Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia

🇲🇾 Ipoh is the capital city of the Malaysian state of Perak. Located by the Kinta River, it is nearly 180 km (110 mi) north of Kuala Lumpur and 123 km (76 mi) south-east of George Town in neighbouring Penang. It is the fourth largest city in Malaysia by population.

Originally a village, Ipoh began to grow rapidly in the 1880s after huge deposits of tin were discovered within its vicinity. By 1895, it was the second largest town within the Federated Malay States, which also consisted of Selangor, Negeri Sembilan and Pahang. Ipoh was declared a city in 1988. However, following the depletion of its tin deposits and the collapse of tin prices in the 1970s, the city suffered decades of decline and neglect.

In recent years, Ipoh's popularity as an international tourist destination has been significantly boosted by efforts to conserve its British colonial-era architecture. The city is also well known for its cuisine and natural attractions, such as its limestone hills and caves within which Buddhist temples were built. In addition, Ipoh has managed to maintain its reputation as one of the cleanest cities in Malaysia and Asia in general.

Ipoh's location between Kuala Lumpur and George Town has made it a major land transportation hub within West Malaysia, with both the Malayan Railway's West Coast Line and the North-South Expressway cutting through the city. Aside from the land transportation links, Ipoh is also served by the Sultan Azlan Shah Airport.

The Old Town The Old Town lies to the west of the Kinta River. It has a commercial district with many historical "shop-houses" centred around Leech Street (烈治街; Jalan Bandar Timah). Other notable features include: • Ipoh railway station in neo-classical/Edwardian Baroque style nicknamed the "Taj Mahal of Ipoh". • Ipoh Town Hall, an Edwardian Baroque municipal building located across the road from the Railway Station. • Padang Ipoh or Ipoh Field, on Jalan S.P. Seenivasagam. The field is surrounded by historic buildings that feature classic colonial architecture, including the mock-Tudor style Ipoh Club, FMS Bar, HSBC Building and the St Michael's Institution secondary school. • The Anglo-Chinese School, Ipoh, officially named SMK Methodist (ACS), is located along Lahat Road. • Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Convent Ipoh, also known as Main Convent Ipoh is almost 114 years. Established in 1907, one of the oldest all girls school in Ipoh. • Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Anderson is the most well-known secondary school with more than 100 years of history, located beside the General Hospital of Ipoh. • St. Michael's Institution, Ipoh is a public secondary school situated on Jalan S. P. Seenivasagam, formerly Clayton Road. • Han Chin Pet Soo, the Hakka Tin Miner's Club, located on Jalan Bijeh Timah (formerly Treacher Street) has been restored and turned into Malaysia's First Hakka Tin Mining Museum. • Muzium Darul Ridzuan is a historical museum of Perak, in a former tin-mining tycoon's mansion on Jalan Kuala Kangsar. • Concubine Lane (二奶巷), or better known locally as Yi Lai Hong in Cantonese, is a narrow and small lane located off Jalan Bandar Timah (Leech Street) in Old Town. It now has restaurants, souvenir and gift shops and a reputable hotel. • Ipoh wall art murals, drawn by talented street art artists, are now a tourist attraction. • Birch Memorial Clock Tower is a historical landmark which is located near the Ipoh State Mosque or commonly known as Sultan Idris Shah II Mosque. The clock tower was built to commemorate James W. W. Birch, the first British Resident in Perak who was killed on 2 November 1875 at Pasir Salak.

The New Town The so-called New Town, to the east of the Kinta River, was developed by Yau Tet Shin around 1908. The New Town houses the Perak Medical University, Bangunan Sri Kinta, Ipoh Parade, Ipoh City Hall building. There are numerous shops, shopping malls, and hotels.

D. R. Seenivasagam Park (Coronation Park), located in the heart of Ipoh's New Town, is known for its scenery and recreational facilities. It comprises recreational fields, an artificial lake filled with fish, a nursery for potted plants and a children's traffic playground. The latest addition is the newly landscaped Japanese garden featuring a Japanese carp pond.