Ipoh city in Perak has a rich Chinese culture; the Chinese comprising 70 percent of the total population. The lifestyle here is relaxed and live moves at a quiet pace. This is why for Malaysians, Ipoh is known as a great place to retire to.
Ipoh began as a mining town, and many Chinese were made millionaires during this period in the 1920s’. Gradually, the tin resources were depleted, but rather than become a cosmopolitan city like Kuala Lumpur, it regressed into a quiet and peaceful place. Actress Michelle Yeoh, star of ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’ was born in Ipoh.
Ipoh is also famous for its Chinese cuisine. The ‘Sar Hor Fun’, is a bowl of flat rice noodles served in soup. ‘Tim Sum’ is a collection of sweet and meat dumplings served in little bamboo canisters.
The city has many limestone caves and hump-like hills waiting to be explored. For example, the Sam Po Tong is a Chinese temple built within a gigantic limestone cave that houses quite a few giant tortoises too. The Kek Lok Tong is yet another temple in a cave that lies in a nearby range.
For a relaxing retreat, Ipoh may not have the cool of the highlands or the warmth of the beach but it does have a lot of heart and feel for visitors to experience
