Central Market

Chinatown, Merdeka Square & Bukit Nanas

LoginSave

This 1930s art deco building (a former wet market) was rescued from demolition in the 1980s and transformed into a tourist-oriented arts-and-crafts centre. Nonetheless, there are some excellent finds – paper art, hand-cut soaps, jewellery and T-shirts – among its 350 shops. The adjacent Kasturi Walk – the arch is a series of wau bulan (moon kites) – is bordered by handsome restored shophouses.

Look for the interesting private Museum of Ethnic Arts in the Annexe. Check the website for details of events that happen around the market.

Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

  • Medan Tuanku Station, Menara KL Tower.

    Menara KL

    0.77 MILES

    Although the Petronas Towers are taller, the 421m Menara KL, rising from the crest of Bukit Nanas, offers the best city views. The bulb at the top…

  • [UNVERIFIED CONTENT] Masjid Jamek is the oldest mosque in Kuala Lumpur. It is located at the confluence of the Klang and Gombak river. It was built in 1907 and officially open by the then Sultan Selangor in 1909.

    Masjid Jamek Sultan Abdul Samad

    0.23 MILES

    This graceful, onion-domed mosque, designed by British architect AB Hubback, borrows Mogul and Moorish styles with its brick-and-plaster banded minarets…

  • Thean Hou Temple

    Thean Hou Temple

    1.7 MILES

    Sitting atop leafy Robson Heights, this vividly decorated multistorey Chinese temple, dedicated to Thean Hou, the heavenly queen, affords wonderful views…

  • Detail of ceiling in Islamic Arts Museum.

    Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia

    0.47 MILES

    Inhabiting a building that's nearly as impressive as its collection, this museum showcases Islamic decorative arts from around the globe. Scale models of…

  • Batu Caves

    Batu Caves

    6.42 MILES

    Just 13km north of Kuala Lumpur rise the iconic Batu Caves, a Malaysian national treasure, Hindu pilgrimage site and wildlife-conservation zone. Behind a…

  • Ramayana Cave

    Ramayana Cave

    6.47 MILES

    No cave at Batu is more spectacularly embellished than Ramayana Cave, which boasts psychedelic dioramas of the Indian epic 'Ramayana'. Pass the green, 15m…

  • Sin Sze Si Ya Temple

    Sin Sze Si Ya Temple

    0.07 MILES

    Kuala Lumpur's oldest Chinese temple (1864) was built on the instructions of Kapitan Yap Ah Loy and is dedicated to Sin Sze Ya and Si Sze Ya, two Chinese…

View more attractions

Nearby Chinatown, Merdeka Square & Bukit Nanas attractions

1. Sin Sze Si Ya Temple

0.07 MILES

Kuala Lumpur's oldest Chinese temple (1864) was built on the instructions of Kapitan Yap Ah Loy and is dedicated to Sin Sze Ya and Si Sze Ya, two Chinese…

2. Kuen Stephanie Sculptures

0.09 MILES

The red-painted metal sculptures located on this pedestrianised square are based on artworks by Kuen Stephanie and depict scenes from Malaysian life in…

3. RUANG by Think City

0.1 MILES

The urban rejuvenation outfit Think City has taken over the elegant art deco OCBC building, originally designed in 1938 by British architect Arthur Oakley…

4. Lee Rubber Building

0.12 MILES

This 1930s art deco building designed by British architect Arthur Oakley Coltman was once the tallest building in KL.

5. Medan Pasar

0.13 MILES

Pedestrianised Medan Pasar was once the heart of Chinatown. Kapitan Yap Ah Loy, often cited as one of KL's founders, lived here, and in addition to…

6. Guandi Temple

0.14 MILES

Founded in 1886, this atmospheric temple offers photogenic high ceilings, red walls, tiled eaves and pointy gable ends. It's dedicated to Guandi, a…

7. National Textiles Museum

0.14 MILES

This excellent themed museum occupies an elegant Mogul-style building originally constructed for the railway works department. The lower floors cover the…

8. REXKL

0.15 MILES

Occupying the old Rex Cinema building, this community-based cultural and creative centre is the brainchild of a group of young cultural entrepreneurs. It…