The clan jetties are a series of stilt-house communities built on stilts over the waterfront at the southern edge of George Town's heritage zone — each jetty belonging to a different Chinese clan organised by surname. The Chew, Lim, Tan, Lee, and Mixed Clan jetties have existed since the 19th century, when clan-based communities settled the waterfront, built their homes on stilts over the water, and organised their trades (lighterage, fishing, cargo handling) around the jetty.
The Chew Jetty is the largest and most visited, with a main boardwalk running several hundred metres over the water, lined with houses, clan temples, and small shops. Residents still live here; the community is residential and commercial simultaneously, though tourism has made its presence felt. Walk to the end of the jetty at dusk when the light over the strait is warm and the fishing boats are coming in. The other jetties are quieter and give a less packaged glimpse of the same stilt-village world. The jetties are a 10-minute walk south from Fort Cornwallis along Weld Quay.