鬼仔巷 Kwai Chai Hong
Lorong Panggung, City Centre, 50000, Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Lumpur | Visit Website | 012-316 6212
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Introduction
Take a stroll down memory lane to relive the glorious days of KL Chinatown. Kwai Chai Hong is a restored heritage lane where the golden era converges with beautiful yet artistic murals, combined with modern technology.
What to Expect?
Here, you can check out the specially-curated wall art depicting scenes from the past. These murals are not just artistic and creative, they are also interactive. Next to each mural is a QR code which, when scanned, will show a clip featuring that particular scene from the mural.
These murals are not just artistic and creative, they are also interactive. Next to each mural is a QR code which, when scanned, will show a clip featuring that particular scene from the mural.
Lorong Panggung is alternately known as Kwai Chai Hong in the Cantonese dialect and translates quite literally as "Ghost Lane" or "Little Demon Alley." The origin of the Kwai Chai Hong moniker is, however, not supernatural in nature.
The pre-war building at Kwai Chai Hong is the best-kept secret of the Chinatown area in Kuala Lumpur. You can easily miss it because it is an alley enter from a small lane.
Chinatown is virtually synonymous with Petaling Street or Jalan Petaling, which stretches beyond the mega arches of Chinatown.
Project Kwai Chai Hong involves ten restored shophouses — six fronting Jalan Petaling and another four units along Lorong Panggung, as well as a delightful laneway tucked between the two roads of Jalan Petaling and Lorong Panggung.
Inside the laneway are six murals depicting the daily activities of early Chinese settlers in the area during the 1960s.
This includes Chinese calligraphers who write auspicious sayings and help settlers write letters home. Kwai Chai Hong also features a century-old lamp post believed to be the only one surviving from the first set of lampposts installed in Kuala Lumpur when electricity arrived in the early 1900s, as well as displays of the original wooden windows that are no longer fit for use.
There are also cafes offering a variety of local street food and popular kopitiam fare like egg tarts and nyonya desserts.
They also periodically update the lane with festive theme and new decorations, do check out their facebook for latest updates and setup in store.
Look Around
Address: Lorong Panggung, City Centre, 50000, Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Lumpur
012-316 6212
Everyday 9:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Reviews
4.3
(1,690)
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Jenny Au
in the last weekThis artistic & creative lane completely revitalised the old neglected back lanes of Petaling Street area that I grew up in… well done to the creator/founder & all the artists! ????
We loved seeing the ‘Kungfu Hustle’ casts & scenes there ♥️?? -
Jony
4 weeks agoKwai Chai Hong “鬼仔巷” is a lane that locates at the back of Petaling Street.
In the lane have six murals drawn by local artists that record daily life in the 1960s to let tourists know the story of Chinatown in Kuala Lumpur. Every mural comes with a QR Barcode for you to scan and read the story for the mural.
Whenever the season of Chinese customs comes, this lane will be decorated with the theme of the festival.
It's a great place for photography lovers must visit. -
Sharad Kumar
2 months agoA tourist attraction which is close to petaling street.
This small place resembles the early 1960s Chinatown feel in KL.
The ambience here is retro with rustic painting and set up ideal of some good photographic scenes to capture.
No entry fee. -
Vera Gordon
4 months agoKwai Chai Hong 鬼仔巷 means “little demon alley”. It is the latest tourist attraction in the Chinatown of Kuala Lumpur. It is a small alley behind Petaling Street focused on recreating the culture of the 1960s golden era of the area. The origins of the name are debated. According to one, Chinese refer to naughty children as Kwai Chai and this is where the kids liked to play. According to another theory, this place was popular amongst gangsters and drinkers and drug addicts, and these activities carry negative connotations resulting in such a name. The place today is very popular and frequented by tourists. It is decorated by numerous murals depicting daily life at this place in the old days. The alley has been there for more than a century and has become dilapidated over time but recently lovingly restored. In addition to murals and art, it offers local cafes and restaurant experience right inside the alley. Come visit and take pictures and visit local stores. No entry fees but tends to be crowded. Expect to spend 15-20 minutes if plan to take pictures / spend some time in the alley.
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Roy Yap
6 months agoBeen here 2 years ago and decided to give it another go recently. What a big difference that 2 years has been.
The place used to be quite hot as there wasn't much shade. Now, many of the plants have grown to provide a nice cooling shade. Some of the murals have faded and it would be good to refresh them a bit.
Just don't expect too much as it is just a small back alley that has been spruced up with murals and given a 70's era Chinatown vibe. But the place has done a great job of revitalizing the area.
My only other complaint is that there is currently a Japanese alcohol company sponsorship that has placed Japanese elements like lanterns, arches and even a big billboard of Fujiyama.
The vibe at Kwai Chai Hong is the 70's Chinese era and the Japanese elements just do not jive with the rest of the place. It's like a bad Hollywood movie that can't tell the difference between Chinese and Japanese. However, I do understand that sponsorship is needed to upkeep the place since it is free.
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