A 1912 building
The old Chinese Chamber of Commerce.
Yeo Jiun Tzen — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Graystravels — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Graystravels — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Marufish from Alor Setar, Malaysia — CC BY-SA 2.0
A small, elegant building on the waterfront, built in 1912 as the headquarters of the Sarawak Chinese Chamber of Commerce and a museum since 1993, telling the story of the Chinese in Sarawak: when they arrived, which parts of China they came from, the trades and businesses they worked in, and how they helped build modern Kuching. The museum shows ceramics, jade, musical instruments, old photographs and craft tools, and explains the different Chinese communities, their dialects and associations, with short video displays. It is small, but it explains much of what you see in Kuching's old streets, shops and temples. Entry is free. It opens Monday to Friday from nine to quarter to five, with shorter hours at weekends, and closes on public holidays. Half an hour is enough. It sits at the eastern end of the waterfront, so make it a short stop on your promenade walk or along Main Bazaar; it is also a pleasant air-conditioned break from the midday heat.
The old Chinese Chamber of Commerce.
Arrival, trade, associations and dialects.
On the promenade, free and air-conditioned.
On the waterfront, at the eastern end of Main Bazaar
Tua Pek Kong TempleThe oldest temple in Kuching, standing on a raised terrace at the eastern end of1 minute walk
Carpenter StreetOne of Kuching's oldest streets and the heart of its Chinatown, running behind t4 minutes walk4.4
Fort Margherita and the Brooke GalleryA small white fort in the style of an English castle, built in 1879 by Charles B4 minutes walk
Textile Museum SarawakA small, elegant museum in the Pavilion Building, a three-storey colonial buildi6 minutes walk
Square TowerA small white building shaped like a fort, with crenellated parapets and a hexag6 minutes walkAs a short free stop on the waterfront, yes: it explains an important side of the city's history in half an hour. On its own it is not worth a special trip.