Shophouses
Old fronts and shutters.
Marufish from Alor Setar, Malaysia — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Marufish from Alor Setar, Malaysia — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Marufish from Alor Setar, Malaysia — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Marufish from Alor Setar, Malaysia — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Marufish from Alor Setar, Malaysia — CC BY-SA 2.0
One of Kuching's oldest streets and the heart of its Chinatown, running behind the waterfront and Main Bazaar. It was first called Attap Street, as its early shophouses were roofed with palm thatch, until a great fire in 1884 destroyed some hundred and sixty shophouses. After the fire, Rajah Charles Brooke ordered rebuilding in brick with tiled roofs, and so rose the present shophouses with their colourful fronts and wooden shutters; many are still home to the same families after generations, with old trades at work, from goldsmiths to tinsmiths and picture framers. Mid-way along is the small Hiang Thian Siang Ti temple of the Teochew community, rebuilt in 1889, and at its entrance stands an ornate red Chinese gateway. The street has old coffee shops and food stalls, some not halal, so watch the signs. Walking it is free, and mornings are the best time to see the craftsmen at work. Make it part of a walk between the Tua Pek Kong Temple, the waterfront and Main Bazaar.
Old fronts and shutters.
Goldsmiths and tinsmiths.
Teochew heritage.
The old Chinatown, behind the waterfront and Main Bazaar
Textile Museum SarawakA small, elegant museum in the Pavilion Building, a three-storey colonial buildi2 minutes walk
Old Court HouseAn elegant white complex from the era of Sarawak's White Rajahs, built by Charle2 minutes walk
Square TowerA small white building shaped like a fort, with crenellated parapets and a hexag3 minutes walk
Kuching Waterfront and Darul Hana BridgeThe waterfront is the heart of Kuching and its loveliest part: a promenade of ab3 minutes walk
Chinese History Museum, KuchingA small, elegant building on the waterfront, built in 1912 as the headquarters o4 minutes walkSome coffee shops and stalls are halal and some are not, so look for the sign; the nearby waterfront and India Street have plenty of halal options.