The best museums Northwest

On a limestone hill of 122 m height is hidden a vast cave containing 40 statues of Buddha of which the highest measures 13 m. This temple was founded in 1926 by Chon Seng Yee who discovered the cave. He was a lover of painting and had the various caves and galleries decorated, which are still being completed by pilgrim artists. After the main altar, steps lead you through the galleries until you reach an exit on the side of the cliff. A surprising view of the industrial area and the mountains awaits you a little higher up.

This mansion bears witness to the rich heritage of the Peranakan, the first Chinese to settle in the Strait of Malacca colonies that include Malacca, Singapore and Penang. It was built at the end of the ^19th century as the residence of the former kapitan cina Chung Keng Kwee. Although not a baba himself, he ensured that his house was decorated in the Peranakan style. He was one of the richest men in the Strait at the time, founder of the town of Taiping, and he sought to impress the community. Initially, the house was home to the Ghee Hin secret society. The tour takes us through perfectly restored rooms that bear witness to unparalleled opulence. Styles blend to form a harmonious whole: Chinese openwork wood panels, Scottish ironwork, patterned English tiles, hand-blown glass chandeliers... The furniture is inlaid with mother-of-pearl, the woodwork gilded with fine gold. The house contains over 1,000 curios and antiques. Each new room is even more luxurious than the last, with a special mention for the games room, where you can guess the frenzied games of mah-jongg and poker that must have taken place under the light of the huge chandelier. The rooms are arranged around a flower-filled courtyard, where the monumental staircase leads to the first floor. You can round off your visit to this Peranakan mansion with a tour of the Chung Keng Kwee temple next door.