This is one of the most fantastic cities you ever have been to. A modern capital with a warm hospitality that you hardly find in many places around the world. Just around a corner you have long sandy beaches, paradise islands, virgin coral reefs, tropical rain forests; and the mighty Mount Kinabalu is only 90 minutes away.
Kota Kinabalu is situated on the tropical island of Borneo, and is the state capital of the Malaysian state Sabah, which is one of the two states of East Malysia. The location of the city is absolutely amazing; and from the airport it is just a short ride to mostly any hotel. You find a world class sailing marina and championship golf courses as well as both first class holiday resorts and good hotels for the budget traveler.
And the food is varied in a way that only a state with 30 ethnic groups can offer. The flavours you will find are excellent and in KK, as Kota Kinabalu also is called, there are gourmet meals in restaurants for elegant dining, but you will also find wonderful tastes and textures in a bowl in a hawker’s stall at the night market.
A starting point for business in South-East Asia
Kota Kinabalu is not only an instant resort city but also the perfect place for business, congresses and meetings. The business district is centrally located - with government, banks and commercial offices. And as a starting point for business in South-East Asia, this is a perfect place, there are direct flights to several main cities in this part of the world.
Originally named Bond Street, Gaya Street is located in the Kota Kinabalu Central Business District. The street has been the centre of business for over a hundred years. This street is where the old family business still thriving passed down from generation to generation.
Held on every Sunday morning, the length of Gaya Street is closed off to traffic to make way for the Fair. Batik sarongs, local fresh fruits and flowers, arts and crafts, footwear, antiques and souvenirs, ground coffees, cakes, even pets and herbs, almost everything can be found here!
Getting to the Gaya Street Sunday Market will only take a short stroll from anywhere around the city centre of Kota Kinabalu or take public transports into town.
The Green Connection is an Aquarium and Discovery centre, aims at showcasing the uniqueness of Sabah’s aquatic biodiversity. It also plans to promote awareness regarding the importance of nature and wildlife conservation through fun and interactive educational activities.
The Green Connection is located10 min outside the downtown area by taxi. This family-friendly conservation centre offers the experience of strolling through limestone caves, dense jungles, mangrove area, coral reefs of Sipadan, the Northern Tip of Borneo, and Pulau Tiga. Visitors here will be accompanied by guides who are experts in the field to help them answering any thoughts and questions.
There is a series of freshwater aquariums which are modelled after freshwater habitats such as the Kinabatangan River, the Bornean Mangrove area, lake and pond, as well as the paddy field. Here in The Green Connection, visitors will be able to see the species of fish and other wildlife that live in these areas such as the catfish, pig-nosed turtle, and blade fish in the Kinabatangan River-model aquarium and the freshwater mangrove ray in the Bornean mangrove-model tank.
For a taste of the amazing underwater world of Sipadan, come to The Green Connection and behold the Sipadan-model coral tank! Deemed as the largest coral tank in South East Asia, this tank is complete with man-made coral reefs, also known as bip-rock, which is made of coral rubbles, cement, popcorns. It houses both big and small fish such as the catfish and many others. You too can opt to dive into this coral tank during the feeding time for a chance to swim with the sharks.
The Green Connection is open daily from 10am to 6pm.
The Kota Kinabalu Handicraft Market is formerly known as the Filipino Market. It is located along Jalan Tun Fuad Stephen, the same stretch as the waterfront in Kota Kinabalu City which takes only about 5 to 10 minute walk from the city centre.
The Handicraft market features vendors selling traditional handicrafts, souvenirs and foodstuffs. It is a favoured shopping haunt for locals and tourists where souvenirs galore await them.
Start with cheap trinkets, which make excellent gifts for friends and family. These include key chains, bookmarks, beaded bracelets and necklaces. You will be spoilt for choice with miles and miles of beautiful sarongs and pareos, an ideal reminder of your tropical holiday in Kota Kinabalu! Be sure to check out the glistening and gorgeous pearl jewellery and handicrafts. You can purchase loose pearls or stunning brooches, necklaces and earrings, available at almost every stall you visit in this market.
The Handicraft Market is the right place for those who are looking for ornate wooden carvings. The market has endless variety of carved crafts, including exotic wooden masks, pictures frames and even stunning wall panels. Not be missed are the assortment of rattan baskets in all shapes and sizes.
The best thing about the Kota Kinabalu Handicraft Market is that you never know what piece of treasure you might unravel during your visit. Some have returned home with and authentic sompoton (a traditional wind instrument), a Murut headhunter’s blowpipe, a coconut-shaped handbag and a wooden-frog that ‘sings’ when you stroke its back with a wooden stick.
The most important tip when visiting the Handicraft Market is of course, bargaining. Pick up some local lingo to improve your bargaining skills and you might even walk away a steal.
Kionsom waterfall is popular among the locals especially on a hot day. This is the only waterfall located about 25 kms or 30-40 minutes drive from the city.
Pristine environment, fresh air and clear water . There are a few waterfall around this area. In addition there are also huts and bathing areas to relax with family while having bbq lunch.
The tallest waterfall there seemed to carve it’s way through the rock boulders which make up the surrounding hills leading to the illusion of water cascading from within the boudlers. Surrounded by lush greenery above, its a perfect place for photographer and nature lover.
Entrance fee: RM1.50 - Adult / 50 cents - Children
Kota Kinabalu Wetland Centre is the only remains of 24 hectares (60 acres) of mangrove forest that once existed extensively along the coastal region of Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. Formerly known as Likas Swamp or Likas Mangrove and later Kota Kinabalu City Bird Sanctuary, the Centre came foremost out of 20 wetlands selected by the Sabah Wetlands Inventory Committee in 1996.
Kota Kinabalu Wetlands, manage by Sabah Wetlands Conservation Society, is used primarily as a model wetland centre for the purpose of conservation, education, recreation, tourism and research. It is an important refuge and feeding ground for many species of resident birds, as well as migratory bird species from Northern Asia. Commonly sighted birds include migratory species like the Sandpiper, Greenshank, Redshank, Egrets and herons as well as canopy birds such as collared kingfisher and stork-billed kingfisher. To date, almost 80 species of bird have been identified at the sanctuary. In addition, it is a breeding ground for marine life protected by the Fishery Department of Sabah. Other mangrove wildlife includes monitor lizards, fiddler crabs, mudskippers, Weaver ants, butterflies and other insects, jellyfish, water snakes and mud lobsters.
Apart from providing shelter and food for both resident and migratory species of wildlife, Kota Kinabalu wetlands also prevent salt build-up in surrounding freshwater supplies, stabilising sedimentation, storing nutrients and removing toxins.
Kota Kinabalu Wetlands features a 1.5 km or a 45 minute boardwalk which brings visitors deep into the mangrove jungle where they can see the unique natural ecosystem of land meets the sea. This unique natural landscape gives tourists a pleasant experience to enjoy fresh air and tranquillity while spotting interesting birds, plants and wildlife.
There are range of activities that can be done at Kota Kianbalu Wetlands, including guided walks, environmental education programmes, bird watching sessions, and corporate volunteer programmes. The visiting hours are Tuesday to Sunday, 8am – 6pm (closed on Mondays except public holidays).
The Likas Sports Complex in Kota Kianabalu is the best sports facilities in East Malaysia. It provides various sporting and recreational facilities for public use. It has, among others, a 20,000-seater football (soccer) stadium, badminton, tennis, and squash courts, a gymnasium, an Olympic size swimming pool, a driving range, hockey fields and a new Youth Challenge park consisting of an international standard skate park and indoor climbing centre.
Located 10 minutes from the city centre, Likas Sport Complex is the largest sports complex in the state and has hosted numerous national as well as international sporting events. It is also the regular venue for large events such as the annual Chinese New year, Ramadhan open houses, and the Malaysia Merdeka Days.
The Likas Sport Complex in Kota Kinabalu features the following facilities:
- Football stadium and athletics track;
- Adjacent football fields;
- Artificial turf hockey field and mini-stadium;
- Competition standard swimming pool, dive pool and 10m dive platform;
- Recreation and kiddies pool;
- Tennis courts;
- Netball courts;
- Lawn-bowling courts;
- A 1km scenic running track without outdoor exercise structures;
- A kids playground;
- Gym with lots of free weights and a selection of machines;
- In-door badminton courts and stadium;
- Gymnastics studio;
- Facilities for fencing, yoga, aerobics and karate
Likas Sports Complex in Kota Kinabalu is home for Sabah FA football team (Sabah Rhinos) which is currently competing in the Malaysian Premier League.
Mari-Mari means come and come in English which suite this village perfectly.The Mari-Mari Cultural Village is situated amidst a remote forest setting in Kionsom, Inanam. The village is 25 minutes away from the city centre of Kota Kinabalu. The journey to the village will take visitors to long roads surrounded by rich spectrum of greenery and overarched by wild blue skies. The surrounding atmosphere of the Mari-Mari Cultural Village has a big different than that Kota Kinabalu bustling and hustling city, a very peaceful surrounding that may faintly remind visitors of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s The Lost World; in the local sense. The Beauty of untapped nature is guaranteed to capture visitors’ eyes and heart as soon as they arrive at the village.
The village will introduce visitors to various traditional homes of Sabahan ethnic communities like the Bajau, Lundayeh, Murut, Rungus and Dusun. Each home was built by descendants of the tribes they represent and offer visitors a truly genuine experience seeing everything in and around the village lends.
Mari-Mari Cultural Village will also bring the feeling of travelling back to the times of ancient Borneo through the display of unique ingenious architecture, simulated lives and ritualistic ceremonies.
For a more hands-on experience in Mari-Mari Cultural Village, check out the little huts where daily routines of traditional Sabahan life come alive. This is where visitors can see the demonstration of blowpipe-making, fire-starting using bamboo, tattoo-making, and getting an in-depth look at the mystical symbolisms behind them. They will also get the chance to sample Sabahan Traditional delicacies from each ethnic group.
A visit to Mari-Mari Cultural Village in Kota Kinabalu will be a cultural excursion of a lifetime, taste and feel the essence of Sabah presenting as it was and as it is.
There are two attracting mosques in Kota Kinabalu, the Sabah State mosque in Sembulan (which is the largest mosque in Sabah) and the City Mosque in Likas Bay where it becomes another significant landmark in the city.
The State Mosque is one of the most outstanding pieces of architecture in Sabah. Wiith its majestic dome and stunning gold inlay motifs, the mosque sits a stone’s throw away from the city centre. It is a unique combination of prevailing Islamic architecture and contemporary design. The Sabah State Mosque in Sembulan can accommodate up to 5,000 worshippers at one time. There is also a special balcony exclusively allocated for Muslim women during prayer time, with room for up to 500.
The other mosque is the Kota Kinabalu City Mosque. Located about 3km from the Kota Kinabalu City Centre, the Kota Kinabalu City Mosque was built on a 2.47 acres site at the Likas bay is situated near by the sea. This majestic white mosque boasts similar features to the Nabawi Mosque in Medina. The Mosque has a prayer hall which houses three madrasahs and accommodates around 9,000 to 12,000 people at a time. By far the largest mosque in Kota Kinabalu, the Kota Kinabalu City Mosque is even possibly the most beautiful one in Malaysia – the man-made lagoon which surrounds it gives a serenely gorgeous and dramatic look to the mosque on a full moon night.
When visiting these mosques, visitors are advised to adhere by the dress code. Avoid visiting on Fridays which is the day of prayer for Muslims.
The Sabah Museum is the state Museum of Sabah, Malaysia. It is sited on 17 ha of land at Bukit Istana Lama in Kota Kinabalu, the state capital. Buit in 1985, the museum is sited where then British North Borneo Governor’s Istana was once located. The Museum contains not only the museum proper, but also an ethnobotanic garden, a zoo and a heritage village. The main building also houses the Sabah art Gallery. Other galleries cover Islamicc Civilization, Archeology and History, Natural History, and Ceramics and Brassware. The Sabah Museum also houses musical instruments, tools and ritual paraphernalia.
The Sabah Museum was established in 1965 in a shophouse in Gaya Street, Kota Kinabalu, largely due to the efforts of the Sabah Society. The George Cathcart woolley Collection of photographs, diaries and other artefacts, bequeathed to the state Government of Sabah, formed the nucleus of the Museum.The first Curator of the Museum was E.J. Berwick. In 1981, it came under the Ministry of Community Services and then, in 1982, under the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports. It moved to its Bukit Istana Lama, Kota Kinabalu in 1984.
The Sabah State Museum is only 4km or about 15 minutes from the KK City Centre. It opens daily from 9am till 5pm.
The Night Market in Kota Kinabalu is one of the most famous food courts in all South East Asia. It is located off Jalan Kampung Air. Near to the old Filipino craft market. And, is open from late afternoon (5.30) until the last paying customer is ready to leave (late).
The night market offers a culinary mix of food, Indonesian, Filipino, Chinese and of course Malay foods are most prominent. With seafood stalls taking up the largest area. Followed closely by open buffet style containers of local dishes.
Further into the market you’ll come across fruit stalls, vegetable stalls, and fresh fish stalls all selling in a quiet and discreet manner. There’s no shouting or hawking it in the loud sense here. If you’ve never seen a proper Southeast Asian market, this place will be a revelation.
The Sacred Heart Cathedral Parish is the main parish of the Diocese of Kota Kinabalu. It has two sub-parishes in The Church of Mary Immaculate and The St. Simon Church.
The history of Sacred Heart began with an amazing story of amazing grace in the life of a man by the name of Carlos Quarteron who became the first Prefect Apostolic of the then called Prefecture of North Borneo and Labuan. Like John Newton (1725 - 1807), the author of one of the world's most famous hymn "Amazing Grace", he was a sailor, a captain of a ship and a slave trader. When he was caught in a storm in which he almost lost his life, he got on his knees, he prayed and vowed and he kept his promises. After having studied in Rome for the priesthood and after having received Holy Orders at the age of 46 in 1855, he was immediately made Prefect Apostolic. His prefecture included the whole of Sabah, Sarawak and Brunei territories. With two Missionaries of the Milan Foreign Missions he reached the Sabah shores early in 1857. Labuan seemed to have been selected as the headquarters and it was there that a church and a house were built. Later he also built an atap church and a house on the main land of Gaya Bay. In 1860 when his Italian helpers were recalled by their superiors and appointed to Hong Kong, Monsignor Quarteron stayed on alone in Sabah until he was 70 and by then he was sick. He left for Rome to ask that his Prefecture be taken care of by a Mission Society.
Signal Hill, or Bukit Bendera, behind the Kota Kinabalu Community Centre overlooking Kota Kinabalu town, offers visitors a bird's eye view of the town centre itself, as well as a distant view of the Tanjung Aru and Likas Bay areas. Signal Hill is in fact, one of the best places to get a good view of KK.
The hill is in a natural area where one can peacefully enjoy the beautiful skyline of the city with a view that extends to the islands.
Tariff
Taxi fare to the Signal Hill Observatory Platform is RM10-RM15
Getting There
You will have to use a taxi as it is off the normal bus route.
Opening Hours
Daily from 8.00am till 12.00am
Admission is free.
Located at the end of Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman and about 6 kilometres from KK City, this place is closest to the hearts of the locals, and just one visit to the beach will tell you why. Taking its name from the casuarinas or aru trees that fringe the fine sands, this is where one might get a ringside seat to the greatest sunset on earth every evening when the crimson sun dips slowly into the horizon, leaving the vast skies a brilliant red.
Foodstalls serving local food and drinks are open till late at night. Enjoy coconut and sugarcane juice, chicken or beef satay and steamed peanuts and corn, or indulge in a full-course dinner at the seafood restaurant located there. The Tanjung Aru beach is also home to Shangri-la's Tanjung Aru Resort, the Kinabalu Golf Club and the Kinabalu Yacht Club.
Getting There
From KK City Centre, take the No 16 bus towards Tanjung Aru from the bus stations in front of City Hall or Wawasan Plaza and let the driver know of your destination. Bus fare is RM1.50. You can also go by taxi, at RM15 per taxi (up to four persons).
Sabah is a multiculturalism state and this is often reflected in its diverse architecture. There are many interesting religious monuments around the city. One of the examples is the Puh Toh Tze Temple in Kota Kinabalu. Built in 1980, the Buddhist temple located off Tuaran Road. It stands out with its traditional Chinese roofing and structure. Ten large statues of deities adorn the temple with the Goddess of Mercy, Kwan Yin, standing tall at the main entrance of the temple.
Another interesting monument in Kota Kinabalu is the Sikh Temple. Built in 1924, the Gurdawara off Jalan Mat Salleh is one of five Sikh temples in Sabah. The Temple is one of the few buildings in the state capital which survived World War 2. Every year, Sikh in Kota Kinabalu celebrate Visakhi (Sikh New Year) and Diwali (Festival of Light) at the Gurdawara.
The marine park is a cluster of islands comprising Pulau Gaya, Pulau Sapi, Pulau Manukan, Pulau Mamutik and Pulau Sulug, all only 10 to 20 minutes speedboat ride from the city centre of Kota Kinabalu. The five islands of the Marine Park are characterized by shallow waters, sumptuous coral gardens and all boast splendid white sandy beaches.
All five islands are hilly and forested, with mixture of rocky coastlines and white sandy beaches. They are located closely together, well within sight of the mainland. The largest amongst the island group is Pulau Gaya at 15 sq km of untouched dense rainforest on which there is a small settlement of locals who have built wooden housing over the coastal edges while the rest is pristine jungle. It boasts some of the best coral and unspoilt beaches in the entire park which making it a popular destination even among the locals.
To dive in the marine park visitors must contact one of the local dive centres based in Kota Kinabalu who also offer a full variety of PADI courses ranging from discover scuba to instructor.
Among the sandy seabed a good variety of marine life can be found such as Blue-spotted rays, Scorpion fish, cuttlefish, mantis shrimps and the occasional green or hawksbill turtle. At some locations, rare creatures such as the harlequin ghost pipefish and mandarin fish can be found especially with the help from local dive guides.
During the cooler months from November to February, plankton blooms attract krill which in turn attract whale sharks, the world’s largest fish. At times, the density of the krill can be so thick in these murky conditions underwater encounters with these colossal animals can be exciting as they suddenly appear out of the gloom.
Non-diving visitors can still have much fun in the islands, with other optional activities such as snorkeling in Pulau Sapi and Manukan and seawalking in Pulau Sapi.
The Tunku abdul Rahman is open daily from 8.30am to 5pm. It is accessible via 15 to 20 minutes speedboat ride from Kota Kinabalu.
The date 31st January 1994 was an historic moment that brought enlightened hope to the thousands of local community members who had gathered in the small town of Beaufort, Sabah. Our esteemed Prime Minister Dato' Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad in meeting with the people made a promise that a university will be built in Sabah. The announcement was spontaneously followed by loud cheers, and became the driving force for the establishment of a university in Sabah.
Thus on the 24th November 1994, a university was born, not through a daydream or a nightmare, but through a forward vision of our distinguished Prime Minister, which aspires to bring immense development and quality of life to the people here.
Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) was established on 24th November 1994. His Royal highness the Yang DiPertuan Agong Proclaimed the establishment of UMS under Section 6(1) of the Universities and University Colleges Act 1971.
The ninth university in Malaysia expanded rapidly since the early days of its inception. The management office that started activities at the Ministry of Education, Kuala Lumpur later on shifted to Kota Kinabalu. Teaching and research commenced in 1995 in rented buildings. The physical development of permanent campus on a 999 acre piece of land began in earnest in August 1995. The University's occupation of the permanent campus started in 1999 and completed in 2000. In the meantime, the government also granted approval to UMS to set up a branch campus in the Federal Territory of Labuan. Years that followed the acquisition of building facilities for teaching, learning and research have witnessed the emergence of an increasing number of schools, centres and units.
Since its birth, the development of UMS is progressing at a tremendous pace, and the university is fully committed to achieving the highest standards of quality in both academic and non-academic activities. This means pursuing continuous improvement and being satisfied with nothing less than the best practice.
Universiti Malaysia Sabah strives to achieve academic excellence in various fields by gaining international of the society and recognition through learning and teaching, research and publications, social services and a balanced specialization of knowledge and personality development of students resulting in high productivity and quality in context of the society and the nation.
With self-confidence, it is hoped that UMS will be able to train and produce human resources of international caliber, who are ready to contribute towards the betterment of the people and the country.
Located 5 kilometres or about 15 minutes away from the KK City Centre. Formerly known as the Sabah Foundation Building, this circular tower of steel and glass stands 30 storeys high in the Likas Bay area and is instantly recognizable as a Sabah icon. It has a central core with steel brackets supporting each floor. When completed in 1977, it was one of the three such buildings in the world based on this design concept.
Inside are housed an auditorium, two mini-theatres, exhibition foyer, a gymnasium, kindergarten and Research library.
Getting There
Take the UMS bus No.5A from the bus stations in front of the City Hall or Wawasan Plaza in KK and indicate your drop-off point to the driver. Fare is RM2.00 to RM2.50 one way. Any taxi will take you there for RM15.00 - RM20.00 one way.
