Ipoh is the third largest city in Malaysia located in the state of Perak. Famous for their white coffee, the city is also known for its British Colonial architecture and spectacular food. After reading this article, we guarantee that you’ll want to book a trip to Ipoh ASAP!

Image by Qing Xin Ling Leisure & Cultural Village

1.Walk through time and nature @ Qing Xin Ling Cultural Village

This spectacular lakeside Qing Xin Ling Cultural village is directly translated into ‘Serene Hill’ and is located in Taman Saikat approximately 20 minutes from the city centre. There are so many activities for visitors to do in the village including outdoor activities such as jungle trekking, bicycle riding and barbecues. Swings and benches are set up all over for you to enjoy the beautiful scenery of the village.

2.Check out cave paintings @ Gua Tambun 

The cave paintings at Gua Tambun is something not many people know about but is a must-visit whilst in Ipoh. It consists of over 600 images of animals, humans and shapes that are believed to be from Malaysia’s Neolithic art. The images are believed to be roughly between 2000 – 5000 years old and were discovered in 1959 by a British soldier who accidentally stumbled upon the reddish-orange drawings. The cave was later on declared a National Heritage in 1986 after the lower part unfortunately being vandalized.

3.Visit Kek Lok Tong Cave Temple

Kek Lok Tong Cave Temple is located approximately 15 minutes from the city centre and is spread over 12 acres of land and is the most famous temple in Ipoh. It is one of the main places of worship in the city and has been built for over 100 years.

The temple is surrounded by various Buddhist deities and altars surrounded by trails passing two glassy lakes. A Zen garden can also be found here where people visiting can go unwind and relax before wandering along a reflexology footpath.

4.Take a walk along Mural Art’s Lane

Ipoh’s mural art’s lane was done by a local Ipoh born art teacher Eric Lai who wanted to brighten up the city’s backstreets of Panglima Street that depicts the traditional and more cultural aspects of local life. Quickly, the street became a popular tourist attraction that features all the different races and backgrounds of Malaysians, local childhood games and even traditional local dances.

Image by Aroma Asian

5.Tauge (Beansprout) Chicken Rice @ Lou Wong

Chicken rice served with beansprouts is another famous dish in Ipoh you should not miss. The chicken is cooked with spices leaving the meat extremely tender and fragrant then topped with a sauce and spring onions. The bean sprouts served at Lou Wong are crunchy and fat served with a dash of soya sauce and sesame oil for that inviting mouth watering aroma. Even the rice isn’t the typical white rice you eat - it is cooked with a chicken broth and thus adding extra flavour to the dish as a whole.

6.Afternoon stroll and snack @ Concubine Lane Tau Fu Fa

Concubine Lane was built in 1908 and the unusual name came from British officers and Chinese Magnates keeping their mistresses in this area. This once long and uneven street that is over 100 years old, has been kept in pristine condition preserving the history of Ipoh.

Now, this lane is filled with food stalls, shops and street markets also making it a popular tourist attraction. Something not to be missed out on whilst checking out the local businesses is taking a break for Tau Fu Fa.

Tau Fu Fa is Chinese snack made from soft tofu and is also known as tofu pudding or soybean pudding. The snack is usually served with either clear sweet syrup or gula Melaka (palm syrup).

7.Sample the white coffee and pair it with a caramel egg custard @ Nam Heong

When visiting Ipoh, something you always hear is ‘you have to try Ipoh’s White Coffee!’ The coffee is famous for inventing the white coffee with its beans being roasted with palm oil margarine making the coffee less bitter. The coffee is usually served in old-school coffee cups and a traditional coffee shop setting.

The perfect pairing with your coffee is a luscious caramel egg custard with its smooth texture and syrup. This mouth watering duo is definitely worth the wait and visit to Nam Heong for.

8.Dim Sum @ Foh San or Ming Court Restaurant

Dim Sum is a style of Chinese cuisine with bite-sized portions served on small bamboo steamers or a small plate if fried. There are over 100 different varieties of dim sum to choose from and if you’re heading to Ipoh, eating dim sum is a must!

The place to go is Jalan Leong Sin Nam, Ipoh’s famous dim sum street. We definitely recommend checking out Foh San or Ming Court restaurant located there. The dim sum served at both these places are as local as you can get - they are delicious and a bang for your buck.

Image by J2Kfm

9.Chicken Ho Fun and Curry Mee @ Moon de Moon

Another must try dish whilst in Ipoh is chicken ho fun and curry mee. Although these dishes are commonly found across almost every coffee shop, the one that stands out the most is at Moon de Moon.

Chicken Ho Fun are flat rice noodles that can be served either dry with the noodles tossed with soy sauce or in soup which is the more popular version. The broth for the soup is made with chicken bones and parts of the chicken with a dash of white pepper.

People looking for something spicier can opt for trying out the curry mee served with bean sprouts and abundance of ingredients such as meat, tofu, fish cake and many more.

10.Take a piece of Ipoh home with you

When heading to Ipoh, we’re sure you’d like to bring something back for your friends and family! Ipoh being a city famous for food, of course the items we recommend to bring back are food related as well.

The kaya puffs from Sin Eng Heong are something not to be missed! Be sure to head there early as well as they do sell out quickly and expect a queue as well. Trust us, there is no kaya puff like the ones sold here. The pastry is fluffy and flakey but the star of the show is the kaya filling.

Sak Keh Mah literally translates to kill ride horse. Although this has nothing to do with the caramel coated, egg flavored goodness this snack offers. This crispy flour that is infused with a mouth-watering egg aroma and flavor that is combined and coated with caramelized syrup. Be sure to get this delicious goodness from Hong Kee confectionery along with their flaky, golden egg custard filling egg tarts!

Image by Aun Kheng Lim Salted Chicken

Ipoh’s famous delicacy is their salted chicken and is a must buy to bring home! The chicken is marinated with ingredients such as ginger, wolfberries, ginseng and rice wine then wrapped in paper and baked with salt. In our opinion, the best one is definitely from Aun Kheng Lim. Using free-range chicken, the juicy meat falls off the bone with flavors out of this world.

Not sure about you, but we’re feeling a little hungry now. Be sure to check out the recommendations we have listed here and share your experiences with us! If there’s anything we’ve left out - let us know in the comment section below!

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