Taiping

The name Taiping is made up of two Chinese characters 太 (tai - 'great') and 平 (ping - 'peace'). The discovery of tin deposits in the area in the 19th century attracted settlers from China, who were organised into two feuding groups around the Cantonese Ghee Hin (義興) society and the Hakka Hai San (海山) society. British intervention in the early 1870s put an end to the feuding and the town, which used to be known as Klian Pauh, acquired its present name. The British made Taiping the administrative centre for the state of Perak in 1875. The town served this function until 1937 when the state capital was moved to Ipoh.

The town sits on a coastal plain at the foothills of the Bintang Range. This topography is responsible for the copious rainfall for which the town is known. An umbrella is not needed, though, as most of the time, it is just a drizzle. Locals do not wonder whether it will rain on a particular day; they wonder what time it will rain.

The compact town center is easily explored on foot. For trips further afield (e.g. to Maxwell Hill, the long-distance bus station at Kamunting, the Matang Mangrove Reserve), taxis are available for hire. Stage buses fan out in all directions serving the suburbs and the rural hinterland.

• Maxwell Hill (Bukit Larut) - a quiet hill station with an altitude of about 1000 m. Access is along a narrow single-track paved road on a fleet of dilapidated four-wheel drives run by the municipality. Accommodation is available in a couple of resthouses and a small number of bungalows.
• Taiping Lake Gardens - public gardens created out of abandoned surface tin mines. A series of interconnected ponds surrounded by flower beds, lawns, flowering shrubs and trees and playgrounds. Famous for a stretch of road lined by century-old rain trees (Samanea saman) whose branches arch down to the water's edge.

• Taiping Zoo, zootaiping@zootaiping.gov.my. And Night Safari Taiping - the first zoo to be established in Malaysia. Packed at weekends with day-trippers from out of town. 
  • Daytime zoo: adults RM12, child (3 to 12 years) RM8, discounts available for school groups, senior citizens (55+), tourist groups (20+ pax); open 08:30-18:00, feeding times 10AM and noon.
  • Night safari: adults RM16, child (3 to 12 years) RM10, discounts available for senior citizens (55+) and tourist groups (20+ pax); open 20:00-23:00 on weekday including public holidays, 20:00-24:00 on Saturdays and eve of public holidays.
• Matang Mangrove Forest Reserve - forty acres of mangrove forest reserve. You will get to see a variety of flora and fauna in this undisturbed forest.

A stroll through the town can be a pleasant experience. You are mostly protected from the elements by the arcades on both sides of the road, a typical architectural feature in most Southeast Asian towns. Some of the older buildings have retained their stucco façades with picturesque wooden shutters. Sticking out incongruously amongst these traditional two-storey brick and plaster buildings are more modern buildings, some of them rising four or five storeys. The bluish-green hills of the Bintang Range, their summits often shrouded in cloud, are visible everywhere from the town when you look east. As you stroll in that direction, the urban landscape quickly gives way to the refreshing view of the Lake Gardens, with the hills still dominating the background.

Taiping is one of the place with heaviest rainfall in Malaysia. You will notice that there is this betting culture on the time rain is going to fall from sky. Usually the punter will gather around the City oldest wet market and place bets with one another.

You can buy local fresh fruit.

Hiong Piah - a local traditional delicacy not to be missed.

Antong Coffee

Taiping is famous for its cheap delicious hawker spreads. Notable among them are:

• Roti Canai Bismillah Restaurant, Hawker's Center
• Nasi Briani ex Kantin Polis - infront POS
• Laksa at the Food Court beside the Lake Gardens
• Ice Cream - Foodstalls Belakang Bomba
• Popiah - Foodstalls @ Bawah supermarket, Prima Coffee Shop
• Wan Tan Mee - Larut Matang Food Court, Prima Coffee Shop, Tong Ah Coffee Shop (next to the wet market)
• Char Keuy Teow - Hawker's center
• Tim Sum - Kum Loong Restaurant (Jalan Kota - few lots away from Panorama Hotel) and Kong Meng (behind Panorama Hotel)
• Curry Mee - Prima Coffee Shop
• Cendol - Behind Bismillah Restaurant
• Ais Kacang - Larut Matang Food Court
• Combat Mee Goreng - Larut Matang Food Court
• Mee Rebus - Larut Matang Food Court
• Satay (near Pokok Assam market)
• Clay Pot Chicken Rice - Hawker's center
• Nasi Lemak
• Lobak
• Yong Tau Foo (near Fire Station also known as Belakang Bomba)
• Peanut soup- larut matang food court

The best reference point for most of the eating places is the Panorama Hotel/The Store shopping centre. The wet market is beside the hotel with the Larut Matang Food Court located behind the wet market. Tong Ah Coffee Shop (with its Wantan Mee) is located beside the wet market. Prima Coffee Shop (there are 2 Primas which face each other - you decide which one you prefer) and Kum Loong Restaurant (Tim Sum) is located a short stroll along Jalan Kota (the road fronting the hotel and the wet market) from the hotel.

• Nyonya Kuih, Larut Matang Food Ct. 
• Taman Tasik Food Court, Corner of Jalan Maharajalela and Jalan Taman Tasik (West side of the lake near where the paddle boats can be hired). 24 hours. This is a very large food court with many vendors with great views of the lake (if you stand up). Signs around indicate everything from laksa, chicken and rice, noodles, western and Thai choices. Large beer cost RM11. Later in the evening the place fills up and sports is played on the large projection screen and several TVs. Great atmosphere for some food and drink. 

• Mountain ice drink (like ais kacang) at Larut Matang Food Court

Cheaper alternatives are available in traditional Chinese-run hotels in the town centre. Accommodation is available in a number of hotels, including:

• Bukit Merah Laketown Resort, Jalan Bukit Merah, Semanggol, ☏ +60 5 890 8888. 976 rooms, all equipped with air-conditioning, television and phone. Also includes a water park, eco park and pedal boats. From MYR 140.00. 
• Flemington Hotel - 116-room hotel in the valley with good views of the Lake Garden. N 4°50' 52" E 100°45' 01"
• Hotel DE Raintown, 17, Jalan Lim Swee Aun, fax: +60 5-806 5060, info@newchampagnehotel.com. Double rooms are air conditioned with double bed, very small TV (cable/movie channels but no remote) and private bathroom (hot shower, cold sink, western toilet). No minibar, no lift. Reasonable value, clean albeit not spotless. Start at RM58 for double rooms. 
• Panorama Hotel, No. 61-79, Jalan Kota, ☏ +60 5 808 4111. Panorama Hotel is in the center of Taiping. The hotel has 80 rooms was wall to wall carpeting and central air-conditioning. rate starts at RM 78.20 Nett. 
• 🌍 Sojourn Beds & Cafe hostel, 54 Jalan Kota (Adjacent to the clock tower), ☏ +60 12 4643443, info@taipinghostel.com. Check-in: 2pm, check-out: 11am. 16 dorm beds and 6 private rooms with shared bathrooms. Price includes breakfast, AC and hot shower. Starting from RM59. (updated Mar 2017)
• SSL Traders Hotel, No.43, Jalan Medan Perwira Satu, Medan Perwira, Kamunting, ☏ +60 5-808 0000. Boutique hotel in Kamunting with 118 uniquely decorated modern rooms. RM120.00-RM170.00. 
• 🌍 Reserve The Cozytainer, 183, Jalan Merdeka,, ☏ +60 17-454 7763. Here you get the experience of living in a container and fraternizing with like-minded travelers. RM 89. (updated Feb 2021)
• 🌍 Novotel Taiping Perak, No 1, Jalan Tupai, ☏ +60 5-820 8288. This Accor property has a restaurant, gym, and rooftop pool. RM 113. (updated Feb 2021)
• 🌍 West Inn Taiping, 21, Jalan Kamunting, Kamunting, ☏ +60 58066888. Boutique accommodation of 18 furnished suites. From RM58. (updated Jun 2019)

• Ipoh, the state capital, known for good Malaysian food.
• Pangkor, known for its quiet beaches.
• Bukit Merah, which houses a theme park and the only Orang Utan Island in the country.
• Penang, a food paradise. Also colored with rich history and many beaches.
• Kuala Sepetang, a fishing village with eatery for seafood.