Wayang Street, also known as “Hua Xiang Street” (花香街), used to be an area dominated by the Hokkien. The Hokkien’s famous Hong San Si Temple (凤山寺) is located on the street and every year during the temple deity’s birthday celebration, a stage was set up opposite the temple. Crowds, including nearby Malay villagers, flocked enthusiastically to watch the vibrant Hokkien opera. The name “wayang” could have been acquired from the Malay audience as it is a Malay word. As for the use of “Hua Xiang”, there are two interpretations. The first interpretation is there was a flowering tree that exudes a fragrance on the street. Another interpretation alluded to the presence of heavily perfumed and doll-faced women who frequented the area.
According to the inscription on one of the plaques’ in the Hong San Si Temple, the street was also called “Hock Soon Street” (福顺街). A name believed to be from among the Hokkien. There was also a rather unfortunate unofficial name given to the street. In the early days due to the abundance of cow dung on the street, it was also called “Cow Dung Street” (牛屎街).
花香街
花香街曾经是福建人的地盘，福建人的古庙凤山寺就在这里。每年神诞日，神庙对面会搭建戏台，鸣锣上演闽剧，台下看戏的人潮汹涌，包括邻近地区的马来人也来凑热闹看wayang（戏剧），这是街名由来一说，而“花香”则是音译。“花香”另有两个说法，一说这里曾经长有会飘香的花树；另一说这里曾经是脂粉花街，居住着浓妆艳抹的青楼女子。
按照凤山寺里的碑记，这条街曾经也叫“福顺街”，相信是当地福建人叫出来的名字。还有一个非正式的名字，源于早年遍地牛屎的情景，有人戏称其为“牛屎街”。
