Next year marks the "2020 Malaysia Tourism Year." In response, Tourism Malaysia has introduced more convenient services for Chinese tourists. Recently, in collaboration with China Southern Airlines, Tourism Malaysia organized a "Malaysia Media Delegation" to bring you an in-depth travel guide, exploring a different side of Malaysia.
Departing from Guangzhou, China Southern Airlines operates three flights daily in both directions. It’s important to note that check-in for flights to Kuala Lumpur opens three hours before departure and closes one hour before takeoff (unlike the 45-minute cutoff common domestically).
Overseas payments are also very convenient. You can exchange Malaysian Ringgit directly with your UnionPay card in Kuala Lumpur. If you're at the Pavilion Mall's UnionPay VIP Lounge, you can enjoy free mall Wi-Fi, mobile phone charging, a first aid kit, complimentary coffee/tea, and Mandarin assistance. Before December 31, 2019, visitors to the Colours & Fragrances mall who spend a minimum of 300 Malaysian Ringgit via UnionPay QR code will receive a 30 Ringgit instant discount. Additionally, Alipay and WeChat Pay are also extremely convenient to use locally.
For internet access in Malaysia, you can use Skyroam portable Wi-Fi hotspots, which can be rented at over 20 airport counters worldwide. They offer up to 16 hours of battery life, fast speeds, and stable connections. One device can connect up to five electronic gadgets simultaneously.
Upon arriving at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), Chinese tourists can experience thoughtful services. Those with limited English can visit the Chinese Travelers Communication and Coordination Office for consultations in Chinese. Malls within the airport accept mobile payments via Alipay or WeChat Pay, with exchange rates based on the day’s UnionPay rates—convenient and cost-saving. The airport also features a hidden secret forest, allowing you to enjoy beautiful tropical scenery without even leaving the terminal.
Malacca River Cruise – A Taste of Nanyang Charm
If you want to explore Malaysian culture, the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Malacca” is not to be missed. We arrived in Malacca close to evening. The pool-view room at our hotel, “Song Xian,” was quite unique—the balcony connected directly to the infinity pool, allowing direct access from the balcony. No need to go out; you can comfortably dive into the saltwater pool from your own suite. During the day, you can also sunbathe on the balcony. I truly applaud the hotel’s creative design. Since the infinity pool is on the seventh floor and the famous Malacca River flows right below, you can enjoy city views while swimming—an amazing experience.
If you want to slowly savor the local charm and culture of Malacca, take a river cruise along the Malacca River. There's a private dock exclusively for guests right downstairs from the hotel, making boarding very convenient. The boat sails through the city, passing the old town, old warehouses, and fish markets, uncovering historical relics among the colorful seaside towns.
“Once Again, Malacca” – A Must-See Performance in Malacca
Whenever traveling to a new place, I always hope to experience something related to the local culture and customs, making the memories deeper than just taking photos at famous landmarks. “Once Again, Malacca” fulfilled this wish. Based on touching real-life stories from Malacca, it uses innovative light and shadow techniques to create seven captivating stories rich in traditional depth. With stunning song and dance performances, it depicts the coexistence of this ancient city with multiculturalism. The 70-minute show perfectly narrates Malacca’s past, present, and future.
The entire performance is narrated in three languages—Chinese, English, and Malay—delivering a strong rhythm that allows audiences from various cultural backgrounds to engage with the story. The theater seats rotate 360 degrees, creating a highly innovative “move-and-watch” immersive performance. Utilizing 3D light projection, moving ring screens, videos, and large-scale stage effects, it delivers a breathtaking audiovisual experience.
Eating Seafood in Malaysia – Various Lobster Dishes to Satisfy Your Cravings
Leaving Malacca, we headed to Johor Bahru at the southern tip of the country. This is the only place in “West Malaysia” where lobsters are produced, featuring vast mangrove forests and waterways. The lobsters here are huge, and crabs, nourished by the nutrient-rich mangroves, are also massive. As foodies, a delicious seafood meal in Johor Bahru is a must.
Dragon King Seafood Village is very famous locally. It’s a seafood restaurant themed around retro-style flavors, and lobster is its specialty. The cooking methods for lobster here are unique—whether it’s in superior broth, sashimi, butter, or salted egg—all leave a lingering aftertaste and earn high praise. Seafood in Malaysia is truly “sea” seafood—meaning deep-sea and wild-caught, not farmed—with each prawn about the size of an iPhone.
Desaru Coast Resort – Perfect for Family Trips
Desaru Coast Adventure Waterpark is the most family-friendly destination in Johor Bahru, offering a plethora of activities not to be missed by families. Right at the entrance is Tidal Wave Beach, along with the world’s largest artificial wave pool, reportedly generating waves up to 4 meters high. It features Southeast Asia’s first water coaster, which climbs 30 feet at speeds of 70 km/h and then does a 360-degree spin before plunging down, splashing water several meters high—an incredibly thrilling ride.
Guests staying at the Hard Rock Hotel Desaru Coast can access the Adventure Waterpark directly via a dedicated passageway. At the hotel’s “Constant Grind” café, you can enjoy a uniquely stylish 3D-printed portrait coffee.
One of the biggest highlights of the Hard Rock Hotel is the opportunity to view an impressive collection of music memorabilia up close. These include clothing, instruments, and souvenirs from globally renowned artists and bands such as Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Lady Gaga, Madonna, and Elvis Presley—each item steeped in legend. In the evenings, the hotel hosts highly professional band performances. The resident band heats up the atmosphere with classic rock hits and even takes requests from the audience—guaranteed to get everyone pumped.
We stayed at the Desaru Coast Westin Resort. For dinner, we dined at Prego, the Italian specialty restaurant. I recommend the mint-flavored specialty drink—it’s cool and refreshing. Other dishes like mixed mushroom salad, cheese pizza, and vegetable juice pasta were all excellent in color, aroma, and taste. The guest rooms are outstanding—from bedding to views. They come equipped with the Westin Heavenly Bed, which is super soft. The best part is the balcony view—you can even catch Malaysia’s most beautiful sea sunrise in the morning.
After breakfast, we visited the Desaru Tropical Fruit Farm, the largest fruit farm in Malaysia, planted with a variety of typical tropical fruits: jackfruit, dragon fruit, bananas, cocoa, passion fruit, pomelos, star fruit, cat’s whiskers herb, pineapples, mangoes, wax apples, mangosteens, as well as Malaysia’s famous white coffee beans, and the renowned Musang King durian.
A Complete Guide to Legoland Johor Bahru
Legoland Johor Bahru is Asia’s first Legoland theme park. Here, a MiniLand was created using 30 million Lego bricks, featuring over 15,000 models. It took four years to build miniature versions of world-famous landmarks such as Singapore’s Merlion, Angkor Wat, and the Taj Mahal—all at a 1:20 scale, truly spectacular.
Next, we stayed at the whimsical Legoland Hotel. The entire exterior of the hotel and the dragon on the gate, the pirate ship and castle in the lobby, are all built from Lego bricks. The hotel’s front desk is very eye-catching—even the background painting is made of Lego.
Back to Kuala Lumpur
On the fifth morning, we flew back to Kuala Lumpur from Johor Bahru. Before checking into the hotel, our guide took us to visit a latex plantation. The world’s best rubber producing regions are all located in Southeast Asia, accounting for over 90% of global production. Malaysia is one of the world’s largest producers and exporters of natural rubber. At the latex plantation, you can buy a latex pillow—great as a gift or for personal use.
Kuala Lumpur is Malaysia’s largest city and, together with Singapore, is known as one of Southeast Asia’s two major financial centers. This time, we stayed at the Traders Hotel Kuala Lumpur, which has a great location surrounded by financial skyscrapers. Below the hotel is the Berjaya Times Square—Malaysia’s largest and the world’s eighth-largest standalone shopping mall. The first impression of the Traders Hotel is luxury, especially with surprisingly spacious guest rooms. For those who enjoy urban views, you can sit in your room and admire the stunning cityscape, including Kuala Lumpur’s iconic Petronas Twin Towers.
Mirror of the Sky – A Dreamy and Romantic Encounter
Located on the coast of Sabak Bernam in Selangor, the “Mirror of the Sky” is a mysterious natural sand island. Usually submerged under the sea, it becomes visible on six days each month according to the lunar calendar. When the tide recedes, a shallow flat emerges in the sea with extremely calm waters, creating a mirror-like surface that rivals the beauty of Bolivia’s salt flats.
The Year of Tourism in Malaysia 2020 highlighted ecotourism, culture, and the arts as the government’s main attractions. This travelogue takes you on a journey to explore the rich cultural heritage of Malaysia from these very perspectives. With its stunning landscapes, captivating coastlines, mouthwatering cuisine, and warm hospitality, Malaysia is brimming with endless charm. What are you waiting for this winter? Come and discover its beauty for yourself!