The Baba & Nyonya Heritage Museum

22/07/2026

20/07/2026

MELAKA: The Baba and Nyonya Heritage Museum here stands as a cherished cultural beacon, preserving the soul of Melaka's Peranakan community for the...

20/07/2026

19/06/2026

19/06/2026

As we celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival, or Dumpling Festival (端午节), today, many of us look forward to enjoying delicious glutinous rice dumplings with family and friends. Yet beyond the festive treats, traditional Chinese and Baba-Nyonya households once observed the custom of hanging calamus (Daon Jerimu), wormwood leaves (Daon Niah), and willow branches by their doorways. These plants were believed to ward off evil, repel insects, and promote good health through their medicinal properties. While this age-old practice has gradually faded with modern living, it remains a meaningful reminder of our rich cultural heritage, cherished traditions, and the wisdom passed down through generations.

May this festival bring good health, happiness, prosperity, and togetherness to all.

18/06/2026

Celebrated on the 5th day of the 5th lunar month (19 June 2026), the Dragon Boat Festival—also known as the Dumpling Festival—is observed by many Chinese communities around the world. Likewise, the Baba & Nyonya (Peranakan Chinese) community marks this occasion by preparing their own version of Kueh Chang (glutinous rice dumplings) for ancestral worship, festive offerings, and family gatherings.

Beyond being a festive delicacy, Kueh Chang embodies stories of culture, family traditions, and the rich culinary heritage of Chinese communities. From the savoury-sweet Nyonya chang to the savoury Hokkien varieties and the sweet Teochew delights, each rice dumpling is wrapped with unique flavours, cherished memories, and generations of tradition.

✨ Which is your favourite kueh chang variety?

Photo credit: www.motkstudio.com

05/06/2026

🏛️ Some memories are worth keeping.

On 6 June 2026, visitors to the Baba & Nyonya Heritage Museum will have the opportunity to turn their museum experience into a keepsake they can bring home.

Design your own postcard and make it uniquely yours.

✅ It could feature your favourite part of the museum.
✅ It could capture a beautiful detail that caught your eye.
✅ It could simply reflect how you felt in that moment.

✨ Capture your thoughts.
✨ Capture your emotions.
✨ Capture your memories.

Take your postcard home and keep it safe. One day, when you look at it again, it may bring you back to this very moment and remind you of how you felt during your visit.

📍 Baba & Nyonya Heritage Museum
📅 6 June 2026

Because memories deserve a place to stay.

This postcard initiative was created by Multimedia University> (MMU) students with the hope of making every museum visit a little more memorable. We hope you’ll enjoy it. 💗

Terms & Conditions:
This campaign is conducted on a first-come, first-served basis while stocks last.

08/04/2026

Honoring tradition, remembering our roots.

Today, members of the Chan family returned to their ancestral home—now The Baba & Nyonya Heritage Museum—to offer Qingming 清明 (Cheng Beng) prayers to their beloved ancestors.

This beautifully arranged altar reflects the rich and colourful heritage of Baba & Nyonya, or Peranakan Chinese culture—where food, craftsmanship, and devotion come together in a meaningful tribute to those who came before us.

Every detail tells a story of the family, from the vibrant kueh to the carefully prepared dishes, each placed with respect and love.

06/04/2026

Cheng Beng (Qingming Festival 清明节) is one of the many traditions observed by Chinese communities and Peranakan Chinese alike to honour ancestors and reflect on family heritage.

During this time, families visit ancestral graves to carry out tomb sweeping—cleaning the site, making offerings, and paying respects—commonly referred to by the Peranakan Chinese as “teck chua”. This Hokkien phrase is most likely derived from the act of weighing down joss papers on the grave mound. These practices reflect enduring values of filial piety, remembrance, and cultural continuity.

Today, descendants of the Chan family visited the tombs of their ancestors. Among them is the resting place of the planter and one of the most illustrious figures of the Chan family, Baba Chan Cheng Siew 曾清秀 (JP), alongside his beloved wife, Nyonya Chee Gee Geok Neo 徐如玉娘.