Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
According to abbreviationfinder, Kuala Lumpur is the capital of Malaysia and known worldwide for its famous Petronas Towers, currently the tallest twin buildings in the world and previously the world’s tallest buildings in an absolute way. The city has a population of 1,887,674 residents distributed over an area of 243.65 km², a metropolitan area of 7.2 million residents, and an average elevation of 21.95 m. above sea level. See population of Malaysia.
Geographic location
Kuala Lumpur is located to the south of the Malay Peninsula, in the Klang Valley, which lies between the Titiwangsa Mountains to the east, several minor mountain formations to the north and south, and the Straits of Malacca to the west.
History
Kuala Lumpur was founded in 1857 in the place where the Gombak and Klang rivers meet, with the arrival of Chinese mining experts, who went to the region and found important deposits of tin. They decided to settle in the vicinity of these sites, in a place called Kuala Lumpur, which means something like “dirty confluence”, since at that time it was swampy and infected with malaria.
Despite the unpleasantness of the place, the city grew at a dizzying rate thanks to tin and, later, to rubber and coffee. Thus, in 1896, the “swampy confluence” became the capital of Malaysia.
During World War II, the Japanese army captured Kuala Lumpur on January 11, 1942 and occupied the city for 44 months, until August 15, 1945, when the commander-in-chief of the Japanese Seventh Zone surrendered to the administration. after the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Kuala Lumpur grew after the war and in 1957, the Federation of Malaya gained its independence from the British Empire and the city continued to be the capital, and in 1972 it achieved city status, becoming the first Malaysian settlement to obtain this status after the independence.
Economic development
Kuala Lumpur and the surrounding urban regions form the most industrialized and economically fast growing area in Malaysia.
The development of infrastructure in the surrounding areas, for example, the Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Sepang, the creation of the Multimedia Super Corridor and the expansion of Port Klang reinforce the economic importance of the city.
Other important economic activities in the city are education and health services. Kuala Lumpur also has advantages derived from the high concentration of educational institutions located within its borders, offering a wide range of courses.
Sightseeing
Tourism plays an important role in the city’s economy, providing income, employment, and greater business opportunities. As a result, many global hotel chains are present in the city. Kuala Lumpur has also become an international destination for shopping, with a wide variety of shopping centers that host both local and international brands.
Some points of interest in the city include:
- The Parliament of Malaysia
- The Kuala Lumpur Tower
- The Putra World Trade Center (PWTC),
- The Mosque of the Federal Territory
- The National Museum (Malaysia)
The Golden Triangle, the commercial hub of the city, contains the Petronas Towers and has a distinctive nightlife. Trendy nightclubs, bars and lounges such as Hard Rock Cafe, Zouk, Thai Club, Beach Club (voted best bar in Asia), Luna Bar, Rum Jungle, Nuovo, Espanda and many others are located in and around Jalan P. Ramlee, Jalan Sultan Ismail, and Jalan Ampang.
In the center you can find a compendium of the three cultures that make up Malaysia: China, India and the autochthonous. Here you can find the best of the three, enjoy each of the gastronomy. All this in a Southwest Asian city context, but unlike others like Hanoi or Bangkok, much cleaner and more orderly.
Social development
Architecture
The architecture of Kuala Lumpur is a mix of colonial influences, Asian Islamic-Malay traditions, modern art and a mix of postmodern architecture. Unlike other capitals in Southeast Asia, Kuala Lumpur is a relatively young city and most of the colonial buildings were built in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. These buildings are in the Mughal, Tudor, Neo-Gothic or Greco-Latin style.
Modern and postmodern architecture began to appear in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Large glass buildings appeared, with the most prominent example being the Petronas Towers and the Convention Center.
In this city you can find everything that Malaysia has. The most modern buildings such as the Petronas Towers, the Telecommunications Tower which has a spectacular view and the buildings around Merkana Square.
Culture
Kuala Lumpur is the hub of cultural activities and events in the country. Among the most important cultural sites is the National Museum located on the Mahameru Highway. Another place of great interest is the Museum of Islamic Arts which houses more than 7,000 objects related to Islam including exhibits from China and a library of books on Islamic art.
The Kuala Lumpur Center for the Performing Arts, located in Sentul West, is one of the country’s leading centers for the performing arts, with theater, music and film standing out.
Kuala Lumpur celebrates the Malaysian International Gourmet Festival every year. Another event held annually in the city is Kuala Lumpur Fashion Week, which features international brands alongside local designers.
