Sweet memories: (From left) Liu, Sun Kaidi, Zhang, Wu and Sun Yang taking a wefie in George Town. — LIM BENG TATT/The Star
GEORGE TOWN: Five travel content creators from China with a total of 25 million followers are on a mission to show what to see, eat and experience in Penang while on a visa-free holiday.
Besides the durian season, which is in full swing now, what wowed them the most was the “laidback, leisurely” lifestyle and the harmony between the different races.
“I stood by the roadside and could see a church, Chinese temple and mosque along the road.
“I saw Chinese people offering prayers at a Hindu shrine too,” said Sun Kaidi, 29, referring to Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling, locally nicknamed Harmony Street.
Sun said Chinese nationals would love Penang’s laidback pace.
“Those who work in big cities in China will see Penang as a welcome respite and appreciate the joy of living in the moment.
“We can enjoy it here even with a small budget. Street food is super affordable and there is a treasure trove of cultural experiences that come with little to no cost.
“Backpackers from China will certainly want to stay here longer.
“To us, Penang is like little China because we feel at home with many people speaking Mandarin,” she said.
Sun said she felt a twinge of nostalgia when she saw many Chinese folk still holding dear to old customs and traditions.
“We no longer see these traditions observed in China. Even Penang street food is rich in the ‘old taste’ because the recipes are passed down from one generation to another.
“And if there is one street worth exploring for hawker food, I will say it’s Kimberley Street,” said Sun, who shares travel tips to Penang on her social media accounts, such as Kaidi Planet.
Zhang Xinyan, 34, said she was fascinated by the well-preserved colonial-era buildings.
She considers them icons of Penang’s unique architectural heritage.
Zhang was also enamoured with the many festivals in the state, such as the Miaohui, which is Penang’s Chinese New Year celebration where activities are held in temples, ancestral halls and clan associations.
“I don’t think you can get cultural celebrations like this in modern cities in China,” she said.
Zhang said she hopes airline companies will have more direct flights between Penang and Beijing as well as Shanghai.
“It takes about nine hours from either Beijing or Shanghai to Penang as there are no direct flights. With that amount of travel time, some would rather go to Japan or South Korea,” she said.
Chinese nationals now enjoy 30-day visa-free trips to Malaysia.
Between January and March, 22,420 Chinese nationals arrived via direct flights at Penang International Airport, compared with 4,768 arrivals during the same period last year.
The highlight of the five-day trip for the five travel content creators was their durian party.
Yoyo Wu, 39, from Guangdong province, was amazed by the Musang King.
“The taste is simply unforgettable,” she said.
Wu is a writer for multi-platform travel and lifestyle media Traveling Sisters.
The other writers are Sun Yang, 39, and Liu Lidan, in her 40s.
The trip to promote Penang to China was courtesy of AirAsia, Shangri-La Rasa Sayang Penang and Penang Global Tourism.
The team returns to China tomorrow.
