Charming secret in the back lanes of Petaling Street
This is the best-hidden secret on Petaling Street. In fact – I bumped into this place by accident. I was not planning to go for this place but was just wondering around on Saturday morning. As I was walking around Jalan Panggung, I saw a bunch of tourists gathering around a particular area. To my surprise, it was an art mural area.
In fact, further research – Project Kwai Chai Hong is a restoration project of 10 shop houses along Jalan Petaling (Petaling Street) and Jalan Panggung. This particular art mural place is in between both streets. Please refer to the map below for the location.
The video below shows the art mural that was done by artists.
What is Kwai Chai Hong
Lorong Panggung is also known as Kwai Chai Hong, and apparently, in the Cantonese dialect – it literally translates to Ghost Lane.
Based on the article from Malay Mail:
The origin of the Kwai Chai Hong moniker is, however, not supernatural in nature, with at least two credible theories floated regarding this name.
One is that migrant workers from China who settled here used the colloquial slang of “kwai chai” (ghost children or little demon) to refer to mischievous children running around Lorong Panggung.
Another theory is that Kwai Chai Hong’s past as an area filled with gamblers, drug addicts, drunkards and those engaging in vice activities led to its nickname, while another story claimed that Lorong Panggung was the hideout of the “Dragon Tiger Clan” whose boss would call his members “Little Ghosts.”
Source: Malay Mail – Kwai Chai Hong: Neglected lane in KL’s Chinatown restored
It is quite amazing. The following photo – which is exactly what I recall this place is what it used to be! The management company invested RM1.5M in the restoration. This is truly amazing.
Certainly charming. Though, the type of shooting that I do – I don’t really shoot art murals. That’s for Instagram. Here is my take on the fine art of one of the elements from the area.
