Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
historic photos and some fearsome dragon and lion dance costumes. The entrance is on
the river side of the building.
HISTORIC BUILDING
Square Tower
Along with Fort Margherita, the Square Tower, built in 1879, once guarded the lazy river
against marauders. Over the past century, the structure - still emblazoned with Sarawak's
Brooke-era coat-of-arms - has served as a prison, a mess and a dance hall; it now houses
an art gallery. Nearby Jln Gambier is named after a vine used for tanning and dyeing.
Old Court House Complex
(btwn Jln Tun Abang Haji Openg & Jln Barrack)
The Old Court House, now officially
called the Sarawak Tourism Complex, was built in the late 1800s to serve as the city's ad-
ministrative centre. Today, this ensemble of airy, colonnaded structures - well worth a
wander - is home to the very helpful Visitors Information Centre and the National Park
Booking Office. Out front, across the street from the Square Tower, stands the
Brooke
Memorial
, erected in 1924 to honour Charles Brooke.
HISTORIC BUILDING
OLD CHINATOWN
Jalan Carpenter
Lined with evocative, colonial-era shophouses and home to several vibrantly coloured
Chinese temples, Jln Carpenter - the heart of Kuching's Old Chinatown - stretches from
Jln Carpenter; 6am-6pm)
, with its roofline of tiled dragons. Established sometime be-
fore 1848 (and extensively restored in 2004), it is also known by its Hokkien name, Say
Ong Kong.
There is a big celebration here in April, with a long procession of floats, lion and
dragon dancers, and other groups winding their way through town following the altar of
Kong Teck Choon Ong (the deity at the temple).
STREET
Hiang Thian Siang Temple
TEMPLE
