Malaysia Attractions

Venue: Kinabalu Park    When: Daily

Malaysia's first World Heritage Site, designated by UNESCO in December 2000 for its "outstanding universal values," Kinabalu Park is dominated by the imposing Mount Kinabalu - at 4095 metres (13,435 feet), the highest peak in South-East Asia.

Proudly standing as the highest mountain between the Himalayas and the Snow Mountains of Papua Barat (in New Guinea), the magnificent granite massif of Mt Kinabalu so dominates the Malaysian Borneo state of Sabah that, in 1964, the capital was renamed Kota Kinabalu (Kinabalu Fort). The park encompasses 754 square kilometres (291 square miles), which is bigger than Singapore!

A two-day expedition is needed to climb to the top, but from there the whole of Borneo is laid out before you. The park is teeming with wildlife and flora, including the world's largest flower (Rafflesia keithii), while there are four recognisable climate zones, from the rich lowland dipterocarp forest through the montane oak, rhododendron and coniferous forests to Alpine meadows.

The gateway to the summit is the Kinabalu Park Headquarters, situated on the southern boundary, some 1563 metres (5000 feet) high. Accommodation, restaurants and exhibition centres, as well as the Park's offices, are here, and overnight visitors and climbers must register. There is a minimal entrance fee.