Wednesday, September 08 2010
| Sun Yat Sen base, Penang |
 UPON entering 120 Armenian Street, one cannot help but notice how the shophouse is time-locked in an era where revolutions and clandestine associations were the state du jour. This distinguished looking building was once the Penang headquarters for Dr Sun Yat-Sen’s secret society, underground resistance movement and political party, better known as the Tongmenghui. It was also here that on November 12, 1910, he convened the Penang Conference to plan the Second Guangzhou Uprising.This uprising was later seen as an important prelude to the 1911 Chinese Revolution, in which China abolished its imperial ruling system and became Asia’s first modern republic. Read here for more on the Second Uprising and here for a little insight on the Tongmenghui in Penang. A permanent exhibition, showcased at 120, which includes Dr Sun’s portraits, his written works, and information about his revolutionary work during his stay in Penang, allows us a glimpse into the past and provides an almost surreal background to the significant events that took place at the premises. View slideshow below.  Dr Sun once famously declared that "The Overseas Chinese are the Mother of the (1911 Chinese) Revolution", and with that, Penang, next year (2010), will be given the honour to host a conference to commemorate the role early Chinese settlers played in supporting the revolution. The Dr Sun Yat-Sen and Song Qing Ling Memories joint conference is normally held at different cities in China and the Penang event will be the first time it is being held outside of China. Read here for more on the conference.While 120 may be famous as Dr Sun’s Penang base, its time-sensitive preserved interior is another captivating feature. Built around 1880, the site is a fine example of a Penang shophouse, with an intimate courtyard garden, a handsome timber staircase and an old-fashioned Nyonya kitchen. A special feature of the shophouse is the atrium around a central courtyard. They serve as air-wells for ventilating the often long and narrow buildings while the kitchen in this house retains its original 1920s firewood stove. It also showcases some cooking implements, including a pewter steamboat, a wooden noodle press, a copper water boiler, two charcoal burners, wooden rice tubs, clay curry pots and enamel tiffin carriers (Lestari Heritage Network). Read here for more on the shophouse's architecture. Reference Click through pictures for slideshow.       Comments (0)
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