Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
History
Little is known of Penang's early history. Chinese seafarers were aware of the island,
which they called Betelnut Island, as far back as the 15th century, but it appears to have
been uninhabited. It wasn't until the early 1700s that colonists arrived from Sumatra and
established settlements at Batu Uban and the area now covered by southern George Town.
