Taiping Clock Tower

Situated along Kota Road. Now use as a tourist booth. 

Formerly known as Klian Pauh, it was renamed Taiping to commemorate the end of the Larut War in 1874. With the signing of the Pangkor Treaty on the 20th of January 1874, Taiping emerged to be the major town in Perak Darul Ridzuan.

Taiping Museum

This oldest museum in Malaysia dates back to 1883 and was built in stages right up to its completion in 1903 with its 4 main hall exhibiting zoological, herbarium, parts of pre-history, economy and ethnology artifacts. Presently only the Herbarium section has changed or rather moved to the National Museum, while the rest remains intact with new additional items. The dominating sight as one enters the museum is the throne of the late State of Perak.

Open daily (Sat-Thurs) - 9.30 am - 12.00 noon
                                         - 2.30 pm - 5.00 pm
                      (Fridays)   - 9.30 am - 12.00 noon
                                         - 2.45 pm - 5.00 pm

Taiping Clock Tower

Situated in front of Taiping market. The first digital clock donated by Sanyo. 

Port Weld

Once the busiest port in the region, the facilities provided are mainly for exporting of processed tin ores. Opened in 1877 as the gateaway for cargo ships, Port Weld is now called Kuala Sepetang. No longer a port, it is mainly for fishing boats.
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Wandering through the most beautiful lake gardens in Peninsular Malaysia, it's difficult to imagine that this was once the scene of three bitter and bloody "wars".
Over a 100 years ago...in the late 1850's...a feud erupted between two Chinese secret societies working the tin mines of Larut, as Taiping areas was then known. It apparently started when one group calling themselves Hai San destroyed a channel carrying water to the mines of a rival group called Ghee Hin.
It broke out again in 1865 after a gambling session when a Ghee Hin worker was stabbed to death by a Hai San. At that time, the aggressive Hai San tried to wipe out their enemies once and for all. But the Ghee Hin retaliated and lost many men before fleeing from the area.  Click here to continue
 

Matang Forest Reserve (Bird Santuary) - A bird's haven, the Kuala Gula Bird Santuary is the place of communion for birds of multi-species from all over the world. Among the half a million birds found here is the rare and endangered Milky Storks. This annual stopover for the birds the world over has enough offerings to keep even the least enthusiastic bird lover appeased. 

Founded in 1888 and is Malaysia's oldest hill resort. It rises to a height of 1,035m, and is just three kilometres from Taiping.

The hill has neither casino nor flower nurseries. Coffee and tea were grown on an experimental basis, giving rise to the Chinese name "kopi sua" (Coffee mountain). The resort, however, makes a suitable choice of those who want to enjoy peace amid cool scenery.

Getting up is by Land Rover from the base of the hill. No private vehicles are allowed up the hill as the gradient is steep.
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Built in 1870, this majestic looking edifice accentuates pre-war architecture with Victorian arches. Still existing in the original form with no restoration or renovation works done on it. Used to be a rest house for British officers and it is still a magnificent landmark and a comfortable abode for weary travellers. The 129 years old building still functions as part of the boarding facilities in Taiping.

Taiping Strings of Firsts

The third Larut War had all the ingredients of a Romeo and Juliet love story. It seems the leader of the Ghee Hin fell in love with a Hai San lady, but hatred between the two groups was so intense that, when the unfortunate couple were caught the the Hai San, they were tortured to death.
After the mayhem subsided, an inquiry board was set up to look into tin mining problems. Eventually licences were issued and by 1874, mining matters were under control. The legacy of Larut was buried along with the dead and the town was renamed Taiping - town of everylasting peace. 

Built in 1877, it was the residence of Sir Hugh Low, Perak's second Resident. It was built in Taiping due to the town's role at the era as the British Administration Centre. The residence proceeds to be the formal residence of other successive Residents of Perak. It also made Taiping to be the first town to have a formal residence for the British Resident.

Presently only the house posts marks the site of the residence. A rest house was built behind the historical site. It is located at Jalan Pekeliling.
 

Prison

Built in 1885, the Taiping prison still being used to this date marks the first form of prison in Malaysia. The need of such establishment arises due to the rising rate of crimes during that era. The fighting between Chinese gangs at the mines led to existence of the present Taiping prison which has remain virtually unchanged except for some slight alterations to suit the needs of today's security system.

A photographer's dream this virtually virgin mangrove swamp is a beautiful natural splendour any photographer would naturally relish the opportunity to capture moments on film. Just looking around and immersing onself with the glory of God's gift is enough to intrigue most professionals. Covering over an area of nearly 5,000 hectares, this natural recreational site presents one with the opportunity to be alone with nature. Besides the Kuala Sepetang mangrove swamp, there is also a natural centuries-old site on an island covering over 100 acres fronting the Port Weld.

Kota Ngah Ibrahim Historical Complex

Situated in Matang, it was built in 1854 over 2 acres as the formal residence of Ngah Ibrahim. Over the years it has served as various establishments such as Larut Administration Centre, as a court for the prosecution of Dato' Maharaja Lela and Dato' Sagor for the killing of J.W.W. Birch, as the residence for Captain Speedy the then assistant Resident, the first Teachers' Training College, the first National School, Matang Primary School, Japanese Headquarters and presently as the Kota Ngah Ibrahim Historical Complex. 

Taiping Zoo

The first zoo in the country, it houses exotic animals and has provided an escapade to nature's habitat for the people of Taiping. 

Ling Nam temple is Perak's oldest and houses many valuable antiques. All its metal urns, statuettes and historical weapons were imported a 100 years ago from China...they have since been coated with gold.
Hanging in the main doorway, you will see a boat with figures engraved on it. It's called Loh Teh Hang Chow which means "boat that sails on land" and symbolizes the achievement of the Chinese emperor, Shooi Yeong Tee, who ws the innovator of the first canal in China. 

Taiping Lake Garden

The oldest of its kind in Malaysia. Operational in 1880, it is located within the vicinity of Bukit Larut (Maxwell's Hill) and Taiping Zoo. Magnificently sculptured out of natural environment, it presents a serene and tranquil panaromic landscape. A familiar sight is the drooping branches of ancient Angsana trees that seems to betray the law of anture and willingly touching the grounds around it. To travel under these branches would certainly exude a feeling of sobriety and peace as never before. Its cool setting has given its patron moments to remember Taiping with love.

Initial built of timber in 1881 "at a point about equidistant from the Chinese theatre, the market and from the Chinese theatre the market and other much frequented places". The fortified clock tower, chamfered slits for guns, was probably erected some years later. The police station doubled as a fire station. The first brigaed in the Federated Malay States was made up of members of Perak Armed Police and later the Malay States Guides. 

The first swimming pool to be built in Malaysia, it has a unique attribute due to its source of water for the pool. The water is brought in from Bukit Larut. Its fresh and cooling chlorine-free water has been the attraction of the pool all these years.