Great Place To Go... 无处不去

A Proposal for Next Family / Group Retreat

Ipoh - the capital of the state of Perak and Malaysia’s 3rd largest city. The limestone hills of Ipoh are over 200 million years old. Surrounding areas of Ipoh have rainforests, caves, rivers, lakes, and more.

Its foundations were laid through tin mining, leaving behind a tangible legacy that can still be explored today. The city has been reinventing itself to attract tourists in the region and there are many reasons why this city should be part of your itinerary.

Main Attractions:

Heritage Trail Walk

The Ipoh Heritage Trail is a great way to see the highlights of Ipoh’s Old Town colonial heritage. You can visit some of these places to appreciate the history and architecture of the city. The Ipoh Railway Station is an excellent example of Ipoh’s rich past influenced by the British and with aspects of Moorish architecture.

Ipoh Heritage Trail

Ipoh Cantonese Heritage Trail (ICHT)

Lanes and Alleys

Some of the historic lanes such as Concubine Lane are featured as part of the Ipoh Heritage Trail mentioned above. But if you don’t do the trail tour, you should still visit these lanes, which are getting a new lease of life and becoming a tourist favourite with shops and cafes. Legend has it that the street got its name because rich miners would have their mistresses staying here.

Jalan Bandar Timah is one of the major eating streets in Ipoh. There are a few coffee shops here that do very good business especially during lunch time.

It is at Jalan Yau Tet Shin that two Steamed Chicken and Beansprout outlets that Ipoh’s residents swear by (read more about this in a previous post) can be found. The location of the two, Onn Kee (安記) and an old Ipoh favourite Lou Wong (老黄), also makes an excellent staging point to make a raid on the confectionery shops the city is equally famous for and to discover some of the old world.

Ipoh Cave Temples

There are more than 30 cave temples in Ipoh, built into the limestone hills. They are quite amazing and mostly all Buddhist and Taoist religions. Some of them are huge and sprawl over many acres of land and include gardens and ponds. They are popular attractions here and you have to at least visit one or two. You will not only be able to appreciate the religious architecture and deities, but also stalactites and stalagmites which are many years in the making.

Located slightly out of town on the southern edge of Ipoh, Sam Poh Tong Temple is a beautiful cave temple set within a natural limestone hill. It is said to be one of the biggest cave temples in Malaysia and was discovered by a Buddhist monk from China in 1912. Explore the beautifully decorated pavilion, carefully landscaped garden, large fish pond, an altar area available for prayers, and climb up a fleet of stairs to get an open view of Ipoh from the top!

Founded in 1926, the Perak Tong Cave Temple is arguably one of Ipoh’s most popular attractions. The cave sits at the foot of a 120m-high limestone outcropping and was discovered by Chong Sen Yee and his wife, who came to Malaya from Jiaoling, China. Over the next 50 years, the couple worked laboriously to transform it into a beautiful place of worship. Visitors will be greeted by an impressive red and white facade, set amidst a backdrop of hills and lush greenery. Inside, a 15m-tall Buddha statue sits in the main prayer hall, surrounded by four guardian deities. One of the temple’s most distinctive features is the colourful hand-painted frescoes, depicting Buddhist deities and mythical creatures such as dragons and phoenixes alongside scripture calligraphy.

Nestled in between serene lakes at the base of Gunung Rapat, Kek Lok Tong Temple has become a bustling tourist attraction despite its remote location. The imposing caves and the stunning gardens are sure to please any visitor. The history of the temple isn’t sacred or remarkable. It was briefly involved in ore mining, but otherwise, it has always simply been a place of worship.

Mining Lakes

Mirror Lake in Ipoh is a quiet spot, a little oasis, but it’s not easy to find. A true hidden gem in every sense. There’s not much to do here other than to take in the scenery of the lake and limestone hills which are mirrored in the water, hence the name. But, the future of Mirror Lake is being threatened by a limestone quarry very nearby.

Recreation Park

Gunung Lang Recreational Park is a popular lake with limestone hills and a waterfall. It is located near Mirror Lake. Here you can go caving, canoeing, boating and rock-climbing, or simply hang out and have a picnic.

DR Recreation Park & Kinta Riverfront Walk is a prominent recreational park for the people in the city. The main highlight of the park is the Japanese Mini Garden that creates an illusion among visitors that they are actually in Japan, also features lakes that have beautiful concrete bridges on top of them. Apart from its natural beauty, it also features a gigantic bamboo thicket and a playground for small kids.

Retreat & Themepark

If you want to spoil yourself with a little pampering and/or stay at a luxury villa, the serene Banjaran Hot Springs Retreat is for you. The natural setting offers privacy and tranquility, with spa therapies to indulge in and hot springs to relax in. Best of all, they have a cellar restaurant set in a cave. How cool is that!

Lost World of Tambun is the big attraction here to lure tourists to Ipoh. It is perfect for families to spend a day here for some fun in the Waterpark and Zoo, and some Eco-adventures exploring the jungles and caves of Ipoh. You can also learn about the rich heritage of tin mining in Ipoh and have a go at tin panning yourself.

Street Art

Street art is popular in Ipoh with murals and graffiti art in the lanes and alleys. The Old Town boasts much of the art which is very well done and interactive. Much of the art is done by the same artist.

Here are some of the favourites you shouldn't miss:

Old Uncle Drinking Coffee (opposite Ipoh Tourist Information Centre)
Kopi O Ikat Tepi (carpark on Jalan Tun Sambanthan)
Man With Trishaw (at the corner of Jalan Market)
Yellow Hummingbird (on Jalan Panglima)
Kids Riding Paper Plane (on Jalan Tun Sambanthan)

Qing Xin Ling Leisure and Cultural Village (temporarily closed)

The Qing Xin Ling Leisure and Cultural Village is a somewhat hidden gem in Ipoh. Its name translates to "serene hill" in Mandarin, and the vibe and landscape of the area definitely live up to the name it was given. This recreational park offers a range of fun activities suited for people of all ages, you can ride around the park on a trishaw or bicycle, take photos at art installations scattered all over the space, marvel at antiques on display, have a picnic, make a wish at an ancient Banyan tree, and more.

Kellie's Castle

Kellie’s Castle is an unfinished and abandoned castle at Batu Gaja, that was built by a Scottish businessman, William Kellie Smith, in the early 1900’s who departed Ipoh and never returned, leaving the build unfinished. The castle went to ruins and legend has it that it’s haunted by the Scotsman and his family. It is now a tourist attraction that people love to visit and hear the stories relating to the history of the deserted mansion. It has been used in a couple of famous movies, such as Anna and The King.

TT5 Dredge

Tanjung Tualang Tin Dredge No.5 or TT5, the last tin dredge in Malaysia.
Due to declined tin price, operations started to shut down and ‘floating factories’ were dismantled or sold off. Today, there is only one remaining tin dredge known as Tanjung Tualang Tin Dredge No. 5 or TT5. It was built in England by F.W. Payne & Sons in 1938, upgraded in 1963 and had continued its operation for 44 years until August 1982. In 1997, Malaysian Mining Corporation (MMC) donated TT5 to the Perak State Government.