Kuala Lumpur Travel Guide

Melaka (Historic City)

The fascinating seaside city of Melaka (Malacca) preserves the historic convergence of Chinese and European cultures. Its strategic position on the Straits of Melaka brought a tide of trade with China, India, Siam and Indonesia. Colonial powers wrestled for control, and much of the Portuguese influence from the 1500s is cemented in its architecture. The most notable cultural presence today is predominantly Chinese. Chinese merchants continue to ply their trades in the tradition of their forefathers. Open-air markets burst with colourful fruit, vegetable and fish produce. The oldest Chinese temple in Malaysia, Cheng Hoon Teng together with the vast Chinese cemetery, support a thriving industry entirely dedicated to the deceased. The merging of Chinese and Malay have produced a unique ethnic group found in Melaka, the Baba-Nyonya. The unique lifestyle of this micro-culture can be explored in a dedicated Baba-Nyonya museum.