George Town World Heritage Day and Celebration
Penang is proud of its status as a World Heritage Site and in celebration of this prestigious status, has made the 7th of July the George Town World Heritage Day.
Take in all that the city has to offer. Join other locals and visitors in appreciate of our culture, buildings, heritage, history and more.
George Town World Heritage Day 2025
Events Highlight – Programmes 2025
Its the 17th Anniversary Celebration for George Town as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2025. Meet passionate volunteers, learn age-old crafts and help keep George Town’s legacy alive.
Cultural Workshops
Cultural workshops where YOU become a heritage guardian! Meet passionate volunteers, learn age-old crafts, and help keep George Town’s legacy alive.
| 05-Jul-25 | 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM | Chinese Painting and Paper Cutting to Lum Yeong Tong Yap Temple |
| Chingay Parade to Penang Chingay Association | ||
| Doorway to the Milky Way to The Pink Hibiscus Club | ||
| Fun with Hokkien: Learning Through Play to Penang Hokkien Association Youth Section | ||
| German Architecture: Doorway to George Town’s Innovation to Malaysian-German Society | ||
| Heritage Writing Workshop: The Key to Language and Culture to Badan Warisan Masjid Melayu Lebuh Acheh | ||
| Kolkata: Traditional Food from the Indian Muslim to GAPEIM | ||
| Layang-Layang Making to Persatuan Warisan Dato Koyah | ||
| Let’s Learn Hakka! to Penang Hakka Association | ||
| Lifeways in Kadayanallur Tenkasi to Central Muslim Society | ||
| Malayali Mundus and Dazzling Upperis to North Malaysia Malayali Samajam | ||
| Matli Shangar: Decoration of Earthen Pots to Gujarati Sama Penang | ||
| Nagatrathar Culinary: Kuzhi Paniyaram to Nattukottai Nagarathar Heritage Society | ||
| Nanyang Childhood Games to Seh Tek Tong Cheah Kongsi | ||
| Nanyang Coffee Workshop to Penang Hidden Gems | ||
| Pastime with Peranakan Nyonya to Straits Chinese (Penang) Association | ||
| Pathways to Sabarimala: The Ayyappan Pilgrimage Experience to Pertubuhan Kebajikan Ayyappan Batu Uban Pulau Pinang | ||
| Preserving Memories: Rubbing Art Experience to Thai Pak Koong (Ng Suk) Temple | ||
| Revival of Pottery Life to Penang Hindu Association | ||
| The Art of Biryani: A Culinary Journey to Spice & Curry Production House | ||
| The Colours of Batik to Warisan Batik Pulau Pinang | ||
| Traditional Sikh Wear to Persatuan Wadda Gurdwara Sahib Penang | ||
| Trishaw Frenzy! to LUMA |
Interactive Dance Floor
| 05-Jul-25 | 6:00 PM to 6:30 PM | Mahora Performance to Persatuan Masyarakat Siam Pulau Pinang |
| 6:30 PM to 7:00 PM | Portuguese Dance to Penang Eurasian Association | |
| 7:00 PM to 7:30 PM | Bon Giri Renka: Bon Festival Love Song to Malaysian-Japanese Society | |
| 8:00 PM to 8:30 PM | Malay Traditional Dances to JKKNPP | |
| 8:30 PM to 8:55 PM | Daathubhaajana Chiratalaata to Penang Telugu Dialect | |
| 9:30 PM to 10:00 PM | The Spirit of Bhangra to Sikh Naujawan Sabha Malaysia |
George Town Heritage Walk
6 July 2025 7:00 am to 10:00 pm at Lebu Pantai. Reistration Fee RM36. Includes: T-shire, Medal, Goodies and E-cert.
Lace-up for a fun-filled heritage walk through the UNESCO-listed streets! Let ages-old buildings speak for themselves while you uncover hidden tales behind every corner you turn to along the way.
Historic Building Open House
Ever wondered what’s behind those mysterious historic doors? Now’s your chance! Step inside 8 stunning Category 1 heritage buildings and sites within the George Town UNESCO World Heritage Site and meet the people preserving them.
| 07-Jul-25 | 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM | George Town World Heritage Incorporated |
| Kwangtung & Tengchow Association | ||
| Makam Dato Koyah | ||
| Masjid Melayu Lebuh Acheh | ||
| Nam Hooi Wooi Koon | ||
| St. George’s Church | ||
| Sun Wui Wui Koon | ||
| Thai Pak Koong (Ng Suk) Temple |
Location Map
Cultural Workshops
Historic Building Open House
Events Highlight – Programmes 2024
Its the 16th Anniversary Celebration for George Town as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2024 and the celebration kicks off with Workshops and Live Dances. Here are the list of activities:
Workshops
- Chingay Parade – Penang Chingay Association – 5:20pm, 6:15pm, 7:00pm, 8:00pm. 9:20pm
- Disguise in Teochew Opera Face – Teochew Puppet and Opera House
- Bamboo Lantern: Shin like a Star – Persatuan Warisan Dato Koyah
- The Making of Thiru Udayada – North Malaysia Malayali Samajam
- Wayang Kulit: Miniature Pupper Bookmark Creation
- Old is Gold: Spices Grinding and Pounding – Pennag Hindu Association
- Chinese Paper Cutting and Flourish Strokes – Lum Yeong Tong Yap Temple Youth Section
- Immerse in the Beading World – May Lim Siew Seng
- Build Your Own Tiles! – Sim Art Studio
- The Glamorous Henna – Henna Artists
- Malay Musical Instruments – Persembahan Bunyian Traditional dan GEndangan Kontemporari – Badan Warisan Masjid Melayu Lebuh Acheh
- Dough Figurine: Beyond Tradition – Loh Ban Tatt and Teoh Han Hoon Traditional Dough Figurines
- Grace in Fabric: Vesti and Saree Draping Workshop –
- The Colours of Batik – Warisan Balik Pulau
- Make a Kimono Doll Bukkumaku – The Pink Hibiscus Club
- Play-Play Penang! – Luma
Interactive Dance Floor
- 5:30pm Boria: Warisan George Town
- 6:00pm Loy Krathong Dance
- 6:30pm Japanese Dance Love Affair
- 7:00pm Telugu Biddalu Dance
- 8:05pm Dikir Barat: Clap with Awok-Awok!
- 9:20pm Dhol and Bhangra: Feel the Beat
Location Map
Click on map for a closer view, save this map on your smartphone or open this page to view the various locations of the evetns.
Source: https://gtwhi.com.my/
Locations for events and workshops above:
- George Town World Heritage Incorporated
- Armenian Park
- Lebuh Armenian
- Lebuh Aceh Basketball Court
- Lum Yeong Tong Yap Temple
- Masjid Melayu Lebuh Acheh
- Leong San Tong Khoo Kongsi
- Hock Teik Cheng Sin Temple
- Seh Tek Tong Cheah Kongsi
Note road closer on the day using the map below. Also note recommended pick-up and drop-off points.
Archived News
George Town World Heritage Day & George Town Heritage Celebration 2019
Date: 6 July 2019 to 7 July 2019
Venue: George Town, Heritage Zone
Years ago, on the 7th of July 2008, George Town was accorded the World Heritage status and given a place by UNESCO among the list of Cities and Sites around the world for its “outstanding universal values”.
To commemorate the inscription of George Town as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, an annual event is held, celebrating the living heritage that is George Town. The city, its heritage, multicultural practices, traditional food, arts and crafts and festivals take centre stage around the city.
A good example of the significance of such a status to a city is the Bath city in England where artifacts and evident of the old Roman settlement were found and studied along with the hot spring.
The award brought to light the many significant historical and architectural buildings, cultural heritage and values that are not only popular with people visiting Penang but help bring awareness preservation of these sites.
The fabric of civilization, multi-ethnic cultural heritage, old colonial influences and landscape has made Penang a very unique World Heritage Site.
It is no surprise that the state has chosen the 7th of July as a Public Holiday to commemorate the award.
Related Links:
Georgetown World Heritage Site Celebrations: in celebration of the anniversary of inscription, the first celebration was in 2009, the celebration is back with a showcase of culture. Check out the official celebration website.
UNESCO World Heritage Centre: here is a list of other places around the globe that has been accorded the World Heritage Site status. At the time of writing, there are 981 properties forming part of the cultural and natural heritage which the World Heritage Committee considers as having outstanding universal value.
George Town World Heritage Site Celebration 2014 Event FB Album for a taster of what to expect during the celebration. You can also visit the official George Town heritage Celebration Facebook Page.
