Introduction
Today, Penang bears the mark of its early history of successive foreign influences - from the early Hindu civilisation in northern Malaya, to that of the Portuguese, the Dutch and later the British, who came to this part of the world in search of spices and stayed to participate in the lucrative trade.

The history of modern Penang can be traced back to 1785 when Francis Light persuaded the Sultan of Kedah to cede "Pulau Pinang" (Betel Nut Island) to the British East India Company. Light landed at the site of the present Esplanade and purportedly fired gold coins into the surrounding jungle to induce his men to clear the area!

Originally named the Prince of Wales Island, the settlement was later renamed Georgetown after King George III. In 1800, The Sultan of Kedah further ceded a strip of land on the mainland across the channel, which Light named Province Wellesley after the then Governor of India.

In 1832, Penang formed part of the Straits Settlements with Melaka and Singapore to the south. It flourished and grew to be a major trading post for the lucrative tea, spice, china and cloth trade. For more than 200 years, it remained under British Colonial rule until 1957, when it gained independence and became one of the states of the newly formed Federation of Malaya, which later became Malaysia in 1963.

The 30-metre replica of the Penang Bridge with Hello Kitty has become the festival's centrepiece because it represents one of Penang island's famous landmarks, which is the third longest bridge in the world. The Hello Kitty theme was picked because it was family-friendly and the character was a famous international brand. There is also an entertainment park comprising a Ferris wheel and a carousel along the Hello Kitty Lantern Walkway.

Getting there
Auto City is easily accessible from the Juru Interchange on the North-South Highway. It is just half an hour from the Penang Island and less than 15 minutes from Butterworth or Bukit Mertajam.