Chew Jetty

Chew Jetty is the largest and most visited of the six Clan Jetties at Weld Quay in George Town, Penang. Built on wooden stilts over the sea, it is a historic waterfront settlement established by Chinese immigrants of the Chew clan in the late 19th century. Part of the George Town UNESCO World Heritage Site, it features rows of traditional stilt houses, a temple, shops and homestays, offering insight into clan-based coastal living and heritage architecture.

Visitors can expect a long wooden pier extending over the sea lined on both sides with traditional timber stilt houses, small shops selling souvenirs and snacks, street art and a small Chew clan temple at the seaward end. The settlement remains residential, so visitors walk along the central plank walkway observing daily life, fishing boats moored alongside, and views of the strait and George Town waterfront. The atmosphere is that of a living heritage village rather than a museum.

Established in the late 19th century by Chinese immigrants of the Chew (Zhou) clan from Fujian, China, Chew Jetty is one of six clan jetties built along Weld Quay. The jetties were originally built to provide housing for clan-based communities working at the port. Chew Jetty is the most populated and best preserved, and together with the other jetties was inscribed as part of the Historic Cities of the Straits of Malacca UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008.

Represents the clan-based social organization of early Chinese settlers in Penang, with communal living, clan temple worship and traditional timber architecture over water. It remains a living community where descendants of the original settlers continue to reside, maintaining customs, festivals and clan identity, and serves as an important example of George Town's multicultural waterfront heritage.