Kuala Lumpur Attractions

Venue: Central Market    When: Daily

Held at the confluence of the Gombak Rivers which gave the city its name, the Central Market opened its doors in 1936 as Kuala Lumpur's main fresh produce market. More recently, when three new markets in the suburbs threatened its primacy, the authorities allowed the renovation of the site into a "cultural and festival market" and, once again it has become central to the city's shopping needs.

The refurbishment started in 1985. The original facade was retained, as well as the distinctive blue-green coloured Colorex glass and a central skylight which runs the entire 120 square metres of the building. New features include an additional mezzanine floor.

Just nine months later the one-time "wet" market (selling meat, vegetables and fish) was transformed into a vibrant shopping, cultural and festival centre. It opened to the public on 15 April 1986. Around 300 shops and small kiosks sell goods of every description, and particularly the finest local crafts, alongside 30 restaurants, cafés and pubs.

Also included in the complex is an exhibition space - Sudut Pameran - and an outdoor riverside amphitheatre with free performances, as well as a reconstructed Malay village (Kampung) on the ground floor. With more than 1.5 million visitors a month, it is one of Kuala Lumpur's major attractions.