Ipoh World

This photograph is believed to be taken from an early postcard. It shows the People's Park adjacent to the Hugh Low Street Bridge. The ornamental palms, shrubs and flowers are now fully grown and there is a small gazebo in the park. To the right is a larger building which is probably the original pavilion built in 1909 when park was first opened, with timber walls and windows added to it.

Although not shown in this picture, The Goddess of Mercy Temple stands on the edge of the park.

Today (2011) the soft landscaping of the early 1900's has given way to the concrete and bricks of the 21st century.

Hasbi shares his memories of the park with us :

" A nice gazebo there at the middle of the picture, next to the old chinese temple, should be the PaLo Ku Miao. The building on the right, the roof resembled the old market style.

This old People’s Park looks like it was the only recreational park of that era in Ipoh - before the Coronation Park (Taman D R Seenivasagam) was developed in 1953. I remember going to People’s Park for Mee Bandung, Ais Kacang while listening to jukebox songs and or had my haircut here in the 60's. They had the tailors located here too.

In the 80's the site was made into a Sunday Flea Market and all the vendors and sellers from behind Lam Looking Bazaar were moved to this weekly venue. I frequently visited the flea market and bought coins, medals, automobile grille badges for my collections. Then in the early 2000's, again the flea market was re-allocated to the present site at Memory Lane.

In the early 2000's the People’s Park was converted into the present Ipoh Water Front with Nasmir Restaurant at the rear (now closed, 2011)."

To read more about the People's Park and the Goddess of Mercy Temple, click here.

To read more about The Celestial Hotel & Dance Hall & Lam Looking Bazaar, click here.

To read more about D R Seenivasagam Park (Coronation Park), click here.