Kwai Chai Hong reveals their latest installation in conjunction with the Mid-Autumn Festival – Beyond the Moonlit Door; a back alley lined with the Moonlit Doors beside a giant full moon.
The installation at the popular spot also features the works of Pamela Tan, an award-winning architect designer, showcasing her ethereal installation entitled “Endless Frames”.
The mid-autumn festival which dates back over 3,000 years of history is widely celebrated among the Chinese. It is particularly observed on the 15th day of the 8th month of the Chinese lunar calendar; with the beautiful full moon on the night.
It is a festival that encircles around the theme of reunion and gathering where people come together. On that specific night, families and friends gather together while enjoying mooncakes and tea. Lanterns of various sizes and shapes were displayed and carried as a symbol of the celebration.
This time around, the team from Kwai Chai Hong did an amazing work with their space by setting up a beautiful installation to celebrate this festival especially what we have experienced for the past two years. It will be a meaningful celebration this year as all of us can gather around whether it’s indoors or outdoors.
The mid-autumn installation will be displayed from August 26 until October 2 from 9.00am to 12 midnight daily.
Kwai Chai Hong is located at Lorong Panggung in Downtown Kuala Lumpur.
Just in case you forget, have you got your moon cake from the famous hotel brands or the local bakers in Kuala Lumpur already?
Khazanah Nasional Bhd has officially launched a virtual art gallery to showcase its collection housed at Slate @ The Row in Kuala Lumpur City from August 25 to September 4.
Entitled Time Together: Exploring Art Through Khazanah Nasional Berhad’s Collection, the inaugural virtual art exhibition features 57 artworks by 29 senior, established and young Malaysian artists, including Datuk Syed Ahmad Jamal, Datuk Ibrahim Hussein, Khalil Ibrahim, Latiff Mohidin, Dato’ Sharifah Fatimah, Yusof Ghani, Ahmad Zakii Anwar, Jalaini Abu Hassan, Anurendra Jegadeva, Kow Leong Kiang, Yee I-Lann, Fauzul Yusri, Liew Kung Yu, Haffendi Anuar and more.
According to Khazanah Managing Director Datuk Amirul Feisal Wan Zahir, the launch of this art gallery is aligned with the company’s Advancing Malaysia strategy to build capacity and spur vibrant communities for the benefit of all Malaysians.
The exhibition captures the stories of Malaysia through the journey of time, from the meaningful representations of the selected artworks to the life journeys of the artists themselves. These Malaysian narratives are exemplified in such artworks by Latiff Mohidin (1960); M Zain Idris (1970); Ahmad Khalid Yusof (1980); Dato’ Chuah Thean Teng (1991); and Kok Yew Puah (1993), to name but a few.
These are some of the collections that are displayed at their gallery.
Penjual Nasi Dagang, 2006 by Ismail Mat Hussin Image / Khazanah Nasional
Pago Pago, 1968 by Latiff Mohidin Image / Khazanah Nasional
Untitled, 2001 by Datuk Ibrahim Hussein Image / Khazanah Nasional
Badak, 2013 by Ahmad Zakii Anwar Image / Khazanah Nasional
The journey began as some of these senior artists were granted scholarships to receive tertiary education abroad in the 1950s, and upon their return they applied their knowledge as educators in the newly independent Malaya.
A number of these artists were advocates for the advancement of Malaysian art; some of whom had either established or participated in art associations, became integral figures in art institutions and galleries, and became ambassadors and promoters of Malaysian art on the global stage.
Galeri Khazanah will also include the pieces of eight young and emerging artists from the Khazanah Arts Residency between 2017 and 2022.
The Sultan of Perak, Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah, officiated the launch of the virtual gallery.
In his speech, Sultan Nazrin explained how art connects our past, present and future through historical context, so learning about our history helps us to understand more about our background.
The physical gallery is Slate @ The Row, 52, Jalan Doraisamy, Chow Kit 50300 Kuala Lumpur and opens daily from 10.00am – 6.00pm.
More information about the virtual exhibition can be found at Khazanah Nasional’s website.
Tucked between the bustle of Jalan Petaling and Jalan Sultan in Kuala Lumpur’s Chinatown lies a narrow back lane that, not too long ago, many wouldn’t dare to wander down. Crumbling walls, overgrown weeds, and forgotten remnants of a bygone era filled the alley—until a group of passionate visionaries saw what most couldn’t: a chance to revive history and give it a new heartbeat.
This forgotten lane is now known as Kwai Chai Hong, which translates loosely to “Little Ghost Lane” in Cantonese—a nickname locals once used for the area because mischievous children were often seen playing there in the old days. Where others saw decay, its restorers saw stories waiting to be retold.
In 2019, Bai Chuan Management embarked on an ambitious project to breathe life back into the derelict shophouses flanking the lane. Instead of erasing the past, they preserved its soul—retaining the original architecture while restoring each façade with painstaking care.
Today, the heritage buildings gleam in bold colours and traditional Chinese motifs, while the lane itself has become an open-air gallery of interactive murals, sculptures, and heritage-inspired installations. Each artwork draws from tales of early Chinese immigrants—shopkeepers, labourers, and families who shaped Kuala Lumpur’s Chinatown more than a century ago.
Photo / IG @koshishe
Where Culture Meets Contemporary
Kwai Chai Hong is more than a photogenic backdrop. It’s a living canvas of cultural storytelling. Walking down the lane, visitors are transported to 1960s Chinatown: old-time barbers, tailors, calligraphers, and mahjong players brought to life through murals and augmented-reality features.
Surrounding the lane are modern cafés, bars, and art spaces housed within restored shophouses—seamlessly blending heritage with contemporary creativity. Places like Concubine KL and Baijiu Bar offer innovative cocktails amid century-old brick walls, while bubble tea shops and local dessert cafés give the younger crowd something to linger for.
A New Pulse for Chinatown
Since its reopening, Kwai Chai Hong has become a catalyst for Chinatown’s cultural revival. It attracts both locals and tourists who come not only for photos but for immersive cultural experiences, festive installations, and seasonal art showcases—from Mid-Autumn lantern displays to Chinese New Year exhibitions.
The once-forgotten lane now hums with life, proving that heritage can thrive when preserved with vision, creativity, and respect.
The burnt cheesecake breakout and became popular probably when we were facing the movement control order. At that time when we are not allowed to dine-in, many of the cafes and home bakers started baking burnt cheesecakes and sell them through online or delivery platforms.
The special cake, is all caramelised and glossy on the outside, wobbly and custardy on the inside. Unlike the classic cheesecake, the burnt cheesecake isn’t smooth and dense.
As we are now relieved off the pandemic challenges, not many continued to bake it, and there are not many that serves good ones. Despite that, we have found some delicious ones in the city though.
Bask
Photo / IG @cafefolome
Photo / IG @leftbiejojo
Lot B-05, APW, 29, Jalan Riong, Bangsar, 59100 Kuala Lumpur.
This road was the city’s main route to Kepong, when it was the mining town, which was subsequently developed into a rubber estate. Kepong which means ‘surround’, may refer to its being surrounded by hills.
Literally a road named as it leads to the building that houses the Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (Institute of Language and Literature), which is opened in 1962.
Prior to that in the earlier days, it was known as the Flying Club Road, as it is the approach road to the airport of Kuala Lumpur’s first flying club.
It was then renamed as the Airport Road when the Kuala Lumpur’s first international airport was built. The road was subsequently translated to Jalan Lapangan Terbang. When the international airport was moved to Subang Jaya in 1965, the road was added with the word ‘Lama’ which means old in Malay.
Tan Sri Athi Nahappan arrived to Penang when he was still about 9 years old. When he grew up and the World War 2 broke out, he worked as journalist for Tamil publications and became the youngest editor at Tamil Nesan at the age of 22.
He then went to London with his family in 1954 to pursue law and then came back to Malaysia to run his legal practice. In 1959, Tan Sri Athi Nahappan was appointed to the Senate and in 1974 appointed to be the Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department and subsequently a full Minister in 1976.
Jalan Cochrane is named after Charles Walter Hamilton Cochrane, who has served in the Federated Malay States (FMS) in Perak in 1899, and then was appointed as the British General Advisor of Johor, British Resident of Perak and Chief Secretary of the FMS.
He also sat on the board of the International Tin Committee and Perak River Hydraulic Power Co. Ltd.
Shopping
IKEA Cheras
MyTown Shopping Centre
Public Transportation
MRT Station – Cochrane
Government & Public Services
Malaysia Anti-Corruption Commission Kuala Lumpur Office
Gone are the days when the bars in the city are mundane and only serves normal drinks. The cocktail scene in Kuala Lumpur has grown so much and became creative that some of the bars have won prestigious bar awards including the World’s 50 Best Bars.
It is absolutely good news for cocktail lovers, as we do not have to go far to enjoy excellent drinks. Whether you love Negroni, Martini, Old Fashioned or the mixologist’s special; you can find it in the city. The best thing is that each of the bars have its specialty and atmospheres that suits different personalities and tastes.
Here’s some of the best in Kuala Lumpur.
Bar Trigona
Awards: #52 Best Bar in The World 2021 #12 Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2021 #29 Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2022 #1 Bar in Malaysia 2020-22 Best Cocktail Menu in Asia 2022
Photo / IG @bartrigonaPhoto / IG @bartrigona
Four Seasons Hotel Kuala Lumpur 145, Jalan Ampang, 50450 Kuala Lumpur.
