival was divided into four thematic segments – Heaven, Earth, Human, and Harmony – each offering unique cultural experiences.
More than 20 historic clan houses opened their doors, inviting visitors to immerse themselves in ancestral stories, traditional handicrafts and centuries-old customs.
“Penang Miaohui began as a small community celebration 26 years ago. Today, it has grown into a nationally celebrated cultural highlight,” said Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow who launched the event.
He commended it for its significance in preserving heritage while fostering unity.
“Over the years, it has transcended racial boundaries, becoming a festival enjoyed by all communities.”
Penang Miaohui, he said, is more than just a festive celebration.
“It is a journey into our traditions and an embrace of our rich cultural heritage.”
Chow said that this year’s theme had aligned well with the choice of George Town’s heritage precinct as the venue.
“We hope everyone feels the profound significance of the ancestral clan halls and guilds here.“These venues once served as sanctuaries for our ancestors who arrived from China, filled with dreams and aspirations.
“Their stories, wisdom and sacrifices are embedded in these historic walls, waiting to be heard, understood and passed down,” he said.
A highlight of this year’s festival was the introduction of Ru Yi, a snake mascot symbolising the Year of the Snake.
The annual event, which has evolved into a premier Chinese New Year celebration, welcomed an estimated 200,000 visitors this time.
There were lion dances, Chinese opera, and interactive workshops that provided hands-on experiences with calligraphy, paper cutting, and lantern-making.
Among the visitors was Chinese tourist Zhang Weihao, 34, an architect from Guangzhou, who was captivated by the unique fusion of traditions here.
“It was an incredible experience at the calligraphy workshop, where I learned how traditional Chinese characters evolved in Malaysia.
“The open-house concept was very welcoming, and I got to taste some unique Nyonya-style snacks, which I have never tried before,” he said.
Comparing the festival to Chinese New Year celebrations back home, Zhang was impressed with how multicultural it was here.
“In China, we celebrate in a more uniform way depending on the region, but here in Penang, Chinese traditions have been shaped by history and interactions with Malay and Indian cultures.“It is interesting to see how well-preserved some customs are, even after generations of migration,” he said.
As for engineer Lim Wei Sheng, 42, from Jelutong, he said: “I’ve been attending Miaohui for many years, but it felt extra special because I brought my wife and two kids along this year to celebrate our heritage.
“We took part in the traditional calligraphy workshop which my children had so much fun learning how to write auspicious Chinese characters with a brush.
“It reminded me of the time my grandfather used to teach me calligraphy. Seeing them so engaged with our culture made me really proud,” he said.
The event was graced by Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Ahmad Fuzi Abdul Razak.
Also present were Deputy Finance Minister Lim Hui Ying, Consul-General of People’s Republic of China in Penang Zhou Youbin and Penang Chinese Clan Council chairman Ho Swee Choon.
