Waterfront, Kuching

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Kuching Waterfront is the esplanade on the south bank of the Sarawak River. In the 19th century, this area had warehouses and wharfs and was very busy with ships coming in to dock. Today the area has been redeveloped and paved and it makes for a pleasant stroll in the evening. There are cafes and food stalls operating where coolies and stevedores used to work. There are many heritage buildings along here including the Square Tower and the Sarawak Steamship Company building. As you stand by the railing looking downwards at the Sarawak River below, you can see the ferry sampans called tambang going back and forth bringing commuters across the river.

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Kuching's Waterfront Boulevarde is a lovely area for walking, or just sitting taking in the views and people watching.

If you can, venture out at night, it is lit up, as well as the streets, and the food vendors come and set up there stalls. There are Restaurants, and its a very nice area to enjoy a meal.

It was very pleasant in the cooler part of the day to be in this area, one of my favourite spots in Kuching!

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The Kuching Waterfront is a 900 meter long esplanade with landscaped park areas and eateries. It is a popular place for locals and foreigners alike. Places of interest on the Waterfront are the Square Tower (being renovated in Mar 09), the Sarwak Steamship Building and Chinese History Museum. Places you can see across the river include Astana (governor's palace), the new Sarawak State Assembly building, and Fort Margherita. See also two travelogues of Waterfront scenes and a videoclip taken at the west end.

Kuching Waterfront, a major restoration and land reclamation project, has become the most popular meeting place in the city. 900m long esplanade, beautifully landscaped and dotted with wooden benches, food stalls, restaurants and entertainment facilities.

One night when I was strolling on the riverside, I noticed a rat roaming around the cooking area of one of the F&B stalls here.

The waterfront is very quiet on normal days and has nothing much to offer, except boat ride / cruise and to take some photos for remembrance.

You wont miss waterfront as it is the heart of the city.

I read that there are lots of people come out to the waterfront at night but it is quite a disappointment as noticed that the night of Kuching is not very active.

There are stalls in front of the waterfront selling satay or malay food. Just a note, the price is not cheap. I had a neslo (nescafe plus milo) at rm3.9 which is considered very expensive with such ambience and environment.

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The Kuching Waterfront is a place that is popular with locals and tourists alike.

In its early days, the township of Kuching was set up along the riverside because it facilitated the transportation of goods (spices, rubber and daily neccessities) and people. In recent years, recognising the potential of the riverside as a tourist attraction, the authorities and local town planners tore down some of the old godowns along the river to re-develop the waterfront into a casual entertainment center, with cafes, pubs and restaurants and foodstalls.

Pleasant during the day, the Kuching Riverside comes to live in the late evenings, when the sun has lost some of its fierce noonday heat and office workers from nearby stroll over for a drink with friends and colleagues. On weekend evenings, it is especially popular with courting couples and families out for a stroll.

May 2005 Update: I was in Kuching for a business trip and took some pictures of the beautiful Waterfront at night and during the day time. I have also placed one of the night pics on my Malaysia travellogues. There's a musical fountain at one end though I found the music rather loud when I was there and fortunately, the music only plays for 15-20mins or so every hour at night.

Once a forgotten and dilapidated trading area in Kuching, the waterfront area has now been transformed into a landscaped esplanade.

Strectching approximately 1 km long, the Kuching Waterfront is aptly called "The People Place" since the idea behind its re-development was to renew the relationship between the city's peoples and its river. Hence, it is a 'self-contained' area with facilities for entertainment, refreshment, relaxation, cultural enjoyment and arts appreciation - a great place for family gatherings or just for a leisurely walk.

Among the facilities here are food & beverages outlets, children playground, a chinese pavilion, open air Waterfront Square for recreational activities, musical fountains, flooting pontoon and obsevatory tower.

A leisurely stroll along the Kuching Waterfront is a must to explore its historical buildings (such as the Square Tower & Sarawak Steamship Building) and admire the modern sculptures, open-air theatre and the musical fountains. While doing so, imagine the scene back in 1839, when English adventurer James Brooke first landed here and changes the history of Sarawak.

Also called The People Place. Located on the southern bank of the Sarawak River connects the western and eastern part of the city center. You can go here for a walk, take a river tour or go for a drink at night. Try the saté at one of the stall's, it's really great.