The best markets in Penang to visit for food, shopping and culture

The exterior of the renovated and revamped Chowrasta Market in George Town, Penang. — Photos: LIM BENG TATT/The Star

George Town in Penang has come a long way from the bustling port city that blossomed in the 19th century, leaning on its strategic location along the Malacca Straits.

From a high-tech industrial zone to a crucial centre of commerce and agriculture, the country’s second smallest state clocks in among the top five states in terms of GDP. However, unlike many other economic centres that have urbanised across the decades, George Town has managed to hold on to large portions of its heritage.