Han Chin Pet Soo (闲真别墅) is Malaysia's first Hakka tin mining museum managed by Ipoh World Sdn. Bhd. Located on the edge of Ipoh's Old Town, close to the Kinta River. Within walking distance of the well-known Panglima Lane (Concubine Lane), it was once the #1 attraction in Ipoh on TripAdvisor.



Originally the home of the Hakka Tin Miners Club, founded in 1893. The building was rebuilt in 1929 to replace the earlier double-storey club house on the same site. This unique museum encompasses approximately 5000 square feet over three floors. On display are artifacts, collectibles, ephemera and also photographs from the 19th and 20th century. True to life murals painted by local students of the Perak Institute of Art provides the experience of a tin mine.







With welcoming and informative staff guides, this place is an amazing spot to learn about the tin trade of old as well as the Hakka culture.

This exhibition is definitely something that should not be missed and is a valuable opportunity for tourists to get an insight of this intriguing historical treasure.

While the entrance fee to explore this exhibition is free, you will need to book a reservation before visiting Han Chin Pet Soo which can be done at http://www.ipohworld.org/reservation/. After your visit to Han Chin Pet Soo, you may also take a short stroll to one of Ipoh’s most popular streets– Concubine Lane.

Exhibition

Tin mining

With tin mining playing a prominent role in the development of Ipoh and the Kinta Valley, this section that uses original tin mining equipment highlights the process of mining for tin from prospecting for tin to the drying of tin ore. This section includes a historic video explaining the process of tin mining in the 1940s.



Kitchen

To serve the function of providing meals for the club members, a well-stocked kitchen would have played an important role. Restored it to its 1929 / 1930 standard, the kitchen has a three charcoal and one wood-fired stove, kitchen utensils and tins appropriate to the period.

Town square

The backyard has been transformed into a town square, ideal for photography the area includes a mural of a tin dredge, a street in Ipoh and a tin shop to complete the story of tin.

Activities of the club

The first floor of the building is dedicated to activities of the club members over the 122 years of its history. Dubbed as the four evils; gambling, opium smoking, prostitution and triads (secret societies). Full sized dioramas demonstrate how the club would have looked in its heyday.





Hakka floor

Moving on to the second floor is the guest floor where the club housed guests with the condition; they were Hakka males that were friends' of a member of the club. Coincidentally, Hakka means guest in English, seizing the opportunity, it was set up to illustrate the 1000 year long history of the Hakka people.