In the mid-18th century, a Chinese by the name of Zhang Li founded a fishing village at what is now Tanjung Tokong.
He had actually intended to sail from China to Sumatra, but the rough seas pushed him to Penang Island instead.
His arrival at Tanjung Tokong preceded Captain Francis Light's landing on Penang Island by about 40 years.
To this day, Zhang Li, whose grave still lies at Tanjung Tokong, is worshipped by ethnic Chinese in Malaysia and Singapore as Tua Pek Kong, a local deity.

Tanjung Tokong remained a quiet fishing village until the 1970s, when the urbanisation of the area began.
Low-rise apartments were followed by higher condominiums that were constructed along the shoreline.
In addition, land reclamation is currently being carried out off the coastline as part of the Seri Tanjung Pinang project.
The new Straits Quay marina was created at the newly reclaimed land and opened to the public in 2011.

These developments have led to an increase in the standards of living, as Tanjung Tokong grew into an upscale suburb of George Town, similar to neighbouring Pulau Tikus.
However, the land reclamation projects were also thought to have caused the siltation of nearby Gurney Drive, one of George Town's famous seaside promenades.
As of 2016, another land reclamation project is being conducted off Gurney Drive itself to create Gurney Wharf, thus rectifying the siltation issue.

Tanjung Tokong was one of the hardest hit areas during the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami that ultimately claimed a total of 52 lives in Penang.
In the mid-18th century, a Chinese by the name of Zhang Li founded a fishing village at what is now Tanjung Tokong. He had actually intended to sail from China to Sumatra, but the rough seas pushed him to Penang Island instead. His arrival at Tanjung Tokong preceded Captain Francis Light's landing on Penang Island by about 40 years. To this day, Zhang Li, whose grave still lies at Tanjung Tokong, is worshipped by ethnic Chinese in Malaysia and Singapore as Tua Pek Kong, a local deity.
Tanjung Tokong remained a quiet fishing village until the 1970s, when the urbanisation of the area began. Low-rise apartments were followed by higher condominiums that were constructed along the shoreline. In addition, land reclamation is currently being carried out off the coastline as part of the Seri Tanjung Pinang project. The new Straits Quay marina was created at the newly reclaimed land and opened to the public in 2011.
These developments have led to an increase in the standards of living, as Tanjung Tokong grew into an upscale suburb of George Town, similar to neighbouring Pulau Tikus. However, the land reclamation projects were also thought to have caused the siltation of nearby Gurney Drive, one of George Town's famous seaside promenades. As of 2016, another land reclamation project is being conducted off Gurney Drive itself to create Gurney Wharf, thus rectifying the siltation issue.
Tanjung Tokong was one of the hardest hit areas during the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami that ultimately claimed a total of 52 lives in Penang.
Tanjung Tokong