Tour: Beguiled on Larut Hills, Taiping

The history of Taiping can be traced back more than 100 years. As one of the oldest towns in Malaysia, Taiping is filled with rich stories and historical layers waiting to be uncovered. In this tour, we would like to introduce Maxwell Hill (Bukit Larut),a colonial hill station developed in 1884.

Why was Maxwell Hill established? What was its original purpose? How did it function in the past, and what has it become today? Maxwell Hill serves as a living reminder of earlier times, where history has not faded but remains present within the landscape.

For this tour, we are honored to invite Taiping-born writer Liew Suet Fun, author of more than 20 books, several on Taiping - “Beguiled on Larut Hills”. “After Long Rainy Afternoons: Of Taiping and Her People.” She and her husband, Peter also lived in The Nest, a 19th century bungalow on the hills for several years.

Suet Fun has also served as a mentor for young creative professionals in the Thinkcity and Habitat Foundation programme “A Tale of Two Hills,” which focuses on capturing the heritage and cultural narratives of Malaysia’s early colonial highland sites, including Maxwell Hill.

In this session, Suet Fun will guide us on a “journey back in time” through storytelling on the history of Maxwell Hill. Participants will experience the site in an immersive way, through listening, observing, and engaging with the landscape.

TIMETABLE (06/09/2026, SUN)
07:45AM - 08:00AM
Gather at Maxwell Hill (Bukit Larut) Entrance
08:00AM - 08:45AM
Sharing by Liew Suet Fun @ Maxwell BaseCamp
The Nature of the Hills. Focusing on the landscape and natural history of the hills in relation to Taiping’s origin and her society.
08:45AM - 09:30AM
Take Jeep Car Up To Maxwell Hill (*Drop-off at Cafe Area)
09:30AM - 11:30AM
Sharing by Liew Suet Fun @ Maxwell Hill
A colonial hill station and her communities - a historical view of the hills.
11:30AM - 12:00PM
Descending journey back down

3RD RAINTOWN FILM FESTIVAL FULL PROGRAMME
Please visit: https://www.cloudjoi.com/collections/raintown-film-festival-2026

CONTACT
If you have any inquiries, please do not hesitate to contact our ticketing manager Mr. Neoh at 010-3718561 via Whatapps.

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