Cheong Fatt Tze - The Blue Mansion
The indigo courtyard palace of the 'Rockefeller of the East', circa 1880
About the Property
Built in the 1880s for Cheong Fatt Tze — the "Rockefeller of the East" who controlled much of Southeast Asia's trade in the late 19th century — this indigo-blue mansion is one of the finest examples of Chinese courtyard architecture outside China. Its five granite courtyards, 38 rooms, 220 windows, and seven staircases were arranged according to strict feng shui principles. Winner of UNESCO's Asia-Pacific Heritage Award for Conservation in 2000, the mansion's restoration used traditional lime plaster, Guangdong ceramic roof tiles, and Scottish cast-iron work.
Original Purpose
Hakka merchant's mansion
Highlights
History Timeline
Construction begins for Hakka tycoon Cheong Fatt Tze
Cheong Fatt Tze dies; mansion passes through family hands
Near-derelict mansion rescued by conservation architect Laurence Loh
Five-year restoration begins using traditional Guangdong techniques
Awarded UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage Award for Conservation
George Town inscribed as UNESCO World Heritage Site