A must-visit for cat lovers!Stroll through the cat city of Kuching

 

By Chi Binghui, compiled and reported; Source/MOOK Editorial Department

Many countries around the world worship certain animals as deities or use them as symbols of the city. Kuching, the capital city located on the banks of the Sarawak River, is known as the "Cat City." It boasts a romantic colonial charm and is also the largest city in East Malaysia.

 

In the early days, many trees called Mata Kuching grew along the riverbanks of Kuching. In Malay, "Kuching" means cat, which is why the cat was chosen as the representative animal of Kuching, making it the only city in the world that worships cats. However, the "Cat City" doesn’t actually have cats roaming the streets everywhere. Instead, you can find many cat statues at street corners. The city center has two prominent cat landmarks—one is a striking white cat, and the other represents the nine divisions of Sarawak with nine cats. During important festivals, these two cat landmarks are dressed in festive outfits to match the occasion, adding to the lively atmosphere.

Kuching is divided into South and North by the Sarawak River. The northern part is predominantly Malay, while the southern part is mainly Chinese, along with indigenous people, with a total population of about 700,000. In order to...

Like many ancient cities in Southeast Asia, Kuching is a melting pot of ethnicities from various countries, including Malays, Chinese, Indians, Indonesians, Filipinos, and more. With a mix of different languages, it’s a vibrant and fascinating place, and visitors don’t need to worry too much about the language barrier—speaking Chinese works too.