Han Chin Pet Soo
閒真別墅
A Hakka tin merchants' club built in 1893, now a museum that tells the story of Ipoh's rise and fall as a tin-mining town and the lives of its miners.
Han Chin Pet Soo, a villa on Jalan Bijeh Timah near Concubine Lane, was built in 1893 by a Hakka tin-mining family. It was originally a private club where wealthy merchants and mine owners gathered to socialise, play mahjong and smoke opium. Around 2016, it was restored by the Ipoh heritage organisation Ipoh World and converted into a tin-mining museum. The museum displays the history of tin mining in the Kinta Valley: Hakka miners' tools, methods for smelting tin ore, life at the mines and secret societies. It also features the club's opium beds, mahjong tables and dining room from its heyday, vividly recreating the golden age of the 'Tin City' and the hardships faced by ordinary miners. Visits are guided by volunteers and last about an hour, with English and Mandarin sessions available. Advance booking on the official website is required. Entry is free, though donations are welcome (current arrangements apply). It is highly recommended for anyone interested in Ipoh's history, as it helps explain how the city came to be. The nearby Ipoh World shophouse exhibition is also worth a visit. Getting there: it is in the centre of Old Town and within walking distance. Note: the museum is usually closed on Tuesdays (check the website). Places are limited, so book early for weekends. Photography is restricted in some areas.
Opening hours
Tours by reservation (usually closed Tuesdays; check official website)
Nearby sights
- Concubine Lane
- Ipoh Old Town
- Kong Heng & Kong Heng Square
- Birch Memorial Clock Tower
- Sin Yoon Loong & Nam Heong White Coffee
- Ipoh Street Murals & Mural Art's Lane
- Ipoh Town Hall & Old Post Office
- Lou Wong Bean Sprout Chicken