Sun Yat Sen Museum
Sun Yat Sen Museum
4
Historic SitesCultural ToursArchitectural BuildingsHistorical & Heritage ToursHistory Museums
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Full view
About
A historic gem in the heart of the George Town world heritage site. Experience a traditional shophouse of tropical architecture with an open-air inner courtyard and an authentic peranakan house interior. The museum has a permanent exhibition on Sun Yat Sen's early revolutionary period in Penang when he planned a historic uprising on the cusp of the Chinese Revolution of 1911. The Sun Yat Sen Museum Penang is situated across the road from a pocket park, along Armenian Street.
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Sun Yat Sen Museum
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
370 reviews
Excellent
147
Very good
149
Average
63
Poor
6
Terrible
5
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petermok
Hong Kong, China5 contributions
Nov 2019
Dr. Sun, Founding Father of the Republic of China, visited Penang during the difficult years of his struggle for China's independence from the Qing Dynasty. He received tremendous support from the local Chinese population, raising fund in support of the revolution.
The Museum has also displayed the efforts of overseas Chinese in the resistance against Japanese Invasion from 1937 to 1945, when thousands of young Chinese-Malaysians (at that time under British colonial rule) had returned to China and assisted in the fight against invasion.
The Museum has also displayed the efforts of overseas Chinese in the resistance against Japanese Invasion from 1937 to 1945, when thousands of young Chinese-Malaysians (at that time under British colonial rule) had returned to China and assisted in the fight against invasion.
Written January 24, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
macedonboy
Glasgow, UK186,521 contributions
Jan 2020
This building is the house used by the Chinese revolutionary, Sun Yat Sen, when he lived in Penang. The house museum tells the life and times of Sun Yat Sen when he lived in Penang and formed his plans for creating a republic of China from the then absolute monarchy. The house is an amazing piece of history and worth the visit for those interested in one of the most momentous events of the 20th century.
Written February 18, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Choong Lii S
1 contribution
Dec 2023 • Couples
If i didn't visit this museum, i would not know that Sun Yat Sen stayed in penang for 3 & half months to raise fund for revolutions in china, even his 2 daughters studied for 1 year in penang. Malaysian Chinese are the chinese that donated the 2nd most money outside China. Very cheap ticket price, just rm10 with free english/ mandarin tour. The guide is an actual historian who gives good explanations. This is a good place to spend half an hour to 1 hour but surprisingly not a lot of promotions about this place & I'm the only visitor there during my time.
Written January 1, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Heath
Singapore, Singapore518 contributions
Dec 2023 • Solo
I learned for the first time from the explanation inside the museum that this was the headquarters of Sun Yat-sen's activities in Penang. Even if you are not interested in Sun Yat-sen, if you like Peranakan-style architecture, it is worth a visit. It is smaller than the nearby Peranakan Museum and has more "general" Peranakan architecture.
Written December 31, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kendra R
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia58 contributions
Jan 2020 • Friends
Great information in English in this very well done small hidden museum. Museum with the most written english in Penang. Provides good information on Chinese and Penang history. Worth a visit and only RM 5!
Written January 26, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Abovetheclouds
2,243 contributions
Aug 2024 • Solo
Small but very interesting. Worth paying the cheap entrance fee. You need maybe 30 minutes at the most. Staff are super friendly and helpful. Easy to navigate. Information is in English as well. I learnt a lot about Dr. Sun Yat Sen.
Written August 25, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ACEY1
Rugeley, UK32 contributions
Dec 2018 • Couples
5MR each, takes about 45mins. Secure location, doors are locked to allow visitors to leave their belongings. Friendly and welcoming proprietor speaks excellent English and Mandarin. Toilets available at the rear. Information in English and Mandarin. Places to sit.
It’s a museum in three parts; Sun Yat Sen and Penang, international recognition of the museum and the house itself.
First the story of Sun Yat Sen in Penang: there are 11 information boards in English and Mandarin detailing Penang’s contribution to Sun’s revolution. Includes pictures and documents. There are Sun’s letters but they are only in Mandarin. There is also an information booklet about the time Sun’s family lived in Penang.
Second is the international recognition of the museum. Photographs of important visitors. There was hot tea and cold plum juice available for visitors free of charge; the museum proprietor encouraged us to have as much as we wanted. There are also books in English and Mandarin which visitors are welcome to read and purchase.
Thirdly, at the back of the house is information about the house itself, previous owners and household objects with some information about them. A small about of information here unsurprisingly as this is not the focus of the museum but still a welcome inclusion.
I think some understanding of who Sun Yet Sen was would be beneficial as the museum does focus solely on his time in Penang and assumes visitors already have a basic knowledge of man and his significance.
Proprietor was very welcoming. Price is great for Penang. Great for sparking a curiosity about the secret societies of Penang. Wonderful to see a traditional house and ‘get a feel’ for how Chinese families would have lived in them. Well organised, detailed and informative.
It’s a museum in three parts; Sun Yat Sen and Penang, international recognition of the museum and the house itself.
First the story of Sun Yat Sen in Penang: there are 11 information boards in English and Mandarin detailing Penang’s contribution to Sun’s revolution. Includes pictures and documents. There are Sun’s letters but they are only in Mandarin. There is also an information booklet about the time Sun’s family lived in Penang.
Second is the international recognition of the museum. Photographs of important visitors. There was hot tea and cold plum juice available for visitors free of charge; the museum proprietor encouraged us to have as much as we wanted. There are also books in English and Mandarin which visitors are welcome to read and purchase.
Thirdly, at the back of the house is information about the house itself, previous owners and household objects with some information about them. A small about of information here unsurprisingly as this is not the focus of the museum but still a welcome inclusion.
I think some understanding of who Sun Yet Sen was would be beneficial as the museum does focus solely on his time in Penang and assumes visitors already have a basic knowledge of man and his significance.
Proprietor was very welcoming. Price is great for Penang. Great for sparking a curiosity about the secret societies of Penang. Wonderful to see a traditional house and ‘get a feel’ for how Chinese families would have lived in them. Well organised, detailed and informative.
Written December 27, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SOH KIEN PENG
Singapore, Singapore9,316 contributions
Feb 2014 • Couples
I had visited Wan Qing Yuan in Singapore sometime back and few years ago., while I was in Guangzhou, I had also visited the Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hall and the Huanghuagang 72 Martyrs Mausoleum. Recently when I visited this museum in Penang, I have a clearer picture of their significance and how the few museums and monuments were historically related.
Dr Sun Yat Sen was the founder of `Tong Meng Hui', the revolutionary organization formed then with the prime objective of overthrowing the corrupted feudalistic Manchu Ching Dynasty. The oversea chapter was set up in Singapore at Wan Qing Yuan. Decision on the Second Uprising against the Manchu Dynasty was made during a conference held at this museum in Penang. However, this Second Uprising in Guangzhou, also named the Huanghuagang Uprising failed and a number of the revolutionaries involved were killed by the Qing Dynasty armies. Of those who were killed, 72 bodies were subsequently identified and buried. The Huanghuagang 72 Martyrs mausoleum was built at the burial ground in Guangzhou to signify the sacrifice of the 72 revolutionary heroes during the Second uprising.
It was here in Penang and also in Singapore that Dr Sun solicited the contribution of the rich oversea Chinese businessmen in Malaysia to finance the revolution. It was here that the plans for the 2nd Uprising in Guangzhou was formalised.
Revolution is real bloodshed and sacrifice and Dr Sun knew the risk involved yet he was passionately committed to the noble goal to establish a modern China modeled under his Three Principles of Democracy, Nationalism and People's livelihood. He was deeply concerned with the poverty and suffering of the common people under the Qing regime and there was no other avenue that could change the fate of the Chinese people but through revolution.
When we understand the history behind this museum, it became a pleasure to better appreciate the displayed artifacts as part of the revolutionary historical struggle rather than just seeing the surface value of these artifacts itself.
Penang shares a stake in the making of modern China and this museum will forever be an icon in the history of the Chinese people.
Dr Sun Yat Sen was the founder of `Tong Meng Hui', the revolutionary organization formed then with the prime objective of overthrowing the corrupted feudalistic Manchu Ching Dynasty. The oversea chapter was set up in Singapore at Wan Qing Yuan. Decision on the Second Uprising against the Manchu Dynasty was made during a conference held at this museum in Penang. However, this Second Uprising in Guangzhou, also named the Huanghuagang Uprising failed and a number of the revolutionaries involved were killed by the Qing Dynasty armies. Of those who were killed, 72 bodies were subsequently identified and buried. The Huanghuagang 72 Martyrs mausoleum was built at the burial ground in Guangzhou to signify the sacrifice of the 72 revolutionary heroes during the Second uprising.
It was here in Penang and also in Singapore that Dr Sun solicited the contribution of the rich oversea Chinese businessmen in Malaysia to finance the revolution. It was here that the plans for the 2nd Uprising in Guangzhou was formalised.
Revolution is real bloodshed and sacrifice and Dr Sun knew the risk involved yet he was passionately committed to the noble goal to establish a modern China modeled under his Three Principles of Democracy, Nationalism and People's livelihood. He was deeply concerned with the poverty and suffering of the common people under the Qing regime and there was no other avenue that could change the fate of the Chinese people but through revolution.
When we understand the history behind this museum, it became a pleasure to better appreciate the displayed artifacts as part of the revolutionary historical struggle rather than just seeing the surface value of these artifacts itself.
Penang shares a stake in the making of modern China and this museum will forever be an icon in the history of the Chinese people.
Written January 5, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear soh_kien_peng ,
Thank you so much for your kind words.We are happy that you gave us such a good score ! We are glad to hear that you enjoy visiting in Sun Yat Sen Museum.Please let us know if there is anything we can do for you when visiting us next time.
Have a nice time : D
Written February 29, 2016
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
GraemeShanghai
Shanghai252 contributions
Dec 2019
This museum is worth a visit when in Georgetown as it give a glimpse of living in the 19th Century. The guides give an interesting commentary. Only minor comment I would make is that I would have found in more interesting if the exhibits were dated so I could compare with other museums I've visited worldwide
Written December 27, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
4Hennie
Bangkok, Thailand29 contributions
Aug 2016 • Solo
It's a small history museum in an old little re-furbished house in George Town. A nice visit to learn about this part of history of Penang.
Written September 11, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for your positive review. We really appreciate it and are glad you that enjoyed our museum. We hope to see you again.
Written January 18, 2017
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Hi!
I saw a little poster advertising a 3 weeks stay there.
Could I get more info on this please?
Thanks
Written February 29, 2016
Dear Loulou, the Sun Yat Sen Museum does accept long stay guests when there is a room available. You could find their email from the website and write to them directly.
Written March 3, 2016
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