Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Neighbourhood Top Five
Exploring the cultural mash-up of
Chinatown
on our walking tour, which takes you
past venerable Indian and Taoist temples and atmospheric markets.
Ascending
Menara KL
for a panoramic view of the city at the restaurant
Atmosphere
Admiring the colonial architectural ensemble around
Merdeka Square
.
Shopping for souvenirs and viewing cultural performances in
Central Market
.
Going for a swim at
Chin Woo Stadium
and sticking around for the sunset view of
the city.
Explore: Chinatown, Merdeka Square & Bukit Nanas
If there's one part of Kuala Lumpur (KL) that's a microcosm of Malaysia's ethnic and his-
toric mix, it's Chinatown, home and workplace not just to the scions of the original
Chinese, Indian and Malay settlers but also to more recent arrivals from Bangladesh, Ne-
pal and Mynamar. Jln Petaling is its central spine, hosting a bustling night market and
bracketed by Chinese arch gates. Explore the surrounding streets and alleys and you'll
find all manner of businesses, from traditional medicine shops to barbers and songbird
sellers, not to mention some of KL's best street eats.
Ringed by impressive colonial-era buildings, Dataran Merdeka (Independence Square,
but commonly called Merdeka Square) is a hugely symbolic location: this is where the
British handed over control of Malaya to its citizens in 1957. Nearby, the graceful Masjid
Jamek, the city's oldest surviving mosque, is shaded by swaying palms at the muddy con-
fluence of the Klang and Gombak rivers that bequeathed the city its name.
East of here rise up the wooded slopes of Bukit Nanas (Pineapple Hill), the oldest pro-
tected piece of jungle in Malaysia, atop which stands Menara KL. The tower's observa-
tion deck provides fabulous views of the city while at the base are a handful of other at-
tractions.
