Ipoh is more than just a starting point for trips to Penang or the Cameron Highlands. Ipoh was shaped by the tin-mining boom of the 1920s, and as the mines closed, its riches and population declined. However, an old-town revival has transformed its dilapidated structures into shops, hotels, and charmingly kitsch cafés. Ipoh's tauge ayam (chicken bean sprouts) are a must-have for Malaysian and Singaporean foodies, who also come in droves to debate who makes the greatest kopi putih, or white coffee, the local specialty.