remains an important industry in the area as rubber and rice. Geography and climate Taiping lies 23m above sea level situated on a plain to the west of the Bintang Mountains. Perak's capital city, Ipoh, is approximately southeast of the town, while George Town, the capital city of the neighbouring state of Penang, lies away to the northwest. Climate Taiping also receives some limelight for being the wettest town in Peninsular Malaysia even on the driest month. In June, the town still receives 159 mm | 6.3 inch of rainfall. The average annual rainfall is about 3,000mm in Taiping while the peninsula's average is 2,000mm – 2,500mm. Its unusual rainfall has also led to a fertile collection of flora and century-old rain trees in the Taiping Lake Gardens. Government The Taiping Municipal Council is the municipal council which administers the township. This council was established after the township in 1930. Their jurisdiction covers an area of 186.46 square kilometres. Due to electoral division by Election Commission of Malaysia, there are two parliamentary and six state constituencies (DUN) dividing the township. There are Taiping parliamentary seat, Aulong, Pokok Assam and Kamunting state seat meanwhile for Bukit Gantang parliamentary seat, Terong, Kuala Sepetang and Changkat Jering state seat. Demographics Taiping has traditionally been a Chinese majority which is still retained till date. The Chinese make up 46%, followed by Malays at 37%, and Indians at 14%. Others constitute 3% of the population. Education Primary and secondary education in Taiping are provided by national-type schools, Chinese-medium schools and Tamil-medium schools. Some of the notable schools are SMK Convent Taiping , SM Klian Pauh, Sekolah Menengah Jenis Kebangsaan Hua Lian, St. George's Institution, SMK King Edward VII, Treacher Methodist Girls' School Attractions Lake Garden – The first public garden established during the British rule in Malaysia. It was originally a mining ground before established as a public garden in 1880. Maxwell Hill (Bukit Larut) – A hill station with an altitude of about 1000m; ideal for jungle-trekking and camping. Tulip Garden – Located at Bukit Larut, it is the first tulip farm established in Malaysia. This has now been closed. Taiping Zoo and Night Safari Taiping – First zoo to be established in Malaysia; popular on weekends with day-trippers from out of town Old Clock Tower Perak Museum - First and oldest museum in Malaysia, established since 1886 by Sir Hugh Low. Notable people