AGAINST the backdrop of sweeping views and colonial-era charm, the Penang Hill Festival 2025 officially launched one of its marquee events, Music on the Hill: East Meets West, on Sunday evening at the historic Bellevue Hotel.
The event, now in its sixth edition, continues to celebrate the rich natural heritage, cultural diversity, and ecological importance of Penang Hill, which was designated a Unesco Biosphere Reserve on Sept 15, 2021.
State Tourism and Creative Economy Committee chairman Wong Hon Wai, in his speech, highlighted the festival’s growing importance as a platform for learning, reflection, and environmental stewardship.
“It gives me great pleasure to be here with you on this beautiful evening atop Penang Hill, a place that gently reminds us to pause, reflect, and reconnect with the richness of our environment.
“Each year, through careful curation and heartfelt collaboration, the festival brings new experiences and opportunities to share knowledge about this treasured biosphere reserve,” he said in his speech during the event’s closing ceremony on July 20 at the Bellevue Hotel on Penang Hill.
The Bellevue Hotel, a timeless venue perched atop Penang Hill, played host to the event.
Its colonial charm, tranquil gardens, and panoramic vistas made it the perfect setting for the evening’s musical showcase, blending Eastern and Western traditions in celebration of Penang’s multicultural identity.
Wong noted that Penang Hill Festival has grown far beyond a tourism event, becoming “a meaningful celebration of heritage, ecology, and community, a festival that touches both the mind and the heart.
Among this year’s key highlights is the first-ever public screening of “Rising Above: Penang Hill’s Revival,” a documentary chronicling the hill’s dramatic recovery from the 2017 landslides.
“More than a historical account, the film stands as a tribute to nature’s resilience, the unwavering efforts of those who helped restore the hill, and the enduring spirit of the community.
“It is a reminder of the journey Penang Hill has taken to become the thriving site we cherish today. A story worth remembering,” Wong said.
Another creative initiative unveiled this year is the Penang Hill Festival 2025 Postcards Project, a collaboration between Penang Hill Corporation (PHC), Tourism Malaysia Northern Region, and ATEC College’s School of New Media Design.
The postcards feature artistic depictions of the hill’s flora and fauna, the iconic funicular railway, and its rich cultural heritage.
“Driven by the passion of the PHC team and the continuous support of our community, the festival keeps raising the bar with programmes that ignite curiosity and spark deeper conversations,” Wong said.
Wong also emphasised that the festival aligns with Penang’s tourism objectives under the Penang2030 Vision, promoting sustainable and experience-rich travel.
“The Penang Hill Festival not only showcases the beauty and biodiversity of the hill but positions it as a shining example of responsible heritage tourism,” he said.
As academicians, environmentalists, and community leaders gathered atop the hill, the festival continued its tradition of serving as a “living classroom”, inspiring visitors of all ages to appreciate nature and cultural heritage in new and meaningful ways.
Let us celebrate this hill not just as a destination but as a legacy worth protecting, and a symbol of what is possible when nature, history, culture, and community come together in harmony,” Wong concluded.
Also present were Air Itam assemblyman Joseph Ng Soon Siang and PHC general manager Datuk Cheok Lay Leng.
Story by Kevin Vimal
Pix by Alissala Thian