Baba & Nyonya Heritage Museum
48-50, Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock, 75200, Melaka, Melaka | Visit Website | 06-282 1273
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Introduction
A living museum that showcases the local history of ethnic Chinese-Malays called Baba-Nyonya or Peranakan in Melaka. The museum displays artifacts of the Baba-Nyonya descendants, and is known for its well-preserved and elaborate woodwork, furniture, and porcelain.
What to Expect?
Excellent examples of Chinese-Palladian style, these townhouses, built in 1896, were transformed into a traditional Peranakan museum in later years; connected by a common covered footway, the museum features hand-painted tiles, elaborately carved teakwood outer swing doors and a sturdier internal door which provides extra security.
Framed by Greco-Roman columns, two red lanterns, one bearing a household name and the other messages of good luck, hang on either side of the entrance.
The upper level of the house has a short canopy of Chinese tiles above the portico which frames the almost-Venetian shuttered windows. Boasting distinctively east-meets-west allure, the glass windows feature wrought-iron grilles and the eaves and fascias are covered with painted, floral designs. Inside the house there’s a collection of gold-leaf fixtures, Chinese- and Dutch-design black wood furniture inlaid with mother of pearl as well as skilfully carved lacquer screens and Victorian chandeliers.
The best parts of this tour are the guides who regal guests with Baba Nyonya tales of yore with noticeable Peranakan wit during the informative 45-minute tours.
Touring this traditional Baba-Nonya (Peranakan) townhouse transports you to a time when women peered at guests through decorative partitions and every social situation had its specific location within the house. Built in 1659 by Dutch settlers, it was thoroughly rebuilt by Mr Chan, owner of a rubber plantation, in 1896. It's now owned by the seventh generation of the Chan family.
Guided tours start every 30 minutes to one hour, last 45 minutes and impart lots of information in an entertaining fashion; alternatively, it's possible to take a self-guided audiotour. The last tour of the day is 45 minutes before closing time.
Adults pay RM16 for a tour, children RM11.
Look Around
Address: 48-50, Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock, 75200, Melaka, Melaka
06-282 1273
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM Friday, Saturday, Sunday 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Reviews
4.3
(1,170)
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Ashleigh Weston
in the last weekThis was an experience we had planned into our trip to Malacca.
Learning about the history of ethnic Chinese-Malays and how they would have lived, how celebrations were experienced, clothes worn, was fascinating.
Only a short walk from Jonker Walk, and reasonably priced for local education and interesting architecture (that you can then notice in converted shops along the street!).
Highly recommend for people with an interest in local Malaccan history. -
Nicolas Messier
3 weeks agoWhat a beautiful house and museum! A very detailed written guide is provided making the visit enjoyable and instructive.
Note: Guided tours are not currently offered and museum is only open Thursday to Sunday -
Ahmad Fuad
3 weeks agoThe museum itself was beautiful. Stunning baba nyonya interior finishes with detailed explanations. What felt lacking was the hospitality and guidance from the crew. But it was a good experience nonetheless.
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Anita Rosaleh
a month agoMuseum was clean and well maintained. Guided tour are available depends on the time of the day but it wasn’t available when we got there, but the information book was informative enough for us. RM 16 charge was money well spent, we learnt quite a bit whilst there. There’s signs clearly say don’t touch the antique items but sadly seems the signs were still ignored by some visitors. There was insufficient staffs to enforce any kind of control. People really need to respect these historic items to preserve them for our future generations..
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Chloe
3 months agoMust-visit when you are in George Town. Stanley, who does the English-speaking tours is a rockstar. He explains everything with humour and personality. Extremely interesting era and heritage that is being conserved here. You can get lost in there for hours, just beautiful and unique. I highly recommend coming by and getting a tour with Stanley, what a lovely man.
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