George Town houses the world's oldest Nanhai association outside China at Nam Hooi Wooi Koon. The massive building spans 200 feet between Chulia Street and Kampung Malabar. Chinese immigrants from Nanhai district started the group back in 1828. They waited until 1904 to construct their permanent home. Famous martial artists Wong Fei-Hung and Ip Man came from the same region.
The association once boasted 4,000 members but membership has dropped to just 1,000 people. Only a few hundred members stay active these days. The building looks plain from outside but hides amazing carved details on the roof. Gold leaf covers the front entrance words written in Cantonese. Stone tablets inside list the names of founding members who donated money...