Shun Tak Association

The historical association hall for the Shun Tak Association is located along Jalan Kota. Just beside the hall is Nafis Kitchen.

History

The Taiping Shun Tak Association, or Shùndé  (顺德會館) was formed in 1896 by artisans from the Shun Tak district in China (which is the present-day Shunde District). Much like the other associations formed in Taiping at the time, the Shun Tak Association was formed to safeguard the interests and welfare of its members, mostly immigrants who were either fleeing the Taiping Rebellion, or coming to the Malay States to ply their trade in the tin mines. The building served as a community hall for the Shun Tak society members and was a focal point for social, cultural, and religious events.

The building was leased out to private businesses in the early 2000s while the actual office for the Shun Tak Association temporarily relocated to other commercial buildings in Taiping. Funds were needed for renovations and restoration of the crumbling building, and renting it out to businesses helped it to generate funds for this purpose. The building was restored in June 2015 and is currently open to the public for visits. 90% of the original materials used in the original construction of the building were reused in the restoration.

The interior of the building is from a time long gone, and is truly a sight to behold. A must-visit for culture, history, or photography buffs.

The Shun Tak Association Building Today

Today, the building is populated by a Thai Mookata restaurant.

The Shun Tak association building is stop number 10 on the Taiping Heritage Trail.