Ipoh New Town (Ipoh)

Before 1800s, this area here was a paddy field, much of which belonged to the local Malay chief, Dato Panglima Kinta Muhammad Yusuff. The Hugh Low Bridge was then a simple bridge that acted as the sole artery to the "outskirts" - an area east of Kinta River. The transformation of rice fields to urban landscape was largely due to the work of local tycoon Yau Tet Shin, who bought this large chunk of land from the chief, who was also his best friend.

To make this land attractive to new settlers, Yau Tet Shin erected a Chinese theatre and makeshift market which one day become the Ipoh Central Market. Around these, Yau Tet Shin laid new roads in simple grid. At that time, cars were a novelty. Nonetheless, Yau had the foresight to make the roads wide enough for them. As was expected, New Town became boom town, necessitating a widening of Huge Low Bridge. However, in 1892, a great fire razed much of this part of the town, and the town had to be rebuild.