GEORGE TOWN: The George Town Heritage Celebrations 2026 drew not only history buffs but also a community of junk journal enthusiasts eager to collect exclusive commemorative stamps for their memory books.
Among them were bank manager Winston Wang, 32, and his wife, Serene Zhang, 31, who travelled all the way from Inner Mongolia, China, just to collect the stamps for their journal.
“We were recently in Sarawak for the Rainforest World Music Festival when we heard that Penang would be celebrating Heritage Day,” Wang said.
He explained that he and his wife have travelled to several countries, including Singapore, Hong Kong and Malaysia to get commemorative stamps for their journal.
“Each stamp tells a story about the place and the occasion. When we add them to our journal, they become more than souvenirs; they preserve our travel memories,” he said.
Wang said the event offered a rare opportunity to obtain limited-edition stamps that reflected Penang’s rich history and cultural identity.
“It is not just about collecting stamps. We also enjoy learning about the heritage behind each design and meeting people who share the same interest,” he said.
The couple was met at Masjid Melayu Lebuh Acheh, one of 12 heritage buildings featured in the Historical Buildings Open House programme held in conjunction with the state-wide George Town Heritage Celebrations.
Junk journalling is a creative hobby combining scrapbooking, diary writing and memory keeping using vintage paper, tickets, stamps and other ephemera. The pastime has surged in popularity in recent years.
Another enthusiast, Zahirah Eizzaty Zamri, 27, from Bayan Lepas, said commemorative stamps collected during heritage events held sentimental value as they preserve memories of places and occasions.
“These stamps are more than decorations. Every one tells a story and reminds me where I collected it. That’s what makes a junk journal unique,” she said.
College student Jolyn Yeap, 22, and her friend Joee Yean, 22, arrived early at the heritage area yesterday to spend their break.
Yeap said they had so far visited the Datuk Koyah tomb, Nam Hooi Wooi Koon and the George Town World Heritage Incorporated (GTWHI) building to collect the commemorative stamps.
“We have learned a lot about history, which we really love,” she said.
Designer Chong Jian Xiong, 27, said he had travelled from Tanjung Tokong to attend the celebrations after learning about the exclusive stamp designs through social media.
“These are limited edition pieces that cannot be replicated. They become part of the journal and capture the spirit of the event.”
He said he walked from one historical building to another to collect the stamps while learning about the history and culture of Penang.
The Historical Buildings Open House programme, which ran from Sunday until today, was a highlight of the celebrations, giving the public rare access to 12 heritage buildings across the city where they could collect the stamps while learning about history and culture.
Organised by GTWHI, the four-day celebration marks the 18th anniversary of George Town’s inscription as a Unesco World Heritage Site, which is a state public holiday today.
