Cheong Fatt Tze House (Blue Mansion)

Built by a "rags to riches" Hakka immigrant, Cheong Fatt Tze, at the end of the 19th century, the mansion has 38 rooms, 5 granite-paved courtyards, 7 staircases and 220 timber louvre windows (at a time the British taxed each window on the front of buildings). It served as Cheong's private residence as well as the seat of his business activities in Penang. Of interest, he had eight wives, 7 of 8 were arranged marriages based on business connections as was the custom of the day. A "wife in every port" to run the family business as who could trust others? The house had many Feng Shui principles incorporated into its construction. For example, there are plant pots at the central courtyard where the "Qi" energy field (that connects all things) is centred, the rain water collected by the roof gutters flow into the courtyard then out in a circular pattern under the courtyard and flooring of the house before going to the street. Feng shui dictated that arrangement would help ensure that Cheong's fortune would not be quickly drained away if the flow had been straight out (also had the advantage of cooling the floor and house!). Unfortunately, none of his family was as good a financial manager as Cheong was; due to this and other factors, the mansion fell into disrepair. In his will, he stipulated the house could not be sold until his last son (of favorite wife No. 7) died. The sale came up in 1990 and his daughter in law, who had managed to hang on to it, had the wisdom to sell to an architect who took six years to restore to meet a UNESCO world heritage site designation. Now it is operated as a hotel, restaurant with a capped capacity for tours. We decided to spring for the linen table cloth 3 course lunch in the Indigo Room, knowing it would help to support this good work, and it was yummy!Read more