China Leads The World Into The Future

China is the world's largest solar power producer.

China is investing $364 billion into renewable power generation.

China reached its 2020 solar power target 3 years early.

China is using AI to improve healthcare and speed up diagnoses.

Chinese scientists invented rice that can grow in salt water which can feed over 200 million people.

Chinese discovered a way to turn sand into fertile soil which helped convert deserts into lands rich with crops.

At least 1 billion Chinese could be using 5G mobile networks by 2023.

Chinese are now using mobile payment instead of cash.

China teams up with Europe to build a base on the moon.

China will also send an unmanned probe to Mars by the end of 2020.

China built the world's largest telescope to study the universe.

China is constructing buildings as vertical forest in an attempt to fight air pollution in her major cities.

China has the world's largest bullet train network.

Coolest Library On The Planet

Located in the Binhai Cultural District In Tianjin, the five-story library, which was designed by Dutch design firm MVRDV in collaboration with the Tianjin Urban Planning and Design Institute (TUPDI) has been dubbed “The Eye of Binhai”, due to the spherical auditorium in the middle which resembles a giant eye. The building covers 34,000 square metres and can hold up to 1.2 million books. This state of the art facility took the Chinese just three years to complete, the library features a reading area on the ground floor, lounge areas in the middle sections and offices, meeting spaces, and computer/audio rooms at the top. With the awesome architecture, it is not certain how one could concentrate on reading without marveling the beauty of its interior!

You can literally immerse yourself in the sea of knowledge within this building. Looking up the terraced wall filled with books make you wonder the greatness of human knowledge and history. 

Golden Bridge of Kuching

Spice Arena

The finished product of the much anticipated new Setia Spice Arena in Penang Malaysia is simply stunning! With state of the art architecture and technology, the new convention centre will put Penang on the map for the preferred conference meeting place in the region.

The aerial view of the entire complex shows a combination of various architectural styles that bind all the buildings together.

The organic lines and shapes of the landscaped areas softened the otherwise rigid lines of the architecture and buildings.

The centrepiece of the complex has a sculptural beacon embracing a glass pyramid which draws natural lighting into the basement below.

Passion for Penang's Heritage

Story of a local Penang boy who still has vivid memory of the old world from her grandmother's storytelling.

Mr. Chris Ong plans to put Penang on the map with his exclusive project to let visitors to this wonderful island experience the living of the old world. It will be an experience back in time.

Penang Butterfly Farm

Finally the long awaited revamped Penang Butterfly Farm! This place has been around for decades with the old dilapidated buildings. I always wondering why the management never thought of sprucing up the premise given that it is one of the major attractions along the Batu Ferringghi Tourist Belt. 

My ponder got answered when the spanking new building was unveiled recently. It has shed its previous unattractive facade after went through a complete makeover. It is like the metamorphosis of the eerie and ugly caterpillar into a beautiful butterfly.

The new facade has interesting display of a huge green wall with various plant species of the tropics. The main entrance now has two decent sculptures of beetle compared to the previous unrealistic giant ant.

The interior has surreal display of lighting that will surely heighten the experience of the visitors. The great all with dome skylight reminisces of a mini Gardens by the Bay of Singapore.

 

Penang Art District

The Penang State Government has identified a 9.2 acres of PDC and state land situated off Gat Lebuh McCallum and Lebuhraya Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu, a mere 500 metres away from the original proposed site. With a much larger land area without the limitations of existing buildings and structures, the new site provides greater flexibility and new possibilities for the Penang Arts District. 

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng told a press conference today with advisor for Penang Arts Division Datuk Dr Tan Chee Kuan and general manager of PDC Datuk Rosli Jaafar. The Penang Arts District will also drive the revitalisation of the McCallum area, catalysing urban renewal in an area adjacent to the Georgetown UNESCO heritage zone, creating more employment opportunities for Penangites and greater value-added service industry. 

Media Statement by Y.A.B Tuan Lim Guan Eng, Penang Chief Minister on 22 June 2016 in Komtar, George Town, Penang PENANG ARTS DISTRICT’S CALL FOR PRE-QUALIFICATION APPLICANTS As an initiative to catalyse the economic impact of the creative industry in Penang, The Penang State Government has envisioned Penang Arts District to be the creative hub of Penang’s contemporary arts and culture. Originally, the Penang State Government was to embark on a project to regenerate and revitalise Sia Boey into the Penang Arts District as previously announced. However, Sia Boey was later identified as a likely site to be transformed into a transportation hub for the planned Light Rail Transit (LRT) and Mass Rail Transit (MRT) interchange under the Penang Transport Master Plan. As a result, due to the likely uncertainty as well as the likely construction period of as much as 10 years, the state has decided that the Penang Arts District will be better served at an alternative location. The Penang State Government has identified a 9.2 acres piece of PDC and state land situated off Gat Lebuh McCallum and Lebuhraya Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu, a mere 500 metres away from the original proposed site. With a much larger land area without the limitations of existing buildings and structures, the new site provides greater flexibility and new possibilities for the Penang Arts District. 

The new site can cater to the single largest collection of art galleries and cultural museums, creative boutiques, arts schools and workshops in Malaysia. We would of course not forget to populate the scene with hip cafes and trendy restaurants serving local and international cuisines to further enhance Penang’s reputation as the food capital of the region. We are confident that the Penang Arts District will become a must-visit arts destination of Southeast Asia. 

The Penang Arts District will also drive the revitalisation of the McCallum area, catalysing urban renewal in an area adjacent to the Georgetown UNESCO heritage zone, creating more employment opportunities for Penangites and greater value-added services industry. To support the setting up of Penang Arts District, we have appointed Dato’ Dr Tan Chee Khuan as an advisor for this project. Dato’ Dr Tan is currently the Vice-Chairman of the Penang State Art Gallery Committee and a prominent art collector, historian and writer. He has one of the largest private art collections in the state and frequently donates his collections to the Penang State Museum and Art Gallery for the public. I am certain that Dato’ Dr Tan will be able to guide and lead the state in ensuring the success of the Penang Arts District. 

The Penang Arts District team under Penang Conventions & Exhibitions Board (PCEB) has envisioned the venue to incorporate an 80,000 square feet container city and a 3-acre landscaped park. Such container cities have been successfully developed in Christchurch, Seoul, Dubai and Buenos Aires. (Pictures are included in the media kit.) They are quick to build and can be artistically composed and easily reconfigured. They will also reflect Penang’s heritage as an important shipping port. 

As we move forward, we are now excited to call for a Pre-Qualification proposal and submissions this exciting project. Designers, architects and contractors who are interested in participating in this landmark project may download the Pre-Qualification documents online via Penang Arts District’s website, www.penangartsdistrict.com. The project is expected to cost up to RM30 million. There will also be a compulsory briefing and site visit for interested participants on 30 June 2016. The deadline for submission is 23 August 2016. Shortlisted bidders from the Pre-Qualification exercise will then be requested to take part in a design and build tender exercise expected in September 2016. In the meantime, the Penang Arts District team will be running engagement programmes to get in touch with the relevant stakeholders of this project. We invite those who have fascinating proposals, or are interested in a space at the arts district, to contact the team. We look forward to receiving interesting conceptual ideas for the design and build of Penang Arts District. This marks for exciting times ahead as we embark on a journey in transforming Penang into a truly international and most liveable city in the world. LIM GUAN ENG Chief Minister of Penang 

This is indeed an overdue project as Penang has a large pool of artistic talent who have been active in their works behind the limelight. Their presence are elusive due to lack of venue to promote their, not to mention the less enthusiastic public. 

With a venue like the proposed Penang Art District, artists will finally have a proper platform to showcase their works while the public will find it convenient to appreciate art right at their backyard. This project is indeed the music to the ear of the art community in Penang.