Ten dragon boats glide along the riverbanks of “Cat City”  9 unmissable activities in Malaysia

▲ Sarawak Regatta & Dragon Boat Race (Photo / Provided by Tourism Malaysia)

Reported by Cai Wenjun / Compiled report

Apart from visiting local attractions and savoring regional cuisine while traveling, participating in traditional festivals or sporting events is also a great choice. September in Malaysia is an ideal time to break a sweat and immerse yourself in the arts—here are 9 unmissable cultural activities and sporting events that travelers should experience.

1. Sarawak Regatta & Dragon Boat Race
Dates: September 1–30, 2015
Location: Kuching, Sarawak

Sarawak’s annual traditional boat race sees over 30 teams competing fiercely on the Sarawak River to claim the title of “King of the River”! Visitors can enjoy the full spectacle from the 1.3-kilometer-long viewing stands along the Kuching riverside.

2. Pahang Royal Sailfish International Challenge
Dates: September 11–13, 2015
Location: Kuala Keniam, Pulau Tioman, Pahang

The annual Pahang Royal Sailfish International Challenge competes for the highest catch of sailfish and marlin. Though it’s an internationally renowned fishing tournament, the key mandatory rule is that participants must “catch and release.” After catching, the fish is unhooked, photographed for verification, and then returned to the sea.

3. Saturday Night Music Fiesta
Dates: September 4–13, 2015
Location: Istana Budaya Kuala Lumpur

The musical “Saturday Night Music Fiesta” is a fresh event inspired by the spirit of Saturday Night Fever, weaving together the most popular dance stories from all eras. Featuring legendary songs by the Bee Gees—including classics like “Stayin’ Alive,” “Night Fever,” “How Deep Is Your Love,” “You Should Be Dancing,” and “More Than a Woman”—it revives the disco era and celebrates the entertainment value of disco music and dance.

4. Melodies of Mount Kinabalu
Dates: September 18–19, 2015
Location: Sabah, Malaysia, JKKN Sabah Complex Kota Kinabalu

Melodies of Mount Kinabalu showcases the traditional music of Sabah, performed by musicians from various local ethnic groups. This musical extravaganza features representative instruments from Sabah’s ethnic communities, such as bamboo gamelan, flutes, bungkau, metal gamelan, gongs, as well as wooden gabang and harps. Come and listen to the melodies of Sabah’s diverse cultures.

▲ 2015 International Handicrafts Festival (Photo / Provided by Tourism Malaysia)

5. 2015 International Handicrafts Festival
Dates: September 10–13, 2015
Location: Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC), Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC)

This event showcases handicrafts and cultural performances from around the world. Over 400 exhibitors will display their traditional and contemporary handicrafts, including ceramics, pewterware, textiles, bamboo items, woodcrafts, and other crafts made from natural materials.

6. 37th World Armwrestling Championship
Dates: September 25 – October 4, 2015
Location: Berjaya Times Square Hotel, Kuala Lumpur

What starts as a game for kids to show off their strength turns into a serious competition for adults at the armwrestling championship. This year marks the 37th edition of the event, which will run for 10 days, attracting over 1,500 participants from around the globe. With more than 5 categories, competitors are grouped by different weight classes.

7. 2015 Port Dickson International Motorcycle Festival
Date: September 4–6, 2015
Venue: Nouvelle Hotel, Port Dickson

The Port Dickson International Motorcycle Festival is an annual gathering that brings together motorcycle enthusiasts in a major tourism event. Highlights of the event include high-powered motorcycle displays, a biker carnival, arm wrestling competitions, as well as exhibitions hosted by motorcycle clubs and motorcycle accessory companies.

8. 2015 ATP Malaysian Open
Date: September 26 – October 4, 2015
Venue: Bukit Jalil Stadium

This year, the Malaysian Open will celebrate its seventh anniversary. The tournament will feature top tennis stars from around the world, such as Richard Gasquet, David Ferrer, and Grigor Dimitrov, among others, all competing on the hard courts.

9. Malaysia Grand Art Exhibition (2015)
The largest and most prestigious international visual arts extravaganza — the Malaysia Grand Art Exhibition (2015) — is set to open in Malaysia soon. The exhibition will showcase 2,000 artworks (including paintings, sculptures, decorative pieces, and photography) from 70 renowned galleries and art groups across 30 countries, and admission is free.