| Page Views: 4,184 Last Visit to Taiping: June, 2006 | Taiping ~ Eternal Peace by chiabh - last update: Sep 5, 2008 |
A Bit Out Of The Way | jalan kota, the main road of taiping... |
Taiping is a town in the northern state of Perak... The town developed rapidly in the 19th century when tin was discovered. The mines attracted large numbers of Chinese prospectors. With this uncontrolled development, feuds began between the different groups of Chinese immigrants became so bitter that in the early 1870s, the British intervened and have to assume control of the town.
They renamed it “Taiping” (meaning “eternal peace” in Chinese) from its previous name of Klian Pauh as a confirmation of the new state of truce following the end of the Larut War in 1874. The town’s mining industry continued to thrive, the country’s first railway was built to transport tin from Taiping to the coast town of Port Weld to facilitate exports.
Although Taiping’s economy declined with the dwindling tin deposits, the metal still remains an important industry in the area as do rubber and rice.
Taiping is a town of many first in the country... Every Malaysian will know that the first railway line is from Taiping to Port Weld... but not many know the facts about Taiping being first as listed below:
01 Open tin mining activity in then Malaya (1844).
02 Hill resort - Maxwell Hill (1844)
03 Swimming pool - Kolam Renang Kemahkotaan (1870).
04 Mosque - Masjid Tengku Menteri (1870).
05 Rest house (1870).
06 Artillery warehouse (1870).
07 Magistrate court (1874).
08 Balai penghulu (1875).
09 Resident's house (1877).
10 Port - Port Weld (1877).
11 English school - Central School Kamunting (1878).
12 Police force team (1879).
13 Government offices (1879).
14 Telegraph and post office (1880).
15 Lake gardens - Taman Tasik Taiping (1880).
16 Hospital, private and government (1880).
17 Club - New Club (1880).
18 Railway station and warehouse (1881).
19 Museum - Muzium Negeri Perak (1883).
20 Market building - Taiping Market Square (1884).
21 Prison - Penjara Taiping (1885).
22 Railway track - from Port Weld to Taiping (1885).
23 Turf club - Perak Turf Club (1886).
24 Anglican church - Old Saints Church (1886).
25 English girl's school - Treacher Girls' School (1889).
26 Clock tower - Menara Jam Besar (1890).
27 Esplanade - Padang Esplanade (1890).
28 Malay newspaper - Seri Perak (June 1893).
29 English newspaper - Perak Pioneer (July 4, 1894).
30 Tamil newspaper - Perak Verthamani (1894).
31 Armed Forces - Malay States Guides (1896).
32 Teaching college - Maktab Perguruan Melayu (1898-1900).
33 Ceylon Association (1899).
34 Punjabi Association - Khalsa Diwan Malaya Association (1903).
35 Indian Association (1906).
36 Recreation park - Coronation Park (1920s).
37 Airfield - Padang Kapal Terbang Tekah (1930).
38 Golf course -Prison Golf Club
39 Library - Perpustakaan Merdeka.
40 Fire brigade.
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| the taiping railway station... |
|  | The Taiping Railway Station The Taiping Railway Station is the first railway station to be built in then Malaya... and the first railway line is from Taiping to Port Weld (now re-named Kuala Sepetang)... Port Weld's activities with Taiping became closer when the railroad was built... Construction started in 1884 and the line was officially opened on 1 February 1885, transporting passengers and cargo from Taiping to Port Weld...
The original site of the Taiping Railway Station was situated at what is now the King Edward VII Primary School. The Taiping station was later re-located when the railway line was extended to Ipoh and Butterworth in the 1890's or early 1900's. This station still stands until today. As road transport improved and tin mining around Taiping diminished ,the rail service between Taiping-Port Weld was closed. The tracks remained until they were removed in the mid 1980's. The Port Weld Railway Station now has become a Chinese shop. The platforms has converted to roads by time. Only the small board that says 'PORT WELD' still remains. It is the only railway station sign board in Malaysia that has four languages, English, Jawi (Malay), Chinese and Tamil written on it. It is taken care by the Chinese shop keeper. |
| the peaceful taiping lake garden.. |
| | Taiping Lake Garden The land that is now Taiping Lake Garden was chiefly swamp and abandoned mines... In 1884 this large area of land of some 62 hectares was drained, levelled, planted and fenced for a public garden... By 1911, it was regarded as the most beautiful of gardens in then Malaya... It is considered the oldest lake garden in Malaysia... Locate at the foot of Bukit Larut (previously named Maxwell Hill), the Taiping Lake Garden present a serene and panoramic landscape with their lush greenery, lovely lakes and a profusion of colorful flowers and plants. The Taiping Zoo, probably the oldest zoo in the country, is another attraction located within the Gardens. Other facilities available at the Gardens include a rest house, fishing and aquabiking in the area.
The Taiping Lake Garden is the popular garden for the local residents. Today, it has become a recreation area for the locals as well as the tourists. The meandering road around the lake is laced by a row of rain trees with their branches overhanging the road to reach the lakes like giant hands. These trees are about one hundred years old... This has become the symbol of the Taiping Lake Garden... |
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chiabh's Taiping Travel Tips
 Comments for chiabh about Taiping | | | | |
Jim_Eliason Wed Mar 7, 2007 22:12 UTC
Great tips! | Azri_Azmi Thu Nov 16, 2006 12:28 UTC
Good work in exposing Taiping. Cheers Chia. | Sobe-A-Rush Sun Oct 29, 2006 10:21 UTC
All your pages are done excellent. Enjoyed reading them! YAnni | SLLiew Sat Oct 28, 2006 04:25 UTC
Nice tips of Taiping. One of my fav Malaysian towns. SL |
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