Despite so much changing around them over the years, the Clan Jetties of Penang have maintained their place on the George Town waterfront, and offer a fascinating window into the island’s past and present.
Dating back to the nineteenth century and the time when Chinese immigrants began arriving to Penang, the Clan Jetties are a direct link back to the island’s formative years. Having withstood external pressures from demolition and redevelopment, the jetties are now a tourist attraction but more importantly a place where the descendants of those early immigrants are continuing to live and work in the heart of George Town.
The Clan Jetties of Penang are a unique area of the island and one of our top recommended things to do in Penang.
The history of Penang’s Clan Jetties
The history of Penang’s clan jetties is tied directly to the history of Penang itself, with the same competing forces of tradition and progress having an impact on both.
When the first immigrants arrived from Southern China in the nineteenth-century, their main source of employment came from the sea so it seemed a natural fit to build jetties on the waterfront and establish floating villages where their fellow clan members could settle. And, by building on the water rather than land, they were exempt from paying property tax.
The development work on the nearby Weld Quay (and the accompanying land reclamation) helped the building process and soon several clan jetties jutted out into the sea, providing accommodation, family support, employment and a sense of community to those who made a life there.
A thriving area of the rapidly expanding city had been claimed for the Chinese community, helping to create a network of buildings from where trade, family, society and influence could be established. Over the next century, the clan jetties underwent rapid expansion as more immigrants arrived from China but they slowly began to feel the creeping tide of redevelopment that threatened not only the jetties, but also the rest of the George Town and its heritage buildings.
A few of the jetties succumbed to the bulldozers and were forced to make way for large scale buildings that disfigured the waterfront in a way the jetties never had done. Elsewhere, other jetties were destroyed by fire and never replaced, other than by yet more shiny office blocks and apartment buildings. A large part of Penang’s history was disappearing and there seemed to be few options to stem the tide.
Fortunately, the UNESCO listing of George Town in 2008 helped focus minds on the value of the jetties as not only tourist attractions but also as an important link to the earliest days of George Town. The Chinese immigrants role in the success of the island was rightly recognised, and the jetties received investment and legal protection from future encroachment.
Nowadays, the buildings house a smaller proportion of the younger generation, who increasingly prefer a life on dry-land (although the jetties do have their own water and electricity supply), but still form an important part of the Chinese community, with many families living a peaceful life perched above the waters of Penang, just like their ancestors did many years ago.
How to get to the Clan Jetties of Penang
The clan jetties stretch out into the water near to Weld Quay (click here for Google Map point), meaning they’re a short walk from the Jetty bus terminal, or if you’ve arrived on the Butterworth to Penang Island ferry. They’re also handily located for the Swettenham Pier Cruise Terminal, so they make for an ideal Penang cruise excursion.
From other parts of Penang Island, many buses drop-off at the Jetty bus terminal, otherwise jump in a Grab taxi and get dropped off along Weld Quay (Pengkalan Weld).
Opening times and entry fees
Other than Chew Jetty, the clan jetties don’t have specific opening times like you might find at other tourist attractions. After all, these are places where people live and work, so they don’t have gates, ticket checks or security guards blocking access. However, please be mindful that you’re exploring people’s homes and places of business, so it’s highly encouraged that you don’t visit at unsociable hours to respect their privacy.
Chew Jetty is the most popular of the Clan Jetties for tourists, and they’ve politely requested that tourists only visit between the hours of 9am to 9pm. Although most of the other jetties don’t have similar signs stipulating opening times, it’s recommended you only visit during the same timeframe.
All of the jetties are free to enter although donations are welcomed as you enter.
Which clan jetty to visit
There are seven clan jetties in Penang but if you only have time to visit two, we recommend Chew Jetty and Tan Jetty as they’re more used to tourists and offer you (and the residents) a better experience.
Of the two, Chew Jetty is more geared towards tourists and it’s here that more leeway will be given to visitors, but always try to keep the noise levels down, respect the signs, avoid taking too many pictures, watch out for motorbikes and adhere to any requests the residents may make. They’re used to visitors of course, and many residents now make their income from tourists, but it still helps to remember where you are.
It’s a difficult balancing act between tourism and the people living here, sometimes large tour groups arrive and take over the jetties which makes a visit for independent travellers more challenging. The narrow walkways aren’t designed for groups and it can lead to a sense of overcrowding. If you’d prefer a quieter, more authentic experience, you could try Yeoh or Lim Jetty.
The seven Clan Jetties of Penang
Each of the seven clan jetties of Penang have a different personality and story to tell, and they’re all worth a visit if you have the time and energy. In geographical order, the following is a description of each clan jetty and what you can expect from your visit, starting with Yeoh Jetty to the south and finishing with Ong Jetty to the north.
1. Yeoh Jetty
Of all the clan jetties, Yeoh Jetty feels the most untouched, with just a simple sign guiding you along the wooden boards towards the sea. The narrow passageway leads past quaint homes with the occasional resident inside going about their daily routine. Don’t expect any tourist infrastructure here at all, and the section of jetty closest to the sea closes at 8.00pm.
Parts of the jetty now sits on reclaimed land, so it’s only towards the end of the walkway that you’ll hear water lapping up against the wooden stilts as the view opens up towards Butterworth and rest of the mainland.
Sitting adjacent to the end of the jetty, it’s impossible to miss Hean Boo Thean Kuan Yin Temple, also known as the Floating Temple. It beautiful and striking in the daytime but, if you’re visiting at night, it moves up another level, with lanterns and luminous bulbs blazing across the water.
2. New Jetty
Also known as Mixed Jetty, as you may have guessed from its name, New Jetty was one of the later jetties built in George Town, around 1960. It was originally home to immigrants who weren’t members of the other named clans who had setup their own jetties.
Smaller than the others, with no walkway leading out into the sea, there’s perhaps less to obviously see here, but it feels well-looked after, with neat houses built on stilts and recent efforts to refurbish the boardwalk.
3. Lee Jetty
A grand and larger-scale jetty, Lee Jetty has a pretty temple near its entrance and illuminated archways framing the walkway towards the water. At night, it’s well-lit and makes for some beautiful photos but it’s also one of the more interesting jetties to visit during the day, with well-kept homes and businesses raised above the water.
There’s more in the way of catering for tourists here, with a couple of places near the entrance to buy food and drinks. As a result, it’s slightly busier with visitors, and has recently had money spent on it for refurbishment and repair. The views at the end of the walkway are excellent; this jetty juts out further than its neighbours so the view is less obstructed.
4. Tan Jetty
Another popular jetty with tourists (especially those with an Instagram account), Tan Jetty is altogether a smaller and more gentle experience than Chew Jetty.
Tan Jetty has a temple and other buildings near the entrance but is most memorable for the long narrow walkway that extends out over the water. With only a small temple towards the end to distract from the view, the walkway gives the impression of walking on water and makes for a tranquil spot to survey the scene, including fascinating views of the other jetties and their wooden stilts rising from the mud and water.
While there’s less to see than at Chew Jetty, many visitors prefer Tan Jetty and feel the lack of tourist infrastructure makes it more authentic. We tend to agree, and the views to Butterworth, Penang Hill and the other jetties all add to the appeal.
5. Chew Jetty
By far the most ‘touristy’, Chew Jetty is where you’re more likely to find tour groups than at the other jetties. It’s the largest of the jetties and the one you’ll probably spend most of your time.
If you need any refreshment, there’s a food court outside the main entrance (next to a beautiful temple) and several places along the walkway to buy ice-cream, clothing and souvenirs. The shop owners are quite professional here and you might experience some low-level persistence in their requests for you to make a purchase.
Keep an eye out for street art as you go along, particularly halfway down the first walkway. As you reach the end of the walkway, you’ll discover another pretty temple (it’s traditional for there to be a temple at both ends of the jetties for good fortune) and someone offering boat rides (although opening times are intermittent and prices variable). Ask around if you fancy taking a boat ride, there’s usually someone around who can answer queries.
As you walk back, take a left turn at the street art (shown below) to see the other side of the jetty, making the entire walk into a loop. Within a few minutes you’ll be back at the beginning, and you can expect to spend around twenty minutes at Chew Jetty in total.
6. Lim Jetty
One of the quietest and least commercialised of the Clan Jetties, Lim Jetty is perhaps the best one to visit to get a taste of what life must have been like in the early twentieth century. It’s less touristy than Chew Jetty but more substantial than Tan Jetty, making it a good compromise between the two.
The main wooden boardwalk leads down to the sea and views towards Chew Jetty and Penang Bridge, with a few diversions along the way leading to dead-ends and subtle glimpses into people’s homes. One of them also leads to Sun Moon Temple, overlooking the water, which is well worth the detour.
You won’t find many concessions to tourists here at all, there are no drinks stands, souvenir shops, street art or information signs, other than a beautiful painting of the jetty from 1910 and a simple notice politely asking for donations. It’s likely you’ll be the only tourists here, allowing you a relaxed stroll along the boardwalk and a glimpse into the past.
7. Ong Jetty
The least impressive of the jetties, Ong Jetty was never actually a residential jetty but instead a working jetty. Closest to the huge ferry and bus terminal, it has been shifted along from its original location where the terminal now is, but still makes for an interesting diversion as you visit the other jetties. The contrast between the preserved residential jetties and this one is quite stark.
What else is there to do around the Clan Jetties of Penang?
The Clan Jetties are included on our self-guided George Town walking tour, so you could follow this walking tour to explore more of George Town.
Otherwise, check out our suggestions of things to do in George Town for inspiration. Perhaps view the street art, visit a museum, or just take a wander and see where you end up.
Final thoughts on visiting the Clan Jetties of Penang
The Clan Jetties are an important component of the history of Penang and it’s fascinating to gain access to these villages perched over the sea. For tourists, they offer an opportunity to glimpse into the lives of the clans and how they continue to live and work, without (hopefully) making too much of an impact on their everyday lives. With that in mind, do remember you’re visiting someone’s village, however much tourism has been accepted and encouraged at some of the jetties.
As with so much in George Town, we should all be grateful the UNESCO listing arrived when it did, helping to guarantee the continued survival and evolution of these fascinating clan jetties and the people who call them home.
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On Penang ebook£16.95
On Penang ebook
New for 2025, the On Penang ebook is the only travel guide you need for exploring the island of Penang. It is jam-packed with inspiration on what to do, where to eat, where to stay, and also includes a step-by-step self-guided walking tour of George Town (with photos).
This is a PDF download for use offline and on the go (and ad-free!). Save it to read on the plane to Malaysia, download to your phone to follow the self-guided walking tour, or print it off at home before you leave on your adventures and highlight all the bits you want to remember for your visit.
Before your go, check out these useful reads for your visit:
The best things to do in Penang
15 BEST restaurants in Penang
Top tips for visiting Penang
One day Penang itinerary
Best hotels in Penang
How to get around Penang
A brief history of Penang
