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Discover Kota Kinabalu, Sabah

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Discover Kota KinabaluDiscover Kota Kinabalu (6 May 2022)


B. Melayu

Kota Kinabalu is my personal travel guide to Kota Kinabalu (GPS: 5.980057, 116.073611), (British: Jesselton; Traditional Chinese: 亞庇; Simplified Chinese: 亚庇; Pinyin: Yàbì), the state capital of Sabah in East Malaysia. Formerly known as Jesselton, it is also the capital of the West Coast Division of Sabah. The city has a population of 579,304, while the larger urban area has an estimated population of 700,000. It is the largest urban centre in Sabah and the sixth largest in Malaysia. It was granted city status on 2 February 2000.

Kota Kinabalu is located on the northwest coast of Borneo facing the South China Sea. The Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park lies on one side and Mount Kinabalu, which gave the city its name, is nearby.

Map of Kota Kinabalu, Sabah

Map of tourist attractions in Kota Kinabalu

  1. 1Borneo Hypermall (GPS: 6.036, 116.12906)
  2. All Saints' Cathedral (GPS: 5.97289, 116.07227)
  3. Api-Api Centre (GPS: 5.97548, 116.06906)
  4. Atkinson Clock Tower (GPS: 5.9819, 116.07745)
  5. Basel Christian Church of Malaysia, Kota Kinabalu (GPS: 5.97746, 116.09518)
  6. Basel Christian Church of Malaysia, Penampang (GPS: 5.94535, 116.08502)
  7. Cap Kuda Coffee Company (GPS: 5.97892, 116.11691)
  8. Central Market (GPS: 5.99066, 116.10777)
  9. Chapel of the Holy Light (GPS: 5.99066, 116.10777)
  10. Christ Church, Likas (GPS: 5.99079, 116.10376)
  11. Church of the Good Samaritan (GPS: 5.9397, 116.0737)
  12. Dalit Bay Golf & Country Club (GPS: 6.15636, 116.15179)
  13. Double Six Memorial Park (GPS: 5.96221, 116.0618)
  14. Filipino Market (GPS: 5.98169, 116.07207)
  15. Gaya Street Sunday Market (GPS: 5.98306, 116.07663)
  16. I Love KK Sign (GPS: 5.98489, 116.07422)
  17. Indah Sabah Building (GPS: 5.98367, 116.07383)
  18. Jesselton Poing (GPS: 5.99007, 116.0798)
  19. Kinabalu Golf Club (GPS: 5.95025, 116.04491)
  20. Kipandi Butterfly Park (GPS: 5.8713, 116.25028)
  21. KK Esplanade (GPS: 5.98446, 116.07391)
  22. KK Plaza (GPS: 5.98284, 116.07362)
  23. KK Times Square (GPS: 5.9705, 116.06607)
  24. (GPS: 5.98883, 116.08944)
  25. Kota Kinabalu City Mosque (GPS: 5.99571, 116.10771)
  26. Lingzhi Museum (GPS: 5.92123, 116.06914)
  27. Lok Kawi Wildlife Park (GPS: 5.8516, 116.07066)
  28. Mari Mari Cultural Village (GPS: 5.9739, 116.20375)
  29. Marlin Swordfish Roundabout (GPS: 5.98494, 116.07446)
  30. (GPS: 6.11312, 116.10743)
  31. Orchid De Villa (GPS: 5.95884, 116.14357)
  32. Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church (GPS: 5.93675, 116.07956)
  33. Petagas War Memorial (GPS: 5.92111, 116.05439)
  34. (GPS: 5.99304, 116.11682)
  35. Pulau Gaya (GPS: 6.01799, 116.02984)
  36. Sabah Golf & Country Club (GPS: 5.95692, 116.10196)
  37. Sabah Islamic Civilisation Museum (GPS: 5.96336, 116.07396)
  38. Sabah Museum (GPS: .96061, 116.07146)
  39. Sabah State Mosque (GPS: 5.95996, 116.06715)
  40. Sabah Trade Centre (GPS: 5.99127, 116.0918)
  41. Sacred Heart Cathedral (GPS: 5.96425, 116.07297)
  42. Shern En Methodist Church (GPS: 5.9773, 116.08309)
  43. Signal Hill (GPS: 5.98581, 116.0797)
  44. St Michael Church, Penampang (GPS: 5.90762, 116.10967)
  45. Stella Maris Catholic Church (GPS: 5.95584, 116.05192)
  46. Sutera Harbour (GPS: 5.96498, 116.06178)
  47. Sutera Harbour Golf & Country Club (GPS: 5.96759, 116.05969)
  48. Todak Waterfront (GPS: 5.98408, 116.07362)
  49. Tun Mustapha Tower (GPS: 6.01722, 116.10944)
  50. UMS Aquarium and Marine Museum (GPS: 6.03992, 116.11277)
  51. UMS Mosque (GPS: 6.03814, 116.12517)
  52. Water World Theme Park (GPS: 5.94974, 116.10776)

Streets in Kota Kinabalu

  1. Gaya Street
  2. Jalan Enam Belas
  3. Jalan Lapan Belas
  4. Jalan K.K. Bypass
  5. Jalan Pantai
  6. Jalan Tun Fuad Stephen
  7. Jalan Tun Razak

Hotels in Kota Kinabalu

  1. Hyatt Regency Kinabalu (GPS: 5.98507, 116.07498)
  2. Shangri-La Rasa Ria Resort

Categories of sights in Kota Kinabalu

  1. Chinese Temples in Kota Kinabalu
  2. Churches in Kota Kinabalu
  3. Commercial Properties in Kota Kinabalu
  4. Golf Courses in Kota Kinabalu
  5. Markets in Kota Kinabalu
  6. Mosques in Kota Kinabalu
  7. Museums in Kota Kinabalu
  8. Shopping Malls in Kota Kinabalu
  9. Spas in Kota Kinabalu
  10. Tourist Attractions in Kota Kinabalu

Nearby Tourist Attractions

  1. Mengkabong Water Village
  2. Tamparuli
  3. Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park

Places within Kota Kinabalu

  1. Bandaran Berjaya
  2. Bukit Padang
  3. Damai
  4. Gaya Street
  5. Kampung Air
  6. Karamunsing
  7. Kepayan Ridge
  8. Kolombong
  9. Lido
  10. Likas
  11. Likas Bay
  12. Lintas
  13. Luyang
  14. Nosoob
  15. Segama
  16. Sembulan
  17. Sepanggar
  18. Sinsuran
  19. Tanjung Aru
  20. Tanjung Lipat

Railway Lines in Kota Kinabalu

  1. North Borneo Railway

Universities in Kota Kinabalu

  1. Universiti Malaysia Sabah

Kota Kinabalu skylineKota Kinabalu skyline
photo sourcehttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Panoramic_views_of_Kota_Kinabalu#mediaviewer/File:KKCity5.jpg
authorshipFlanegan
photo licensing

Neighbouring Towns to Kota Kinabalu

  1. Donggongon
  2. Inanam
  3. Lok Kawi
  4. Menggatal
  5. Penampang
  6. Putatan
  7. Sepanggar
  8. Telipok
  9. Tuaran

Islands off the coast of Kota Kinabalu

  1. Pulau Gaya

Cinemas in Kota Kinabalu

  1. Golden Screen Cinema, www.gsc.com.my, 63 Jalan Laiman Diki
  2. Mega Pavilion, www.megapavilion.net, Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman

Kota KinabaluKota Kinabalu
photo sourcehttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bird%27s_Eye_View_Of_Wawasan,_Kota_Kinabalu.jpg
authorshipthienzieyung
photo licensing

Jalan Tun Fuad Stephens, Kota KinabaluJalan Tun Fuad Stephens, Kota Kinabalu
photo sourcehttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Jalan_Tun_Fuad_Stephens,_Kota_Kinabalu#mediaviewer/File:Coconut_trees_Kota_Kinabalu.JPG
authorshipGossipguy
photo licensing

Swordfish Monument, Kota KinabaluSwordfish Monument, Kota Kinabalu
photo sourcehttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kota_Kinabalu_City_Centre_0001.jpg
authorshipStefan Fussan
photo licensing

Sembulan, a predominantly Bajau neighbourhood in Kota KinabaluSembulan, a predominantly Bajau neighbourhood in Kota Kinabalu
photo sourcehttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Panoramic_views_of_Kota_Kinabalu#mediaviewer/File:KotaKinabalu_Sabah_Sembulan-03.jpg
authorshipUwe Aranas
photo licensing

1 Borneo Hypermall, Kota Kinabalu1 Borneo Hypermall, Kota Kinabalu
photo sourcehttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:1Borneo_Hypermall#mediaviewer/File:Kota_Kinabalu_1Borneo_4600.jpg
authorshipStefan Fussan
photo licensing

Sacred Heart Catholic Cathedral, Kota KinabaluSacred Heart Catholic Cathedral, Kota Kinabalu
photo sourcehttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:KotaKinabalu_Sabah_SacredHeartCathedral-05.jpg
authorship© CEphoto, Uwe Aranas
photo licensing

Geography of Kota Kinabalu

Kota Kinabalu is on the west coast of Sabah. It lies on a narrow strip of land sandwiched between the Crocker Range and the South China Sea. Five of the islands off the coast of Kota Kinabalu, and within sight of the city, have been designated the Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park. As Kota Kinabalu is located directly within the flight path of planes approaching the Kota Kinabalu International Airport, there is a strict limit to the height of buildings in the city.

Kota Kinabalu is the gateway into Sabah as well as to the island of Borneo. It has the second largest international airport in the country. Being the industrial and commercial centre of East Malaysia, Kota Kinabalu is one of the fastest growing cities in Malaysia. The city is located about 90 km from Mount Kinabalu, the tallest mountain in Borneo. Kota Kinabalu was formerly known as Jesselton, but besides Jesselton, there are also other names that are claimed to be the original name of Kota Kinabalu. The most popular is Api-Api, or sometimes simply Api, which means "fire" in Malay.

The present city of Kota Kinabalu began in 1899 at the site of a settlement called Api Api. It was founded after the trading settlement of the British North Borneo Chartered Company on Gaya Island was razed in July 1897 by local chieftain Muhammad Salleh aka Mat Salleh. Two years later, in 1899, the British founded their new administrative centre at Api Api, which they renamed Jesselton, after Charles Jessel (1860-1928), a British barrister who happened to be the vice-chairman of the British North Borneo Company (1903-1909).

Arriving in Kota Kinabalu

Kota Kinabalu International Airport (BKI) is just about 7 km from the city. From the airport, you can take an airport shuttle, mini van or taxi. To take a taxi, buy the coupon at the taxi stand on the ground floor. The fare is fixed at RM20.00.

Getting around

The city of Kota Kinabalu is small enough for you to walk. For farther away places, I would suggest that you either rent a car at the airport, or take a taxi. For both options, be sure you bargain for the best price. Taxis do not use meter, and the drivers will quote a high price expecting you to haggle it down.

What to see and do in Kota Kinabalu

  1. Cultural Tour Visit the Monsopiad Cultural Village and Mari Mari Cultural Village. Contact Traverse Tours, tel: 088 260501, www.traversetours.com
  2. Diving: The possibilities are endless in Sabah. Contact Borneo Divers, tel 088 222226, www.borneodivers.info, Borneo Sea Adventures, tel: 088 230000, www.borneosea.com, Tanjung Aru Tours, tel: 088 222210, www.tanjungarutourstravel.net
  3. Motorbiking Join motorbiking tours of the Crocker Range and other places. Contact Borneo Biking Adventures, tel: 013 552 7313, www.borneobikingadventures.com
    4. Whitewater Rafing Available at Sungai Padas and Sungai Kiulu Contact Traverse Tours, tel: 088 260501, www.traversetours.com
  4. Wildlife You can go to see orang utans, proboscis monkeys, and other wildlife in the sanctuary, or explore the rainforest. Contact Borneo Wildlife Adventure, tel: 088 213668, www.borneo-wildlife.com or Wildlife Expeditions, tel: 088 246000, www.wildlife-expeditions.com

Kota Kinabalu is on the Map of Sabah

List of Towns in Sabah and State Capitals of Malaysia

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Disclaimer

Please use the information on this page as guidance only. The author endeavours to update the information on this page from time to time, but regrets any inaccuracies if there be any.

Timothy Tye
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