November 5, 2025
GEORGE TOWN – Armed with a brochure and a curious spirit, college student Chow Kuan Xian and her Kenyan friend Ruqeya Naushad set out to explore George Town’s famed Street of Harmony – collecting stamp prints from each heritage site as keepsakes of their cultural walk.
The duo spent the afternoon strolling along Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling, discovering the street’s rich history and centuries-old houses of worship that stand as symbols of Penang’s multicultural identity.
Chow, 22, a Penangite currently studying Chinese Literature in Kuala Lumpur, said she had never heard of the stamping activity until they visited the Kapitan Keling Mosque.
“I just wanted to show Ruqeya around, and we decided to visit the mosque.
“Now that we know about the brochure, we’re going to spend the rest of the day visiting all the sites and collecting the stamps.
“It’s such a creative idea – not only do we get to take home a fun memento, but we also get to learn about other cultures and places of worship,” she said.
For Ruqeya, 28, who works in human resources in Mombasa, Kenya, the experience offered a glimpse into Penang’s unique blend of heritage and artistry.
“Penang is very different from where I come from. It’s colourful and full of art, from the temples and churches to the murals.
“This walk gives us a chance to truly immerse ourselves in the local culture. I’ll have fond memories of this mini adventure,” she said.
Penang Harmonico Corporation (Harmonico) general manager Paul Au said the stamping activity, inspired by similar projects in Japan, Taiwan and China, was launched during the George Town Festival in July.
He said brochures are available at six houses of worship along the Street of Harmony – the Church of the Assumption, St George’s Church, the Goddess of Mercy Temple, Masjid Kapitan Keling, Sri Mahamariamman Temple and Masjid Melayu Lebuh Acheh.
“The project has been a hit – we need to replenish the brochures every two weeks.
“It’s simple, engaging and helps visitors learn something new while exploring Penang.
“The best part is that there’s no time limit. If you can’t collect all six stamps at once, you can always continue on your next visit,” he added.
Au added that the page with the collected stamps can be detached and used as a postcard – a small but meaningful memento of the journey.
There are currently four Street of Harmony routes across Penang – in George Town, Seberang Jaya, Bukit Mertajam and Bayan Baru – with plans to expand the programme to other parts of the state.
“In Seberang Jaya, the Street of Harmony route has been turned into an educational module in collaboration with the state Education Department, where schools use a city bus for half-day heritage tours.
“Here in George Town, the focus is on tourism – to let visitors take home something memorable from their exploration,” said Au.