TRAIL GUIDE Duration : 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes(1 way) Length : 2.3 km (Uphill most of the trail) Please look at my attached photos for trail maps.
Bukit Lang or now more commonly known as Bukit Zi Zai is one of the lesser known hills in the island. Before the trail to Bukit Zi Zai was upgraded by YB Teh Yee Cheu and the local residents in 2015, most people only knew this hill as the hill on which Teik Quarry is, a huge quarry which has defaced the western slope of the hill. Amongst the adventurous hiking circles, this hill was known for the “haunted house”, a dilapidated century old house at the top of the hill which looked eerily haunting before it was recently spruced up. Today, a good trail winds its way up Bukit Lang/Zi Zai from the Tanjung Bungah area, making access to this once remote and isolated place all the more easier.
The “Haunted House” or now known as the Bukit Zi Zai Lodge, has been given a new coat of paint and has undergone minor repairs ever since the trail was spruced up in 2015. To get to the starting point of this trail, one has to come into Jalan Lembah Permai 3. (I have a trailhead waypoint in my cache. There is plenty of parking). A signpost in front of two rocks greets you to Zi Zai Trail. This is the trail head. This trail head is not just the trail up to Bukit Zi Zai but also a connecting trail which leads you to the Botanical Gardens, Penang Hill, Western Hill, Batu Ferringhi and Mount Erskine . The signpost at the start does depict that quite vividly. From the starting point continue up for about 1 minute before you come to a junction where you notice a huge rock right in front with a painted arrow pointing left. Take the left junction and you will soon be bashing your way through some grass into a small stream at the edge of the forest. Cross this bridge (Geocache #1) and you’ll notice that the trail takes an upward fork and continues up the hill slope. Continue along this trail, uphill. Continuing for about another 30 minutes, you will come to a small rock ledge which has been named the “Peace Ledge”. From the “Peace Ledge” (Geocache #2) you’ll be able to get a glimpse of Tanjung Bungah through a small opening in the forest. Take a short rest here, as you are only half way through the trail. Continuing along the trail, it continues upward and comes to another junction in 1 to 2 minutes. At this junction, you have the option of going to “Living Waters”, a small stream along the slope about 10 minutes from this point, or continue upward with our Bukit Zi Zai trail. The trails continues upward in a similar fashion for another 30 minutes, leveling at a few parts but generally, steep. Here, you will come to another junction where the left fork leads you to the “Bolster Rock” , an oblong rock, 30 meters away, which supposedly has the shape of a bolster. Take the main trail (right fork) which continues upward. Within 10 to 15 minutes you will be at the "Haunted House" or Zi Zai Lodge, which is our destination. Take a good rest here and check out the century old bunglow which has been spruced up but has retained a few of its age old relics among which is a beautiful altar and a table. You have the option of continuing up to Penang Hill along the trail to the right of the house entrance (which is another 2 hour 30 minutes away) or continuing the same way downhill. Happy Hiking!
The Geocache: You will need to look under.