Chinatown Kuala Lumpur

Lively, colorful Chinatown is centered on Petaling Street, known for its fashion shops and a large covered market with produce, clothes and accessories. Local artists sell paintings and crafts at nearby Central Market, where stalls also dish up noodles and curry. Places of worship in the area include the Taoist Guan Di Temple and the 19th-century Sri Mahamariamman Temple, with a facade of carved Hindu deities.

Location

Petaling Street is the Chinatown of Kuala Lumpur. This famous street cuts through Jalan Pudu and Jalan Sultan with various hotels in Kuala Lumpur like Swiss Inn Kuala Lumpur, Ancasa Hotel and Spa and Alamanda Hotel surrounding it. There are also other budget hotels in Petaling Street such as the Hotel City and Hotel China Town 2. At walking distance from Petaling Street is the Pudu Central which recently renovated to serve the public better. The Petaling Street being so close to the central hub of Kuala Lumpur, makes it a famous destination for both local and foreign tourists.

Overview

The Petaling Street (Chinatown) in Kuala Lumpur is like the Bukit Bintang of the older part of Kuala Lumpur. It is a place where the hustling and bustling never comes to an end. Day or night, visitors keep coming to Petaling Street to either dine on the famous street foods here or to get some good bargains on things sold here. Petaling Street is the shoppers' paradise if you want to bargain your way to some cheap things. There is almost everything here from clothes, souvenirs to electronic items to fabrics. Other than cheap stuff, Petaling Street is renowned for selling imitation goods like handbags, wallets, watches and shoes from brands like Adidas, Louis Vuitton, Calvin Klein, Nike and so on. Food here is also aplenty.

There aren't many proper shops here. Most of the shops here are the little stalls but many locals claim that at these stalls are where the best street foods can be found. A famous delicacy in Petaling Street is the salted roast duck which is sold at a mobile stall- the stall is built on a motorcycle. Be sure to be there early as the roast ducks are sold out by lunch time. Other than shopping and eating here in the Chinatown, there are other attractions nearby as well. Two places not to be missed are the Central Market Kuala Lumpur and the Sri Mahamariamman Temple, Kuala Lumpur. A stone's throw away is the Central Market of Kuala Lumpur. Here you will be able to experience the rich culture of all the races in Malaysia. In the market, there are the Lorong Melayu, Lorong India and Straits Chinese which allows visitors to understand more of the difference in the culture of our people.

At the Central Market is also the place you can get great souvenirs which are all locally made such as kebaya, batik, songket and handicrafts. The Sri Mahamariamman Temple which is located at the edge of Petaling Street is the richest and oldest Hindu temple you can find in Kuala Lumpur. Its history dates back to the year of 1873 and has since been an important place of worship for the Indians here. Due to its history and influence, this temple is a vital part of the culture and heritage of Malaysia

Transport

Petaling Street is easy accessible by car or by public transport. It is possible to get here by car but it is quite a task to find parking spaces here as it is always so crowded here. Another way to get here is by getting on the Kelana Jaya Line and get down at the Pasar Seni LRT Station. After getting down at the LRT station, a short walking distance will get you to Petaling Street.