Despite inhospitable weather, the United Buddy Bears were welcomed in Georgetown amid applause on August 28 2016.

149 of the friendly bears will be standing on the Malaysian island of Penang as a symbol of tolerance and living together in peace until October 31. Thus, the 2 m tall statues add another attraction to Penang's Capital Georgetown, which was constituted UNESCO World Heritag in 2008.

More pictures of the exhibition can be found here: www.travel2penang.com

You can read the speech held at the opening ceremony here: www.cm.penang.gov.my