Cheong Fatt Tze Blue Mansion in Penang

Penang Cheong Fatt Tze Blue Mansion
One of the most intriguing hotels in Malaysia is no other than the Cheong Fatt Tze Blue Mansion, which is found on Leith Street and on the island of Penang, Malaysia. 

This multiple award winning heritage boutique hotel is truly a sight to visit or even stay at, due to its incredible old charm and character.

The Blue Mansion was built in seven years from 1896 to 1904, and is one of three original Chinese Style Mansions located outside of China.

With an amazing 56,000 square feet of land, this is one of the biggest Chinese mansions in Malaysia, and here at the Pearl of the Orient, Penang.

Antique Rickshaws Penang
Antique rickshaws outside the mansion
Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion in Penang

History states that the Cheong Fatt Tze mansion was originally put on sale after the last son of Mr. Cheong Fatt Tze passed away in 1989.

The place was then quickly bought by the Lawrence Loh Architects, who specializes in heritage conservation works and it took them a good six years to complete the entire Blue Mansion.

Judging from the finished results, I would have to say that they did an excellent job in the complete restoration of the mansion.

Photo of Blue Mansion Penang
Stunning cast iron spiral staircase
Skilled workers from China were hired to do most of the detailing and wood restoration of the Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion, and you can see why.

Most of the restoration was done by hand from the extremely skilled elderly men hired to restore the mansion.

The end results were fascinating, which lead the Blue Mansion to win numerous awards from Heritage to Tourism Awards, locally and around the world.

Courtyard of Blue Mansion Penang
Main courtyard of the mansion, done in traditional style
These days at the Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion, guests who truly appreciate heritage and culture would either stay at the boutique mansion, or just pay a visit with the daily tours offered.

Standing around the courtyard and looking up, you will see cast iron structures of Corinthian style with mock timber skirting with East West designs.

When you start noticing the details, you will notice the Venetian shutters and Gothic louvered windows throughout the mansion.

Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion Ceiling Design
Classic ceiling designs
Staying here would take you back in time, as almost 95% of the place is authentically kept to the original look and feel.

You will hardly see anything modern found around the mansion grounds, and this is something not many hotels can pull off nowadays.

Walking around, I noticed that even the ceiling was meticulously restored to the original designs using high grade plaster.

Penang Wood Louvered Windows
Antique louvered wooden windows
Door Knocker Antique Penang
One of the interesting door knockers at the mansion
The Blue Mansion has many small little details that should not be missed, and I saw an old door with antique Chinese door knockers, which is at least a hundred years old.

Photo in Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion
Cast iron spiral staircase that leads to the first floor
Even the spiral staircase to the first floor is made from antique Victorian cast iron, with intricate designs put in the steps to the hand rail guard.

To my knowledge, I hardly ever see quality like this in other old hotels, making this one of the most detailed hotels in all Malaysia.

First Floor Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion
The first floor walkway of the mansion
Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion Rooms

The Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion has a total of 38 rooms, but only 16 themed bedrooms which are fully air conditioned are for guests.

The corridor of the first floor holds several of the themed rooms and also a partition with wooden windows overlooking the air well area of the mansion.

The walkways are made from planks which are treated and varnished, to resemble the original days of the mansion.

Below are various photos taken in and around the rooms of the mansion.

Tiffin Carrier Multi Layer
Old multi layered tiffin carrier in one of the rooms
Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion Room Pictures
Photo of one of the rooms here
The themed rooms at the Cheong Fatt Tze are one of a kind with old mix and match furniture and a mix of colours and traditional sarongs are given to guests. Each room has a different feel and theme where there are doubles right till family suites.

Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion Toilet
Standard toilet and bathrooms
Rooms at Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion
Single bed rooms
Someone once told me how they got the name and it was because back in the day, Indian Indigo paint was mixed with lime and cartilage and it was used to paint its exterior which is why it was called The Blue Mansion.

Architecture of Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion
Original wooden staircase of the mansion
Part of the original wooden staircase that leads up to the first floor from inside the mansion. The other way being the spiral cast iron staircase.

Ticket Prices Tours for Blue Mansion in Penang
General tour information as of 2009, it has increased since then to RM16.00 per person
When visiting the Blue Mansion, you really need to take note of the guided tour timings. There are limited tours in a day, so do not be late as they will not wait for you.

Cheong Fatt Tze Blue Mansion tour prices are RM16.00 per person, and by taking this tour, please have all ears on as there is much to know of the history of this amazing mansion.

How do you get to Cheong Fatt Tze?

The best way is to explore Georgetown is via walking, and if you stay in town, you can easily walk to Leith Street or Lebuh Leith as it is called in Malay.

Alternatively if you stay in Batu Feringgi, you can take a taxi or bus into town. There are a few tour companies that run tours for this, but mostly tourist will explore on their own.

For the backpackers, the Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion is at the end of Chulia Street towards Penang Road.

Once you reach the end of the road, turn right into Leith Street and keep walking for 5 minutes and you will see the Blue Mansion on the left.

Cheong Fatt Tze Map

View Larger Map

Cheong Fatt Tze / Blue Mansion Address:
14 Leith Street,
Georgetown,
10200 Penang
Malaysia
Tel: +604 2620006
Email: cftm@tm.net.my
Website: Blue Mansion / Cheong Fatt Tze

Penang Blue Mansion
The beautiful spiral stairs that lead to some of the rooms here
Conclusion

If you are a cultural traveler, and visiting Malaysia, or Penang Island, then this is one of the highly recommended place to visit, or even stay at. 

There are countless articles and reviews of this place, hence it is only fair that all these people cannot be wrong about the Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion in Penang. 

Malaysia Asia

Blogging since 2007, but writing online since 1997. I belong to the 1st generation of worldwide bloggers, which is of course old-school. Since 2008, I created Malaysia Asia and this travel, flood, gadget and lifestyle blog has won numerous physical awards from tourism boards around Malaysia. (Not those online awards). After 12 years of blogging, I have semi-retired and now blog about things I like, do product reviews and enjoy life. My work has been featured in Lonely Planet, CNN Travel, Yahoo Travel, Wall Street Journal, and many other international publications. Find out more about me and thank you.

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