GEORGE TOWN: Sunny weather, savoury food and rich local heritage are drawing waves of tourists from China to Penang during the Labour Day holiday.
The break, described as a “mini golden week”, runs from May 1 to 5.
Student Orange Liu, 25, said the durian season was a major draw as she and her coursemates got to enjoy the King of Fruits.
“We did our research beforehand and were excited to sample different varieties that are not easily found back home.
“Sharing durian together is both a culinary adventure and a memorable bonding experience,” she said.
Another favourite was the ever-popular char koay teow, which Liu said stood out for its depth of flavour.
“In the southern part of China, we have a dish with a similar name called chao he fen but the appearance and taste are completely different,” she said.
Liu said while both dishes use flat rice noodles, the Penang version is richer, more aromatic and packed with a wider variety of ingredients.
She said the smoky flavour from high-heat cooking, along with seafood, egg and seasoning, gives it a distinctive taste.
“We prefer the char koay teow here,” she added.
Liu said the sunny weather was another highlight, noting that their photos were taken against blue skies and lively streets.
“We like the sky here as it is clear and beautiful despite the heat.
“The bright conditions made it easy to enjoy outdoor activities throughout the day.
“The buildings are colourful and the streets are quite clean and well kept.
“The overall scenery is great for pictures, especially for social media,” said the Chinese studies student.
Close friends Liki Li and Lucy Xu, both 25, from Xiamen, said they had long wanted to visit Penang after seeing it depicted in a television drama a few years ago.
The colleagues from a forwarding company were in town with their spouses, children and extended family members, taking advantage of the short holiday to travel together.
“We watched the series The Little Nyonya, which was partially filmed here.
“It gave us a glimpse of the culture and scenery, and we’ve wanted to experience it in person ever since,” she said.
Xu said they had been making the most of their visit with a packed itinerary.
“We’ve been out and about all day, trying to take in as much of Penang as possible.
“Even though we’ve only been here for a day, we’ve already sampled nyonya kuih, cendol, char koay teow and Hokkien mee,” she said.
She added that the group was particularly drawn to the island’s atmosphere.
“We love the vibe here. It’s lively yet relaxed. We’re planning to visit several temples and local establishments before we head home in a few days,” she said.
Every year, millions of Chinese travellers take advantage of the Labour Day break to go on holiday, making the period popular for short-haul trips to nearby destinations, including Malaysia.
There are two longer golden weeks – during Chinese New Year and China’s National Day – each lasting seven days, which typically see even higher travel volumes.
