Relau Villa of Chung Thye Phin

Relau Villa

Relau Villa is a dilapidated mansion beside the Metropolitan Park of Relau. It was built for Chung Thye Phin, the wealthy tin miner who was the last Kapitan China of Perak and son of Kapitan China Chung Keng Kwee, who built Hai Kee Chan.

Some people incorrectly attributed Relau Villa to Chung Keng Kwee. This is highly unlikely, as the senior Chung lived at a time when pleasures of life has not yet taken hold. His son Thye Phin, while being as successful as Ah Quee (as the father was known), has a taste for the good life. His properties included a mansion in North Beach of Penang, on the plot of land that is today the site of No. 1 Persiaran Gurney condominiums.

Relau Villa was built as Kapitan China Chung Thye Phin's country villa. For this mansion, he envisioned a pool along the lines of the canals of Venice - he was one of the few Chinese of his time to have had the opportunity to travel extensively. The architect roped in to design his villa was Ung Ban Hoe, who was attached to the architectural firm of Stark & McNeil. Within Relau Villa is the first swimming pool on Penang Island. The villa was completed in the early 1930's. Sadly Chung Thye Phin passed away in 1935.

Today Chung Thye Phin is remembered with a road named after him in Taiping, a fountain which he donated to the Penang Turf Club, and the once elegant villa in Relau.

Nearby Sights

Adjacent to the Relau Villa is the Metropolitan Park.

Visiting Penang

If you're planning a trip to Penang, please go through the information I have assembled in Penang Travel Tips. You'd find there information covering all aspect about Penang, including accommodation, transport, food, shopping, places of interest and more. Everything you need to know Penang is right there at your finger tips!

Click for list of Penang Nature Sights

Jungle villa (7 July 2008)
© Timothy Tye

Swimming pool at Relau Villa (7 July 2008)
© Timothy Tye

Relau Villa, near Taman Desa Relau condominiums (7 July 2008)
© Timothy Tye

Another view of how close the villa is from the condo (7 July 2008)
© Timothy Tye

Idols probably added later by punters, at Relau Villa (7 July 2008)
© Timothy Tye

Relau Villa Location Map

Compare prices of Hotel Room Rates in Penang

Use this search engine to find the lowest price of hotel rooms from different Hotel Booking websites. You'd be glad to do your homework!

Find a hotel

New York City
Bangkok
Amsterdam

Guests:

Rooms:

Local Tours in Penang

It is often more practical to book your tours online. You have the luxury of time to go through what are the tours you intend to take, rather than having to make a decision on your feet. Check out the local tours in Penang that you can book online. The tours are provided by Viator, a reputable international tour company.

Arrange Airport Transfer

If you are coming to Penang, you can arrange airport transfer from airport to city in advance. A van will be waiting for you to pick you at the airport. This service is very useful and cost effective if you are arriving as a group.

Follow me on Twitter

Please link to me!

If you enjoy exploring Penang and getting to know its places of interest, place a link from your website or blog to Penang Travel Tips. Let Penang Travel Tips be your window to everything Penang! It is as easy as copying the source code below and pasting it on your site:

Return to Penang Travel Tips homepage

What's up at my other websites: Asia Explorers, World Greatest Sites, Flowering Garden, and Earth Documentary

Penang Travel Tips is written by the Happy Jobless Guy

Penang Travel Tips is researched and written by Timothy Tye, universally known as Tim. The text is the copyright of Timothy Tye, and may not be copied for commercial use or re-published in another website without the author's permission. Information provided is in goodwill and is believed to be correct and up-to-date at time of writing. Photographs on this website are the copyright of the author and may not be reused without prior permission. For commercial licensing of photographs, read the licensing terms. Tim is a Christian. Click here to know more about his beliefs.