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I lived next to Concubine Lane for the first 10 years of my life and my father, brother and cousin had a tailor shop 2 doors away for close to 55 years.

Today, the whole place has changed beyond recognition. All the original residents are long gone or dead. Many buildings have been renovated. A few still stand delapidated.

When I was a child, Concubine Lane was not a place we ventured into at night. It was known as a place of opium dens and gangsters. I had, in fact, watched the police come with an ambulance to take away an old man to the hospital. An opium addict, he was merely skin and bones.

About the only reason I went inside Concubine Lane was for a hair cut by a barber who was an immigrant from China.

Today, you can stroll at leisure in Concubine Lane and enjoy yourself.

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Its official name is Panglima Lane.

It is called Concubine Lane (Yi Lai Hong) because a very rich man bought a house on this lane and housed his concubine here. He had his wife, and another concubine, in two other lanes. Fewer domestic fights, I suppose, when he separated them.

Concubine Lane (Yi Lai Hong) housed his second wife (1st concubine). Market Lane (Sam Lai Hong) nearby housed his 3rd wife (2nd concubine). His first wife (tai po) lived in the New Town, on Lorong Hale.

You can read about them here:

Market Lane (Second Concubine Lane), Ipoh Old Town | From Emily …www.emily2u.com/market-lane-second-concubine–lane-ipoh-old-town/

Jul 29, 2015 – Market Lane now joins Lorong Panglima (Concubine Lane or Yi Lai Hong in Cantonese) as the only two … Support Emily2U – Thank YOU 🙂 ..

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Concubine Lane. 2011 Watercolour painting by Ms Oh Chew Moy owned by Mr Alex Wong.

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This is the front entrance. There is now a pedestrian crossing but it serves little purpose since traffic is always at a snail’s pace anyway.

As you go in, you will come to a place for Chinese food. Restoran Wong Koh Kee is the oldest and only shop remaining that can claim to be original. Everything else is recent or new.

I have fond memories of this restaurant, especially of the char sew (roast pork) we bought for dinner. In the 1950s, 50 cents bought enough of the meat for a meal for 5 people.

Today, I think, the son or grandson runs the place, and I am told that the food is just as good as back then.

Today, the center of interest is the Concubine Lane Hotel. It is recent. There was no hotel back then.

The address is 27 Concubine Lane.

There are 3 guest rooms.

Don’t want to stay? No problem. Enjoy browsing the souvenirs on offer.

27 Concubine Lane Guesthouse Reviews, Ipoh – TripAdvisor.com.my‎
Adhttp://www.tripadvisor.com.my/‎

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It doesn’t take long to stroll through and look into the shops. It can be hot due to the Malaysian climate, so try to avoid visiting at 12 noon – 4.00 pm.

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Here are some places of interest:

A lane-side stall sells tee-shirts.

Candy floss, anyone? The candy floss machine is on the right.

Gaharu ice-cream, anyone?

Souvenirs? A pot of cactus?

People queue for soya bean drink and pudding (taufu fa).

The food is said to be good.

Don’t forget the Ipoh white coffee and biscuits. Buy enough of these for relatives, friends and colleagues.

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Panglima Lane, Ipoh, 1947 – IpohWorld’s World

Jul 13, 2009 – Although so far nobody has commented on our earlier blog about the disgraceful state of Panglima Lane today, I thought that you might like to …

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The Memory Of 120 Years Old Lane – Ipoh Concubine Lane

Many of us know Ipoh is one of a popular destination for the foods and original white coffee, which are hard to find anywhere else. But do you know that there was an area named Concubine Lane? You might think that the lane name is weird. Scroll down to know the rich and interesting history of the infamous Concubine Lane.

http://www.sini.com.my/business/lgmtravelDetailview/1000005267

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