King Street, Penang

Lebuh King

King Street or Lebuh King is a street within the historic core of George Town Unesco World Heritage Site. It runs from Light Street to Chulia Street.

King Street (3 September 2008)
© Timothy Tye using this photo

King Street Location Map

King Street dates to the late 18th century, and was already in the original grid laid out by Francis Light. In the earliest days, the street leads from Light Street, which was reserved for Europeans, towards land parcelled out to the Chinese community. By the mid-19th century and into the 20th, as Europeans moved away into the suburbs, wealthy Chinese began to buy up the real estate all the way until Light Street itself.

The Hokkiens in Penang call King Street by different names, depending on its location. The section from Light Street to Bishop Street was called Kau Keng Chu Au, meaning "the back of the nine townhouses". This name refers to nine terrace houses with their front towards Penang Street and their back to King Street. They were the favored addresses of the Chinese nouveau riche.

The section of King Street between Bishop Street and China Street was the heart of the Cantonese community in 19th century George Town. A number of Cantonese district associations and temples are located here. The Hokkiens called it the Kuin-Tang Tua Pek Kong Kay, in reference to the Cantonese Tua Pek Kong Temple located there.

King Street (18 January, 2004)
© Timothy Tye using this photo

The section of King Street between China Street and Market Street was called Ku Ho Seng Kongsi Kay, meaning "Former Ho Seng Association Street", because the Ho Seng Secret Society used to have its base at 53 King Street, next to Poe Choo Seah.

From Market Street to Chulia Street, King Street enters the Little India part of George Town. In the 19th century, this section was inhabited by the South Indians who were dock workers at the Penang harbour. Understandably, the Hokkiens called this section Kelinga Kay, or "Southern Indian Street".