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The capital of Sarawak, Kuching is the most populous city in this East Malaysian state. Also known as Cat City, it is the largest city on the island of Borneo and the fourth largest city in Malaysia. One of the most vibrant cities in the region, the narrow and busy streets are full of markets, old buildings, ornate temples, Kuching hotels and traditional Chinese shops that sell local handicrafts. Kuching's skyline, meanwhile, is a mix of domes and minarets, church spires, ornate temple roofs, towers, fortresses, colonial and modern buildings, which are all set in a profusion of greenery against the inky-blue Santubong and Matang mountains that form the backdrop.

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Kuching became a city on the 1st August 1988. In Malay, Kuching means cat. And it is no surprise that cat statues can be found all around the city. In fact, the city has innumerable real cats wandering about too! How the city got its name is not clear. Kuching's first settlers were Indian traders who set up shop at Santubong. Artefacts of Hindu origin can be found at the State Museum. Kuching is also one of the most multi-racial cities in Malaysia. The Chinese are the largest group, accounting for 45% of the population.

Kuching is located on the banks of the Sarawak River, which is the city's focal point. There is a lot to see and do in Kuching, and it has an elegant, European-style esplanade known as the Kuching Waterfront, which offers stunning views of Fort Margherita and the Astana (palace). To get another perspective of the city, tourists should take a Kuching tour or boat cruise down the river, by day or night, and view the famous Kuching sunset. Kuching also has nine museums, most within walking distance of each other.

A tour in Kuching includes everything from the era of the White Rajahs to the present day. No Kuching tour is complete without a visit to the famous Sarawak Museum and the Brooke Legacy (White Rajahs) - Fort Margherita, the Astana, Square Tower and the Court House. There is also the Cat Gallery, Cat Monument, Satok Suspension Bridge, Tua Pek Kong (a Chinese temple), the old State Mosque and one of the most popular leisure spots in the city, the Kuching Waterfront Esplanade.

The meandering Sarawak River that cuts the city into two halves has been its lifeline since 1839. Many of the hotels in Kuching are located along the riverfront and offer great views. You can even use our interactive Kuching map to choose your hotel in Kuching based on its location, and make sure it's close to what you wish to see and do in Kuching.

The Kuching Festival, celebrated in August every year, involves the entire city's population, either as spectators or participants. One of the highlights of this cultural celebration is the Kuching Street Parade, at the end of which is a spectacular fireworks display. On 18 January, the city organises the Nanyang Wushu Golden Lion Dance Festival and Chinese New Year Show. A dazzling display of Chinese culture, mythology and martial arts, this is the perfect place to view the Lion Dance. Acrobats dressed as lions climb on swaying poles and make gravity-defying leaps to the hypnotic beating of cymbals and drums. A must during Chinese New Year celebrations, the Lion Dance is a display of the ancient art that is quite popular and widely practiced even today.

The Sarawak Regatta (held on 6 and 7 September every year) is over one and a half centuries old. A means of deciding the winner of a confrontation or argument without resorting to war, the Kuching Waterfront is the venue for the event.

Choose a hotel in Kuching and a take a local Kuching tour and make the most of your Kuching holiday. If you'd like any more information about this charming destination please contact us!