Petaling Street, Kuala Lumpur

Let’s begin with the most prominent one, KL’s Chinatown, centred on the bustling Petaling Street, and also called “Chee Cheong Gai” in Cantonese. Here, a market with stalls selling everything from local street food to souvenirs (and luxury brand dupes) is the main attraction.

Venturing away from the often-crowded street, heritage buildings lending an old-world charm – juxtaposed with modern hotels and cafés – line the roads. These are traversable by foot but with caution because heavy traffic plague the area, as is the case with most tourist spots in big cities.

Walking tours are available to those wanting to learn more of the area’s history that dates back to the 1870s, which includes its murky past, and how this Chinatown has evolved since then.

Jonker Walk, Melaka

Officially known as Lorong Hang Jebat, Melaka’s Chinatown is popularly known as Jonker Walk or Jonker Street – taking the surname of a prominent Dutchman that was stationed in the city during the Dutch Colonial occupation in the 17th century.

Interestingly, its Chinese name is “Ji Chang Jie”, which translates to “Chicken Farm Street”. This isn’t in reference to the chicken rice balls that the historic city is known for, but rather, it is said to mean “bustling street”.

That is an apt description, especially on weekend nights from Friday to Sunday when its famous Jonker Street Night Market is held, with mouth-watering street foods being the market’s biggest draw.

Concubine Lane, Perak

Considered as the Chinatown of Ipoh, Concubine Lane is officially named Lorong Panglima, but in Cantonese it is also known as Yee Lai Hong or Mistress Lane.

The area generally referred to Concubine Lane is technically made up of two other lanes as well, which are Wife Lane (Lorong Hale) and Second Concubine Lane (Market Lane). The names themselves illustrate the kind of risqué past the area used to have since it was built in the late 19th century.

However, it has since evolved into a family-friendly and trendy place to visit, with cafés and souvenir stalls lining Concubine Lane’s narrow street that is best explored on foot.

Kampung Cina, Terengganu

Located in Kuala Terengganu, the royal capital of the Terengganu state, Kampung Cina is a Chinese settlement that has existed in the city since the 18th century.

Throughout its long history, there had been a few attempts to change its official name – from Kampung Cina to Jalan Bandar to Chinatown. These names may be interchangeable among non-locals but officially, it has been referred to for the past few decades as Kampung Cina.

News broke in October 2023 that it was going to be rebranded as Chinatown again. This move was contemplated as it is believed that the place has untapped tourism potential and “Chinatown”, being a term ingrained in most tourists’ mind as a must-visit area, might just entice them to come.

Foh Sang, Sabah

Chinese is the largest non-Indigenous ethnic group in Sabah (at 9.2% as of 2023) – a result of various Han Chinese subgroups immigrating to the Bornean state largely after 1881.

Intermarriage with the native Kadazandusun group led to mixed descendants known as Sino-Kadazan, who continue their ancestors’ celebration of significant Chinese holidays such as Chinese New Year and the Mid-Autumn Festival. Foh Sang in Luyang, a locality in the capital city Kota Kinabalu, is a great place for locals and tourists alike to experience these celebrations.

Considered the Chinatown of Sabah, Chinese shops – including coffeeshops, grocery and general stores – can be found thriving here.

Recent efforts have been made to attract not just more tourists but also the younger generations to visit the area, like the initiation of the Foh Sang Street Art project in 2019.

Padungan Road, Sarawak

With 23.4% of the population in Sarawak being Chinese, as recorded in 2023, Malaysia’s largest state unsurprisingly has a thriving Chinese culture.

The state’s capital city Kuching is home to an unmissable Chinatown. Aside from its distinctive arch gateway, there is also a large cat statue right at the entrance, making the place essentially easy to locate.

What’s more, this white cat statue is often dressed up accordingly based on the festive season. For example, during Chinese New Year it will be decked in traditional clothes, while during Christmas it will spot a Santa hat.

Carpenter Street and Main Bazaar are the distinctive streets in this area, filled with Chinese shophouses. There are also two temples on Carpenter Street.

https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/travel...wns-in-malaysia

diam 7 la sei sohai MCA dupe

18 Jan how? why no update?

failed copy paste for attentions

that's what MCA JKOM department teach you?

Petaling Street banyak Bangla and Nepal. Cannot be call China Town anymore.

Jonker Walk banyak lagi Chinese.

Concubine Lane banyak lagi Chinese.

Imbi and Lowyet plaza too, full of foreigners.

basically every town in malaysia is chinatown la

what the article and ts trying to imply here is old chinatown

so new commercial area which majority owned by chinese is not chinatown lol

This post has been edited by TreyLey: Mar 7 2024, 04:54 PM

the best is Filipine Chinatown laaa

mixed blood also kaw kaw

big front big back

visited the oldest china town in binondo, manila.

chinatown there started since 1600's, but kl chinatown started in 1900s

i will visit all on 18th jan

Pucheong concubine street mana??

you can take the chinese out of china but you can't take china out of the chinese?