Taiping (Malaysia)

Taiping
City
Bandar Taiping Taiping Town 太平 Thài-pêng تاءيڤيڠ
Kota Road at night
Flag Seal
Nickname(s): The Rain Town, The Heritage Town
Taiping
Coordinates: 4°51′N 100°44′E / 4.850°N 100.733°E / 4.850; 100.733Coordinates: 4°51′N 100°44′E / 4.850°N 100.733°E / 4.850; 100.733
Country	Malaysia
State	Perak
Languages	Malaysian (including Perak Malay dialect), English, Hokkien, Tamil, Punjabi
Established	1874
Government
• Type	Municipality
• District Officer	Harun Bin Rawi [2]
• Mayor	Tuan Omor Bin Saad [3]
• Member of Parliament	YB Nga Kor Ming (DAP) [4]
Area
• Total	186.46 km2 (71.99 sq mi)
Population (2011)
• Total	217,647 [5]
• Density	1,025/km2 (2,654/sq mi)
Time zone	MST (UTC+8)
Postal code	34xxx
Area code(s)	05
Website	www.mptaiping.gov.my

Taiping (Chinese pronunciation: /tʰaɪ̯⁵¹piŋ/; Malay pronunciation: /taipeŋ/)(Chinese: 太平, Hokkien: Thài-pêng; Jawi: تاءيڤيڠ, Ta'iping) is a town located in Larut, Matang and Selama District, Perak, Malaysia. It is located approximately 48 km (30 mi) northwest of Ipoh, the capital of Perak, and 78 km (48 mi) southeast of George Town, Penang. With a population of 217,647 (in 2011), it is the second largest town in Perak after Ipoh, the state capital.

Taiping took over Kuala Kangsar's role as the state capital from 1876 to 1937, but was then replaced by Ipoh. Its growth slowed down after that, but in recent years the town has been developing rapidly again. Perak State Museum is located in the town.

Taiping also receives some limelight for being the wettest town in Peninsular Malaysia. The average annual rainfall is about 4,000mm in Taiping while the peninsula's average is 2,000mm – 2,500mm. Its unusual rainfall has also led to a fertile collection of flora and century-old rain trees in the Taiping Lake Gardens.

The area developed quickly in the 19th century when tin was discovered. The mines attracted large numbers of settlers, particularly Chinese. Feuds began between the different groups of Chinese immigrants and became so bitter that in the early 1870s, the British intervened and assumed control of the town. Taiping was the capital for the districts of Larut, Matang and Selama in Perak. Before 1937, Taiping was the capital of the state of Perak and the centre of a long and drawn out war resulting in a change of rulership for the state. Taiping used to be known as Klian Pauh – Klian meaning mine while Pauh is a type of small mango.