Petronas Twin Towers
Since its completion in 1998, the Petronas Twin Towers has been one of Malaysia's most famous buildings. Standing at a height of 452 meters with 88 floors, it was once the tallest building in the world. Although it has been surpassed by other buildings, it remains a classic landmark of Malaysia with its unique design featuring a 'sky bridge' connecting the two towering glass structures at 170 meters above the ground, ranking as the '19th tallest skyscraper in the world'.
Kuala Lumpur Tower
When you ascend the Petronas Towers and gaze into the distance, you can spot the Kuala Lumpur Tower standing not far away. It shares the same name as the Petronas Towers and is primarily used for signal communication. It is also open for tours, and its height is only 31 meters lower than the Petronas Towers.
Independence Square
At midnight on August 30, 1957, the British flag, which had symbolized colonial rule over Malaysia for 171 years, was lowered here, and the Malaysian flag was raised for the first time. The cricket field originally established by the British was renamed 'Independence Square' and has since become the venue for Malaysia's Independence Day celebrations held annually on August 31.
On the south side of Independence Square, the Kuala Lumpur City Gallery features many exhibitions about the history of Kuala Lumpur, and the 'I ♥ KL' sculpture at the entrance is a favorite photo backdrop for tourists.
Petaling Street
Strictly speaking, the 'Chinatowns' in various countries are formed after the establishment of the country. However, Kuala Lumpur's Petaling Street is the opposite. Even before Malaysia's independence, Chinese people had already settled here. After the inevitable early factionalism and internal conflicts, it eventually developed into today's commercial area filled with Chinese vendors selling clothing, jewelry, and various snacks.
National Mosque of Malaysia
No one knows exactly how many mosques there are in Malaysia, where Islam is the state religion, but the National Mosque of Malaysia, located in the heart of Kuala Lumpur, is recognized as a symbol of Malaysian Islam.
Little India
As the name suggests, just as Petaling Street is to the Chinese, Little India is the most famous gathering place for Indian residents in Kuala Lumpur.
The buildings here are brightly colored, with intricately distributed arches adorned with Hindu patterns. The storefronts are piled high with bags of red and yellow curry powder and other spices. Most of the men wear thick turbans and have dense beards, while the women are dressed in colorful saris. Every corner gives you the illusion of 'really being in India.'
Alor Street
Food is always one of the highlights of traveling in Malaysia. If you still want to comfort your Chinese stomach after 'eating around the city,' then you must not miss Alor Street.
This is the most famous Chinese food street in Kuala Lumpur, with Chinese-flavored restaurant stalls lining the roadside, cooking authentic Malaysian Chinese and mainland Chinese dishes almost all year round. It is not only regarded as a 'daily canteen' by locals but also makes 'foodie' travelers unable to resist.
National Museum of Malaysia
To fully understand the panorama of Malaysia's past and present, it is worth starting with the most famous museum in the country, which was formerly the Selangor State Museum.
The museum has four exhibition areas, displaying Malaysia's historical economy, local tribal customs, and unique tropical flora and fauna. You can see ancient natural fossils, as well as the wedding and funeral customs of the Malay ethnic groups in the 16th-17th centuries, and treasures such as porcelain and tortoiseshell furniture left behind by Zheng He's voyages to the West.
Kuala Lumpur Central Market
If you want to buy travel souvenirs but find the goods in Petaling Street and Little India not refined enough, the Central Market will definitely have what you want.
This building, which was completed in 1888 and formerly served as a vegetable market, has now become a large market that gathers various traditional Malaysian handicrafts. You can find local ethnic art products such as pewter, batik, wood carvings, and Malay daggers, as well as refrigerator magnets, postcards, and mugs printed with various Kuala Lumpur-related patterns and photos, all of which will leave you spoilt for choice.
