Cheong Fatt Tze - the Blue Mansion

The room has a lot of history, with an antique charm. The staff told me that all the items are original old pieces that they've only repaired and refurbished, not replaced. The entire hotel is also incredibly photogenic. If you stay here, you get access to areas that aren't open to regular visitors, which makes it absolutely worthwhile.

I really need to emphasize this: the Ropewalk Guesthouse, whether it's the Zhang or Zheng branch, is absolutely NOT the Blue Mansion. The price is similar to rooms at the Blue Mansion, but it's almost a kilometer away from the Cheong Fatt Tze - Blue Mansion. I was stunned after checking in; they drove us away in an SUV. At first, I thought we were just going around the back because of a big courtyard. The next day, breakfast was at the Blue Mansion, and we waited half an hour for their car to pick us up. They even sent two people because the temporary driver (Indian or Malay, I'm not sure) didn't know the way, and the one who knew the way couldn't drive. Can you believe that? The so-called 'specialty breakfast' was also quite ordinary, with very few options. You had to order fried eggs or similar items separately (though there was no extra charge). The toast I ordered had a particularly strange, complex flavor. Consider it an 'experience.' This old house, just think of it as an experience of old-school Nanyang style. I suggest heading out early for sightseeing; if you're looking for a good rest, I don't recommend this place. You won't be able to sleep well after 7 AM because the high windows on the second floor have no curtains, so the sun shines right in. Plus, the house is right by a main road, and local motorcycles are the primary mode of transport, so the puttering noise is constant. Oh, and because it's a renovated old house, aside from one air conditioner by the bed in the second-floor bedroom, other areas, like the entire first floor and the second floor outside the bedroom, rely on ceiling fans for cooling. They say hotel rooms in Penang are generally expensive. If you want to experience Nanyang charm, you can try this place. But if you have a large suitcase, don't choose this place because the stairs are narrow (just over one person wide) and high (26 steps). It's suitable for travel bloggers to 'check-in' and get good photos, and it's close to汕头路 (Lebuh Kimberley).

Staying in the renowned Blue Mansion certainly sets a high tone. The historic residence is beautiful and meticulously maintained, and the staff here are all warm, polite, and graceful. Upon check-in, they offered cold towels and nutmeg tea. An older gentleman, with a twinkle in his eye, asked me to guess what magical drink it was. I admitted I didn't know, and he secretively whispered 'nutmeg.' I asked, 'What's that?' (It was beyond my vocabulary). He looked a bit deflated and said it was a type of spice. A few of the servers can speak Chinese, and the turnip cake at breakfast was also delicious. However, there weren't many guests, and during breakfast, the servers kept hovering, asking if you needed anything, which felt a bit pressuring. The room itself wasn't great. The Wi-Fi signal was almost nonexistent once the door was closed. I stayed in the 1950s-themed room, and the decor was quite odd. Another point is that the guided tours are only in English, perhaps because most visitors are foreign tourists, even though it's a Chinese ancestral home. Also, some of the Western guests here exude an air of superiority that makes one uncomfortable. If you're here to appreciate Chinese culture, then please drop the inexplicable high-and-mighty attitude, okay?

This is a hotel steeped in history. Every day, there are two guided tours explaining the story of Zhang Bishi, the owner behind the property, and these are free for those proficient in English. Our room was very comfortable, spacious, and felt wonderfully open. The location was also very convenient. Overall, everything was perfect.

The only issue with this hotel is how difficult it is to get a reservation, especially for their suites accommodating three adults. However, it's definitely worth a one-night stay. A single day is generally sufficient, as for longer trips, resort hotels tend to be more comfortable. The breakfast is à la carte and quite simple.