With Visit Perak Year 2017 in full swing, here are some tourist sites in the Kinta Valley.
1. Muhammadiah Mosque, Tingkat Tasik Jaya 2, Taman Tasik Jaya, Ipoh
Built at a cost of RM4 million, this mosque of ancient Chinese architecture is the joint effort of the Malaysian Chinese Muslim Association Ipoh Branch and the committee of the original Muhammadiah Mosque.
The prominent features of the structure are the green roofs, red pillars and a minaret that resembles a pagoda. The half-moon-shaped main entrance has two couplets written in golden Chinese characters at the sides. The left couplet roughly translates as “The amazing testament inherited from thousands of generations”. That on the right says “The righteous religion passed down since ancient times”.
2. Ipoh Wall Art, Old Town, Ipoh
Ernest Zacharevic, Eric Lai and some lesser-known artists have enlivened the walls of several buildings here with Instagram-worthy murals depicting scenes from Malaysian culture and everyday life. View the artworks of various sizes on Jalan Tun Sambanthan, Jalan Panglima, Jalan Bandar Timah, Concubine Lane 3 and the side alleys between Jalan Masjid and Jalan Sultan Iskandar Shah.
You can check out the metal map on the side wall of Ho Yan Hor Museum on Jalan Bijeh Timah that shows the locations of Zacharevic’s works.
3. Han Chin Pet Soo Museum, Jalan Bijeh Timah, Ipoh
Do you know the four evils that plagued early 19th Century Hakka tin-miners in Ipoh? The answer is depicted through dioramas in this museum: Smoking opium, gambling, prostitution and triad activities.
Also on display are relics of a bygone era such as mining tools, opium-smoking equipment, crockery, household items and furniture. A 10-minute documentary titled Tin From The Malayan Jungle transports visitors to the days of women dulang-washers.
The museum occupies the premises of the Hakka Miners Club which was set up in 1893. Entrance is free but online bookings have to be made at the museum’s website.
4. Kinta Riverfront Walk, Jalan Lim Bo Seng, Ipoh
Come here at night to enjoy a stroll along the promenade on the banks of the Kinta River which are connected by two bridges. Or rent an old-fashioned bicycle, tricycle or a trishaw to pedal. For more excitement, go for a hoverboard to whizz about!
Cafes, restaurants, food stalls, live music, a portrait artist, a tin museum and a video games stall promise a pleasant evening for both young and old. Trees along the river banks are lit by LED lights and their reflection on the surface of the river creates a mini fairyland that’s great for selfies.
5. Geological Museum, Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah, Ipoh
Do you know how to spot pyrite, a.k.a. “fool’s gold”, from gold? Or serpentine stone from jade? If no, you must visit this free museum so that you will not be conned when buying jewellery. Divided into six sections, the museum takes you on an educational tour on the history of the earth, fossils and dinosaurs, minerals and gemstones, marine geology, mining activities and geo-heritage.
Exhibits comprise murals, information plaques and more than 600 samples of minerals, crystals and precious stones. The museum is closed on weekends and public holidays.
6. Gopeng Heritage House, Jalan Kg. Sungai Itik, Gopeng
More than 180 sepia photographs and 800 artefacts displayed in this two-storey museum tell stories of a bygone era. The main hall on the ground floor is furnished to look like a 1950s kopitiam, and the spandrel under the staircase is taken up by a barber’s chair and a fully-equipped wooden styling station. The museum premises was donated by Wong Kuan Cheong, while most of the exhibits came from Peng Xikang and Wan Kunxiang, all long-time residents of Gopeng.
Nearby stands the Gopeng Museum at Jalan Eu Kong. It chronicles the history of the town. Both museums are open on weekends from 9am to 3pm. Entrance is free.
7. Tanjung Tualang Tin Dredge Ship, Jalan Tanjung Tualang, Batu Gajah
Floating on a water-lily-choked pond, Tanjung Tualang Tin Dredge No. 5, the last relic of its kind in the country, was built in 1938 by F.W. Payne & Son. It weighs 4,500 tonnes and rests on a pontoon measuring 75 metres in length and 35 metres wide.
Aboard the dredge, giant winches, gears the size of a car wheel and massive scooping buckets indicate the efficiency of this floating factory at extracting tin. The working conditions were sweltering as all walls and roofs of the structure are made of metal. Near the ticketing office stands a small museum. Opens daily from 8.30am to 6.00pm.
8. Gunung Lang Recreational Park, Jalan Kuala Kangsar, Ipoh
Spanning 30 hectares, this scenic park soothes your senses with its tranquility. Come here to jog, stroll, meditate, picnic, feed koi or do tai chi.
A boat ride on the lake takes you past towering limestone outcrops while a stroll through the landscaped garden filled with colourful blooms leaves you spellbound with its beauty. Gazebos allow you to take a breather and a look-out tower offers a panoramic view of the park. Take a selfie at the man-made waterfall tumbling from the peak of a hillock.
9. Perak Herb Garden, Kampung Kepayang
Have you ever seen the night-vampire flower bunga sundal malam? It blooms at night and emits a sweet fragrance. According to superstition, this flower attracts pontianak female vampires. Do you know how the yesterday-today-tomorrow flower got its name? Answer: Because the flower lasts for three days and it changes colour each day. On the first day, it is deep purple; on the second day, it turns lavender; and on the third day, it is almost white.
These interesting flowers and others can be seen in the 20-hectare herbal park which includes a scenic lake. More than 500 species of plants and herbs are grown here, all tagged with information plaques. The park is closed on weekends.
10. Gaharu Tea Valley, Off Jalan Kg. Sungai Itek, Gopeng
At this 120-hectare gaharu plantatation, visit the showroom or take a tour which ends at a look-out platform on the peak of a hillock. During the half-hour tour, a guide will explain how the leaves, resin and wood of the gaharu tree are harvested.
At a certain section of the plantation, gaharu trees are painted with animals to provide a photo opportunity for children. Incorporating a cafe, the showroom sells gaharu-based products such as tea sachets, cakes, noodles, carvings, ice-cream, cookies and even toiletries like shower gel and hand lotion.