We've tried to ensure the information displayed here is as accurate as possible. Should there be any inaccuracies, we would be grateful if you could let us know at info@ipohworld.org . All images and content are copyright.
(Please click on the thumbnail for a bigger image.)
Immigrant Lee Cheong, Founder Of Ipoh Beef Noodles & His Mother, Liang Yu Huan In China
The photographs show Lee Cheong, founder of the famous Beef Noodle Stall in Ipoh, which has been in operation by the same family for more than 70 years, and his mother Liang Yu Huan from Phunyu, Guangdung, China.
Lee Cheong was born in Phunyu, Guandong in 1902 and first came to Malaya in 1916 to help his father, already in Malaya, to sell rice on their stall in Kuala Lumpur. After some time he returned to China, but times were very tough there and so in 1922 he returned to Malaya and found employment as a supervisor (kepala) in the tin mine of Cheong Yook Chong near Kuala Lumpur. However by the mid 1930s the world depression had taken its toll on tin mining and many unemployed coolies had to return to China to take up hawking or begging in order to survive.
Lee Cheong decided that a move to Ipoh and the new profession of a beef noodle hawker would be the best thing for him, which as it turned out was absolutely correct. The photograph of him is from his first licence as an Ipoh hawker. Lee Cheong passed away in Ipoh in 1981 aged 79 years. His mother never came to Malaya.
There is no doubt that his new profession was a good choice as he successfully created a long term family business and had eight children, all born in Ipoh. The business, the famous Beef Noodle Stall in Ipoh has now been in operation by the same family for more than 70 years. Originally in Theatre Street for more than 50 years, they were forced by legislation to move to a central hawkers area, known locally as Rainbow City where they have been for a further 20 years plus.
Rainbow City was the name given to the Odeon Theatre (Cinema) in Brewster Road when it closed down in 1986 and became a night club. The Beef Noodle Stall remains in operation there, with the same family, today (2007).
As none of the descendants of Lee Cheong, who today operate the stall, are married, the future of this famous institution in Ipoh is very much in doubt.
To read more about the Odeon Theatre click here.