Swatow Lane

Swatow Lane (9 December 2008)


Swatow Lane (Lorong Swatow) is a minor road in George Town, Penang. It is a one-way street running from the junction at Hutton Lane to the junction at Burmah Road, and forms a junction with Bawasah Road. The street was named the city of Shantou, historically known as Swatow, in eastern Guangdong province, in southern China.

Swatow Lane used to be famous for hawker food in front of the walls of the disused New World Park, a popular amusement park in the 1950's. Now a new food centre that takes the name of New World Park has been built on the site of the amusement park, and many of the hawkers have relocated into the food centre. However, popularity of the hawker stalls there have plummeted, due to unproven claims that the taste has deteriorated.

An old house along Swatow Lane (29 September 2012)


As with New World Park itself, many of the houses along Swatow Lane were built in the early 20th century. They exhibit elements of the Art Deco as well as early Modern styles of architecture, and are finished with either tiles or Shanghai plaster.

Until recently, Swatow Lane was one of the neglected pockets of George Town. For many years, most of the properties here are in a dilapidated state. Now some of these have been snapped up for redevelopment, though there remains a few charming Anglo-Indian and Anglo-Malay houses in the area.

Coffee Shops along Swatow Lane

The present Lorong Swatow road sign (29 September 2012)


The old Lorong Swatow road sign (9 December 2008)

Businesses along Swatow Lane

Getting there

Swatow Lane is not served by bus. The nearest bus stop is along Burmah Road.

View Swatow Lane, George Town, Penang in a larger map

List of Streets in Penang and Streets in Malaysia