Ipoh is the capital city of Perak state, located north of Peninsular Malaysia about 200km away from Kuala Lumpur and 140km south of Penang. One of the last remanining urban centers to retain most of its colonial architecture, the city is a charming heritage attraction full of old world character, populated by buildings, shophouses and structures designed by the British. Connected by major highways and roads, it's also a renowned food destination among visitors, with a timeless tradition of Chinese street cuisine. Meanwhile, a vast stretch of limestone hills draped by lush rainforest overlooks the east, providing the city with beautiful views and nature escapes.

The name 'Ipoh' is believed to originate from a local evergreen tree (Antiaris toxicaria) of the same name. The Aborigines (Orang Asli) have used its poisonous sap for centuries to coat the darts of their exotic blowpipes for hunting. However, it could also have come from the first miners to the area, who founded a small town for trade and supplies that eventually grew or became part of greater Ipoh city. These Chinese pioneers called the town 'Yee Poh', which means 'Found Treasure' in Cantonese. Today, Ipoh is also called the 'Bougainvillea City', after its rustic atmosphere and garden-like surroundings, or 'San Cheng', a Cantonese term refering to its magnificent limestone hills. More than two thirds of the population are ethnic Chinese, but many of the young have migrated to Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Singapore in search of fortune. much like the early settlers (but returning to visit relatives and family during Chinese New Year).

In the late 18th Century, British colonists discovered rich tin ore deposits along the Kinta River, which meandered through a spacious valley of lush rainforests hemmed in by limestone hills. At the same time, dwindling resources and civil wars in mainland China sparked a diaspora of Chinese people across the world. The Southern Chinese in particular (Fujian, Guangdong and Hainan), choose to leave the homeland en masse in search of fortune in the greater Nanyang (Southeast Asia) area. A significant number of the exodus made their way to the Kinta Valley, where they set out immediately to liberate the plains of their rich tin deposits.

In just a few decades, the small migrant colony transformed the land into a economic powerhouse, but it was only the first quarter of 19th Century when Ipoh experienced a tremendous growth spurt. This was a result of the Industrial Revolution reaching its pinnacle in the Western world, which fueled demand for corrosive-resistant metals such as tin whcih Ipoh supplied abundantly. Consequently, Ipoh became a 'City of Millionaires' for its considerence affluence and high living standards among the population. International banks and financial institutions such as Charterd Bank and HSBC opened shop, while the town expanded its borders along the eastern banks of Kinta River (New Town today).

Strangely, the British appointed Taiping the capital of Perak, but the Japanese overturned it during the War and transferred administrative operations to Ipoh, a decision kept firm when it returned to colonial hands. The town continued to grow into modern renown; cabaret shows, cinema halls, bustling shops and a spirit of capitalism made Ipoh a modern-day Shanghai, until the collapse of tin prices in 1970. With economic growth stalled, Ipoh amusingly became a form of retirement valley, mostly for the elderly. Today, the city is regenerating its pace through tourism and residential development, as space runs out in other urban centers such as Kuala Lumpur and Georgetown (Penang).

Ipoh enjoys fairly consistent tropical weather all-year-round, with a temperature range hovering around 32°C during the day and 22°C at night. Rainfall is prominent, with the highest precipitation occuring during the later half of the year, spilling into January even. As long as you are not adverse to a little water from the sky or bright sun rays, then it's suitable to visit Ipoh anytime of the year. Accommodation is easily available through budget and luxury hotels scattered throughout the city, but it's best to avoid local festive periods and school holidays, as local traffic to increase exponentially room rates to spike up.

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