Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion, Georgetown

Description: Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion

Located in the historic inner city of George Town, the Mansion, dazzling in its original indigo-blue, is the mysterious Orient's best preserved paradigm Chinese courtyard house. Painstakingly restored in recent years, the myth behind "China's last Mandarin and first Capitalist" is revealed in the architecture that incorporates 38 rooms, 5 granite-paved courtyards, 7 staircases and 220 vernacular timber louvre windows.

The building's eclectic character is a reflection of the times at the end of the 19th Century when the myths and magic of the Chinese Kingdom embraced the glory of the British Empire in a whirling pool of cross-cultural energies.

The cycle of life has been restored to the Mansion, to reactivate the intrinsic meaning of the place. As a private, inward-looking home, the values of family life and filial piety were nurtured by Cheong Fatt Tze who led by word and deed. Except for the incorporation of modern sanitary and ventilation amenities in the bedrooms, the original building fabric has been lovingly restored in pursuit of authenticity.

High ceilings timber floorboards on joists, ventilated rooms with open cast iron fanlights, sheltered verandahways around courtyards open to the sky, hand-plastered walls, lime-wash in Indigo Blue and Chinese lacquered doors and windows are some elements that pay respect to the traditions of a distant past. The ambience is as it was.

Blessed by the spirit of great architecture and a sense of community, the place invites us to take a step back into the past. It has been awarded UNESCO's Asia-Pacific Heritage 2000 Award for Conservation.

Type of rooms: Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion

The Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion owner-hosted home-stay offers short and long-term residential stays in 16 uniquely themed bedroom apartments. These vary in size from the Scholar's Suite to the Straits Suite and others of equally exotic disposition. A Butler is available to attend to your every request.

All rooms are airy with high ceilings, come with air conditioning and ceiling fans, coffee/tea making facilities and attached Victorian bathrooms.

The Studio Suite is on the larger side with the addition of a sitting area.

The 1/2 Duplex features two bedrooms and one bathroom.

The Duplex Suite occupies two floors, with a kitchenette, dining table to seat six and living room on the ground floor, private stairs lead to the first floor, which comprises of master bedroom with attached bathroom and study.

Additional information: Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion