Taiping Travel Guide
In the 19th century, Taiping was capital of Perak Province though this honor fell to Ipoh after WWII. Today, it's a modest two-street town with hints of British influence still visible.
- Worth It?
- Not a bad diversion for anyone touring the Peninsular west coast, but also worthwhile as a staging ground for trip to Bukit Larut hill station.
- What to Do
- walk the city and enjoy the Victorian architecture, escape to the Lake Gardens District, visit Malaysia's oldest museum.
- Best Time to Go
- December and January are the most comfortable months to visit.
- How Long?
- A day or two is plenty of time in Taiping.
- Trivia
- Taiping was founded after a Malay traveler happened onto tin ore while taking a bath in a local creek.
Taiping benefited from the tin mining boom and went from sleepy backwater to prosperous capital in the 19th century. But the city caught fire in 1880 and was redrawn by the British authorities into a compact and easily-navigated grid pattern. You'll have no problem seeing the city on foot.
There's a strong Chinese Buddhist demographic descended from the miners of the 1800s. Indian Muslims are a minority here and there are two prominent mosques in town. Many of the locals picked up Christianity from Dutch and British colonists and continue to worship in 19th century churches.
Despite Taiping's sleepy atmosphere, there are several sites worth checking out if you're in the area. The country's oldest museum and largest urban parklands headline the attractions. The city center has hung on to a few 19th century heritage buildings.
Travel to Taiping - Getting There
Taiping is easily visited from Penang, where the international airport shuttles tourists in and out of the region. The North South Expressway connects the two cities and the journey takes 1 hour, 30 minutes when traffic is good. You can also take the train as far as Kuala Lumpur, but that's a long-haul journey.
Taiping Things to Do
Taiping Attractions
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