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
Fort Margherita and the Brooke GalleryA small white fort in the style of an English castle, built in 1879 by Charles B4 minutes walk
Kuching Waterfront and Darul Hana BridgeThe waterfront is the heart of Kuching and its loveliest part: a promenade of ab6 minutes walk
Borneo Cultures MuseumThe largest museum in Malaysia and the second largest in Southeast Asia, opened 9 minutes walk
Sarawak Islamic Heritage MuseumA quiet museum in a handsome historic building, put up in the early 1930s under 11 minutes walk
Kuching City Mosque (Old Mosque)One of Kuching's loveliest and most distinctive landmarks: a mosque with pink wa11 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.