GOPENG HERITAGE TRAIL

JOM PERGI - GOPENG HERITAGE TRAIL

Gopeng was a principal mining town in the State of Perak during the late 19^th century. It was regarded as the most important mining town in the Kinta Valley until 1890. The town started as a small migrant Chinese settlement near Kota Bharu in the vicinity of the present tomb of the Raja Bendahara Alang Iskandar ibni Raja Ahmad (former chief administrator of the Mukim Teja. Through the years and due to mining activities, the town has shifted from its original position to the present-day Gopeng, which is 20-km south of Ipoh, in the newly-created District of Kampar.

Upon reaching Gopeng, one may wonder is there anything interesting to explore in this sleepy hollow township. 

WRITER POSING WITH A MURAL ART IN GOPENG TOWN

Definitely, there is something planned for by Tourism Perak for our visitors here. There is a heritage trail which serves as a guideline for those who wish to get-to-know this former mining town.

The two-hour trail, will take visitor to see the following heritage places namely - Gurdwara Sahib (1905), Kuil Sri Maha Mariaman (1903), Kheng Chew Hainanese Association (1902), Gopeng English School (1923), Kon Yin Temple (1892), Temple Stage (1950), Post Offie (1906), Hup Teik Soy Sauce Factory (1914), Kampung Rawa Houses (1893), Townhouses, Muzium Gopeng (18870, Kwong Weng Por Kee Goldsmith (1930), Market Square (1980), Chang Lung Hakka Association, Eu Yang Sang Shop (1879), Masjid Jamik Gopeng (1927).

Other worthwhile to see places are - MY Gopeng Resort, Gaharu Tea Valley Resort, Adeline Resthouse and Gua Tempurung.

Kon Yin Temple is one of the oldest Chinese temples in the Kinta Valley built in 1892 with Eu Tong Sen as major sponsor. The temple was dedicated to the Goddess of Mercy. Many of the epigraphic plaques and statutes in the interior were contributed by Cantonese associations such as Lam Hooi, San Wooi, Ku Kong Chow and Hock San.

 

KON YIN TEMPLE

Temple Stage is located directly opposite Kon Yin Temple is a stage for live performance of Chinese opera during festive seasons of the Chinese. Erected after the completion of the temple, it was originally made of wood. In 1950s a brick stage replace the wooden one. Its facade is decorated with carvings and Chinese calligraphy - regarded one of the most beautiful temple stages in the Kinta Valley.

TEMPLE STAGE

 

Hup Tek Soy Sauce Factory - began processing soy sauce before the first World War (1914-1918). It is a small business belonging to the Lau family.

Its customers comprise of hawker, noddle sellers and housewives. To date, the factory has ssecured approval from the Health Department to continue processing soy sauce using a traditional formula and method.

HUP TEK SOY SAUCE FACTORY

 

Kwong Weng Por Kee Shophouse, was art deco characteristics was built in early 1930s. Simple ornamentation, rectilinear lines and geometric motifs are reflected in its facade. Below the roof fascia is a row of fixed louvres and at the bottom is a series of window-panes. Beneath the windows are three blocks of intricate negravings depicting flowers and small animals.

KWONG WENG POR KEE SHOP

 Muzium Gopeng, formerly known as Gopeng History Centre, this shophouse was built in 1887. It was renovated and transformed into a museum diplaying old photographs and artefacts of Gopeng town from colonial rule days to modern history. The museum opens daily except Wed/Thursday from 9am to 5pm.

MUZIUM GOPENG

 Chang Lung Hakka Association shophouse is painted white with blood red borders and Chinese decorative roof fascias. There are two engraved dragons above the front windows of the first floor. A signboard at the top of the front entrance depicts the Chinese name of the association. At the entrance, a Chinese couplet containing five characters each of is hung at its sides.

CHANG LUNG HAKKA ASSOCIATION

 Eu Yang Sang Shop - this was the site where in 1879 Eu Kong Pui built his first medical shop, Eu Yang Sang, a Chinese pharmaceutical business dealing with herbs, medicinal plants and herbal remedies for the sick, aged and opium addicts. Currently, the ground floor is leased to RHB Bank.

EU YANG SANG SHOP

 

Masjid Jamik Gopeng - was built by the Mandailing shopkeeprs in 1916 along Jalan Tasek and Kaumpung Rawa Road. As the muslim population grew and the original building became aged, a new mosque was constructed in replacement of the old mosque in 1927.

MASJID JAMIK

 

Townhouses - this was the pre-war town centre where the old market and theatre were built. There were also rows of single-storey wooden shophouses along Eu Kong Street, Market Street and Jalan Tasek. However, the 1886 inferno destroyed 68 shophouses. New brick townhouses, resembling those found in Ipoh, were then built by Yau Tet Shin in the following year.

TOWN HOUSES

 Market Square - this was the site of the old market built in 1895 which was still in use until the late 1980s. The market was made of wooden beams and planks and with attap roofing that was replaced with an asbestos-sheeted jack-roof in 1950s. The circular road that ran around the market still exists but the market building has been demolished.

MARKET SQUARE

 Kampung Rawa Shophouses - there are three rows of single-storey wooden shophouses with tiled roofs, built in 1893, as a communal home for Mandailing tin-mine workers. There was a communal kitchen to prepare food for the miners and a communal bathrooms and toilets Through the years, the buildings have remained unchanged.

KAMPUNG RAWA HOUSES

 

GOPENG NOODLE SOUP