Chinatown, Kuala Lumpur

China town, what a busy, bustling area this was.
The main area is ‘Jalan Petaling/Petaling Street’ which you enter into under a big archway.

Late afternoon, and probably wasn't as busy as if visiting at night, stalls were being set up for the evening's trading.
There is heaps of goods here at bargain prices, you just need the time to have a real good look around, something I didn't have, but I hope to return to one day in the near future. Don't want to miss out on all the bargains that are here!
Remember to bargain too, don't want to be ripped off and pay the full price!

Of course, if you like Asian food, then this is the place to come, with a big variety of food stalls.
I believe they are open till late at night or early morning in some cases.

Getting here is easy, the Hop/on/bus stops here (how I arrived) and there are also local buses, you need to take one saying to "Kotaraya’. Plenty of Train stations and the Monorail nearby too!

1 more image

Sze Ya Temple is acclaimed to be the oldest Taoist temple in Kuala Lumpur. Located in the Chinatown area near Central Market, the temple was built by Kapitan Yap Ah Loy-one amongst the founders of KL, in 1864. Sze Ya Temple is the local version of Sin Sze Si Ya Temple. Its unique structure is a fine specimen of the traditional Chinese architecture, based on Feng Shui principles. The temple boasts of elaborate interiors and intricate roof ridges. It is said to have been built by craftsmen from southern China.

The temple is dedicated to Sin Sze Ya and Si Sze Ya, the patron deities of the residents of Kuala Lumpur. Sze Ya Temple is different in a way that the deities worshipped here are not the Chinese traditional deities, rather two people who were elevated to the position of deities for their merit. It is believed that the prophecies of Sze Ya guided these people during the Selangor Civil War and made them to triumph. And that's how, these people happened to be worshipped by the locals.

Sin Sze Si Ya Temple is one of the 13 temples in Peninsular Malaysia that are dedicated to Xian Shi Ye. It features a main hall and two side halls. Moreover, century-old sedan chairs, which used to be employed in the religious processions earlier, are displayed at the temple entrance. Sze Ya Temple in Kuala LumpurA memorial plaque in the honor of the pioneers - Chan Sow Lin, Yap Ah Shak, Yap Ah Loy, and Yap Kwan Seng, is also placed at the entrance.

On our visit to this temple, we witnessed the practice of old Chinese customs, like prayers to the White Tiger Deity or people worshipping under tables. Sze Ya Temple was a must-visit place in KL as it represents the rich heritage of Malaysia.

Chinatown is a dynamic and vibrant street full of shopping opportunities. You can find all the cheap stuff you can think of along Jalan Petaling. The street market is crazy during the weekends, but it is still worth a try. There are shop houses, restaurants and coffee shops in side streets of Chinatown. You can combine a visit to Central Market and Chinatown in the same day.

1 more image

If in KL then a visit to Chinatown and Petling Street is a must, just to say you have been there. BUT if you like the hussel and bussel of night markets then Petling Street is for you, shop till you drop and haggel till you are blue in the face and then walk away exhausted. If you can't find a wallet or handbag in Petling street then you just didn't look. BUT if you like to see some of the original Chinatown then the Lonley Planet walking tour will do that.

This is another must for first-time visitor to Kuala Lumpur. Petaling Street is in the heart of the Chinatown of downtown Kuala Lumpur.

The history of Kuala Lumpur began when Chinese immigrant miners came to open the tin industry of Malaysia. Kuala Lumpur started as a riverine town of attap houses and the founder was a Hakka Chinese named Captain Yap Ah Loy.

Petaling Street has been a famous night market street and now converted with high roof into a pedestrian shopping street. Great place to find bargains, eat and watch local shoppers and tourists mingling.

As bargaining is expected, do not rush in buying but negotiate for best price. Open from morning till night. Walking distance from Pudu Bus Station and Light Rail Train (LRT) station of Pasar Seni (Central Market).

Since China Town is very famous for its immense bargaining thus the stallkeepers have also found a way to avoid this trick. What they do is that they tell you a price which is more than double the normal price so a tourist will maximum make a call of half the price. The stallkeeper adds RM 5-8 more to that price and the tourist gets easily ripped off by thinking that he/she has made a perfect buy. It happened with me too until i just visited a shop at china town and was stunned to see that a t-shirt which i bought for RM 25 from a stall after bargaining for arnd RM 15 (i.e from RM 40 to Rm 25), it was displayed for sale at a price of RM 18 in that shop. Only then i realized that its much better to buy stuff from the shops inside China Town rather than the stalls. So, its just a short piece of advice. Hope you find it usefull. And feel free to comment. Thanks

You can reach Chinatown by getting off the Hop On/Hop Off Bus at stop number 8, by taxi or by train (Pasar Seni station on pink "E" line). We went here in the evening to Petaling Street to the market there. You will find lots of cheap things to buy such as jewellery, sunglasses, bags, clothes, etc.

1 more image

Chinatown in KL is located in the vicinity of Jalan Petaling, Jalan Sultan, Jalan Hang Lekir, and the surrounding area. The place is busier in the evening when the stalls start filling up the street. Watch out for cars when walking on Petaling street during the day as it is not closed to traffic. It is closed to traffic in the evening (from 6pm i think).

It is the place to buy DVDs and branded clothing and bags. Of course they are pirated version. For foreigner, you have to bargain hard with the vendors. A trip to Chinatown won't be complete without trying some of the local street food.

There are a few budget hotels in the area. Don't expect any 5 stars hotel here.