Sunny weather, rich local heritage and a vibrant food scene have drawn waves of Chinese tourists to Penang during the Labour Day holiday, which runs from 1 to 5 May.
The break, described as a “mini golden week”, has seen visitors flocking to George Town to sample the island’s famed durian season and iconic street food.
Student Orange Liu, 25, said the durian season was a major draw, as she and her coursemates explored varieties unavailable back home.
“We did our research beforehand and were excited to sample different varieties that are not easily found back home. Sharing durian together is both a culinary adventure and a memorable bonding experience,” she said.
Char koay teow was another highlight. Liu noted the Penang version stood apart from the similar chao he fen found in southern China.
“In the southern part of China, we have a dish with a similar name called chao he fen but the appearance and taste are completely different,” she said.
Liu said the smoky flavour from high-heat cooking, combined with seafood, egg and seasoning, gave Penang’s version a distinctive edge.
“We prefer the char koay teow here,” she added.
The clear weather also made for picture-perfect moments.
“We like the sky here as it is clear and beautiful despite the heat. The bright conditions made it easy to enjoy outdoor activities throughout the day,” said Liu, a Chinese studies student.
“The buildings are colourful and the streets are quite clean and well kept. The overall scenery is great for pictures, especially for social media.”
Close friends Liki Li and Lucy Xu, both 25, from Xiamen, said they had long wanted to visit Penang after seeing it featured in the television drama The Little Nyonya, which was partially filmed on the island.
“We watched the series The Little Nyonya, which was partially filmed here. It gave us a glimpse of the culture and scenery, and we have wanted to experience it in person ever since,” said Xu.
The colleagues from a forwarding company were in town with their spouses, children and extended family members, taking advantage of the short holiday to travel together.
“We have been out and about all day, trying to take in as much of Penang as possible. Even though we have only been here for a day, we have already sampled nyonya kuih, cendol, char koay teow and Hokkien mee,” Xu said.
She added that the group was particularly drawn to the island’s atmosphere.
“We love the vibe here. It is lively yet relaxed. We are planning to visit several temples and local establishments before we head home in a few days,” she said.
Every year, millions of Chinese travellers take advantage of the Labour Day break to go on holiday, making the period popular for short-haul trips to nearby destinations, including Malaysia. Two longer golden weeks during Chinese New Year and China’s National Day, each lasting seven days, typically see even higher travel volumes.
Source: The Star
