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MalaysiaDescription and is it worth visiting
Chinatown is not only a popular place for hotel accommodation in Kuala Lumpur (see more about hotels and districts of Kuala Lumpur), but also one of the most visited attractions. Even if you're not staying in a hotel in Chinatown itself, but in any other area, you cannot avoid visiting this place. This is what is called a must-visit in Kuala Lumpur, and we 100% confirm that.
The heart and main street of the area is Petaling Street (Jalan Petaling). Part of the street was covered with a transparent roof in 2003, and Chinese arches were placed at the entrances, welcoming visitors. Under this roof, market stalls are located where you can buy anything. It might not be worth going here specifically for shopping, including souvenirs, since at the nearby Pasar Seni Central Market, prices are no higher, the atmosphere is much more comfortable, and the souvenirs and gifts are more interesting.
However, Chinatown is considered one of the most popular places for selling counterfeit goods. Here you can buy branded watches, phones, t-shirts, jeans, ties, belts, bags, wallets, umbrellas, children's toys, and much more with brand labels at rock-bottom prices. There are also a huge number of street cafes and restaurants where you can try dishes of traditional Chinese and other national cuisines. During the day, this street is deserted, but in the evening, when trading begins, it's impossible to push through. In the crowd, be careful with your belongings; pickpockets operate here.
Another interesting street is Jalan Sultan. It runs parallel to Petaling Street and is a restaurant street. There are many establishments with traditional Chinese and Malay cuisine. Indonesian cuisine and others are also represented, but to a lesser extent. There is even the Michelin-starred Lai Foong LaLa Noodle restaurant here, where you can eat from just 18 ringgit. And they serve beer here, which is generally rare for Kuala Lumpur.
But the interesting thing in this area is not only the Petaling trading street and the Jalan Sultan food street, but also the very atmosphere of this area. As in any other city in the world, Kuala Lumpur's Chinatown is a bustling, colorful area with narrow streets where you can see many Chinese temples, and sometimes you might be lucky enough to witness traditional Chinese celebrations.
But an important warning! To be honest, it must be said that the Chinatown area is also one of the most seedy. You need to be prepared to easily encounter a homeless person sleeping on the sidewalk or a rat running through the park (and there are really a lot of them). And part of the street has been taken over by prostitutes and criminals, as we were able to see for ourselves when we almost had our camera taken in broad daylight when a prostitute accidentally got into the shot.
🕐 Opening hours
24/7, it's better to visit the market on Petaling Street in the evening, after 6:00 PM.
💵 Admission / ticket price
Free.
🚶 How to get there
Petaling Street is located in the very heart of Chinatown (Chinatown and Petaling Street on the map, the part of the street covered by the roof is highlighted in red). You can get to Chinatown from other areas of the city by public transport via the nearest stations: Kuala Lumpur KTM Komuter Station; Puduraya bus station; Pasar Seni station on the Kelana Jaya line of the LRT city metro. The nearest monorail station, Maharajalela, is a 10-15 minute walk away. You can take the free purple line GO KL bus to the Kota Raya stop, which is located right at the entrance to the street.
In our opinion, the most convenient option is the regular metro to Pasar Seni station, then a short walk. But choose the type of transport depending on where you are. Google Maps (public transport mode) or the local MyRapidPulse app will help you choose the right transport and plan your route. We've detailed moving around the capital in a separate guide: Kuala Lumpur transport and how to use it.