Balik Pulau

Balik Pulau is a suburb within the city of George Town. It encompasses the western coastline of Penang Island between Pantai Acheh to the north and Pulau Betong to the south, about 12.7 km southwest of the city centre. Unlike the urbanised eastern half of the island, Balik Pulau remains largely agricultural in character. Balik Pulau's durian orchards and nutmeg plantations attract tourists from all over, and it is home to the last paddy fields of George Town.

In 1794, the British East India Company set up clove and nutmeg plantations within the area as part of British plans to turn the island into the centre of spice production in Southeast Asia. The farms attracted Malay refugees fleeing the Siamese conquest of Kedah, as well as Chinese immigrants who then made a living from agricultural produce. Communal longhouses were built within the heart of Balik Pulau. The suburb grew slowly in comparison to most other suburbs of George Town, eventhough urbanisation has begun to transform its landscape as well.