One of the things we wanted to do in Ipoh was visit Han Chin Pet Soo Museum after our Mural Art in Ipoh trail. And just like our accidental find of First Concubine Lane (二奶巷), we chanced upon Ho Yan Hor Museum.
It was just next door to Han Chin Pet Soo Museum, which was our original target place to visit. Unfortunately, we had the tour hours mixed up, and we missed the last tour. Just then Ho Yan Hor Museum caught our eye. And it was actually the next place we wanted to visit, too.
We were glad we did. The museum and its exhibits were awesome. Continue reading and watch the video, and you will see why we feel this is definitely one of the Things To Do In Ipoh. A must do, in fact.
Ho Yan Hor Museum (何人可博物馆) in Ipoh – The Video
If you prefer to see images rather than read, this video is the perfect option for you to explore the museum virtually. It offers a thorough view, starting from outside, the main entrance, lobby, and into each of the exhibit rooms.
About Ho Yan Hor Museum (何人可博物馆)
Dr Ho Kai Cheong brewed and sold his first pot of herbal tea at Treacher Street in 1945. It was perfect timing. After World War II, Ipoh had prospered from tin mining. The tea was a refreshing cooling drink for the tired miners.
The tea was no ordinary concoction too. Dr Ho was a graduate of Canton Wah Lam National Physician’s School in Hong Kong. He returned to Malaysia in 1941 as a certified Chinese Medical Sensei.
The original recipe of the tea offered much health benefits to anyone who drank it. It cooled the heatiness of the body, able to overcome the common cold, and contains lots of antioxidants.
Dr Ho’s dream was to do good for the people, and one of the goals was to keep everyone healthy. Over the years, the brand – Ho Yan Hor, which means Everyone Can – has grown to be popular with the people, and an icon of health drink in Malaysia.
The Ho Yan Hor Museum resides at the two-storey building where Dr Ho started this iconic tea. It is in honor and memory of his achievements, and offer an in-depth record of Dr Ho’s journey from start till today.
Inside Ho Yan Hor Museum (何人可博物馆)
Before we went into the museum, one of the things to notice was the huge mural art by the famous artist – Ernest Zacharevic. It is titled Evolution and reminds the people of the days when tin mining was the industry that brought prosperity to this town.
Tip: Don’t miss this! It is at the side of the building.
Above photo: Ernest Zacharevic’s Evolution Mural Art depicting the tin mining industry, © 2018 Asia Travel Gems All Rights Reserved
There was so much art and culture in Ipoh. The moment we stepped into Ho Yan Hor Museum, you could not help but notice the very colorful and well painted mural by art teacher-cum-artist Chin Choon Yau.
It showed the old days when the tea was served on Treacher Street. Notice the small counter with the Chinese words, the brand – Ho Yan Hor, and some cups on display. Today, the same counter could be seen outside the museum at that same spot.
We entered into the exhibits, and there was a lot of really interesting photos with explanation about the history and growth of Ho Yan Hor. Below was a photo of their new factory back then. From a small stall, the brand grew until it needed a large factory to grow the herbs and tea leaves as well as to sun them.
Tip: You can see more of the photos and exhibits in the video above.
Before the kitchen there was an intriguing display. They featured 20 of the 25 secret ingredients of the tea. What were the other 5??!! Can someone reveal to me? I promise I will keep it a secret. Shhhhhhhhh.
On the ground level, there was the kitchen. It was restored as close to its original state in the 1940s. Look at the antique looking cupboards and cabinets with all the food, ingredients and cooking wares. It was really cool to see all that.
Here is a closer view of the cupboard. I don’t know why but the old pots and flasks stood out to me. I find them so charming.
Right at the center of the kitchen was a very large stove. There was no signage to explain it. My friends and I believe it was used to cook and dry the herbs and leaves. What do you think?
On the second level, there was a corner where they feature a quaint work desk that reflected the old days. Check out that old typewriter and phone!
Near that desk, there was a cart. They used to use this method to sell the tea.
Somewhere near the end of the exhibits was this stellar display. We loved the friendly smile of the vendor, and how realistic he looked. Very eye catching!
Also, near the end of the exhibits was a video about Ho Yan Hor. I did not take any photos or video because there were people in the middle of the video, and I did want to be impolite.
Tip: Watch the video presentation about Ho Yan Hor
After the entire tour of the museum, the path would lead you back to the lobby. At the counter, they would have already prepared a few cups of samples of their best tea for you to taste.
We tried them all, and they were delicious!
Tip: Take the opportunity to buy packs of the tea. They are really good to enjoy in the hotel, and when you are back home.
Where is Ho Yan Hor Museum (何人可博物馆)?
Ho Yan Hor Museum (何人可博物馆) is located along Jalan Bijeh Timah, also known as Treacher Street. Below is a map to help you find the place.
Operating Hours
10am to 4pm, Tuesdays to Sundays. Closed on Mondays. (Large groups, please call in advance)
Address
1 Jalan Bijeh Timah, 30000 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Contact
Phone: 05 241 2048
Facebook: www.facebook.com/HYHMuseum
How To Get There?
By Foot
If your hotel is not too far away from Jalan Bijeh Timah, it is all right to go on foot. Check with your hotel before setting off. Also, there are hot seasons. So, either take regular drinking stops at local cafes or coffee shops, or carry some water with you.
By Train
This is a small town. There are no train services. And there are no trains to this place.
By Bus
There are local buses, but information on their routes and stops are not well provided. Better to go by car, taxi or Grab.
By Car
If you drove to Ipoh, you are at an advantage. Traffic is not as heavy as cities such as Kuala Lumpur. Navigating around is easy, especially if you have Waze app.
By Taxi
They rarely go by meter. If you choose to go by taxi, sometimes it may be better to book them for the afternoon or day. This way, you can be assured of getting a ride back to the city, as and when you like it.
Tip: Negotiate and agree on a price before you take the taxi.
By Grab
This is my preferred option. One reason is that there is no need to negotiate. Another is that the price is usually reasonable and affordable. No hassles.
It is so easy to travel around in cities now because of Grab. Just download the app, state your destination, a driver is assigned to you, take the transport, and you arrive at your destination. Comfortable and easy.
I have switched to Grab for my travels within a city ever since this option became available.
We have come to the end of this article. I hope you enjoyed reading this.
If you have ANY questions about this article, about Things To Do In Ipoh – Ho Yan Hor Museum (何人可博物馆), ANY at all, please submit your questions as comments below. I will be happy to help you out.
Wishing you and your loved ones safe and happy travels.
Timotheus
Hey everyone, I am Timotheus. When I am not giving lectures, I love traveling and visiting cities and towns all over Asia. It is a thrill for me to find and share awesome places to see, great tasting food to eat, and restful rooms to get a good night’s sleep.
