Temple of Nine Emperor
The Chinese Temple of Nine Emperor in Butterworth on Penang’s mainland is an elaborately decorated Taoist temple resembling ancient architecture with carved dragons along its pagoda roofs. The best time to visit is at night, when the archways to the temple are lit and embellished with hanging red lanterns. Leading up to Chinese New Year, the temple hosts night markets with vegetarian versions of typical Chinese dishes like pork char siew and roast duck, as is the custom at this time of year.
Penang National Park
The 3,000-acre Penang National Park is one of the world’s smallest national parks, packed with dense rainforest and two palm-tree-lined beaches. You might spot dusky leaf monkeys or long-tailed macaques on your trek through heavy jungle bush along the 4.5-mile Pantai Kerachut Trail to Turtle Beach, named for the turtles that nest on its shores.
Pinang Peranakan Mansion
This 19th-century mansion turned museum in George Town houses thousands of artifacts detailing Peranakan history — the mix of Chinese, Malay, and Indonesian heritage — in Malaysia over the last 200 years. The building’s dramatic facades and balcony-adorned courtyards conceal ornate rooms filled with European and Chinese antique furniture, traditional clothing, and dishware.