Asiatravel.com offers over 500,000 Hotels, Flights, Travel Packages, Tours & Attractions up to 75% discount. All with last minute availability & instant confirmation plus up to 5% cash rebate exclusively for our customers. For more information visit http://www.asiatravel.com Kota Kinabalu (pronounced [ˈkota kinaˈbalu]), formerly known as Jesselton,[1][2] is the capital of the state of Sabah, which is located in East Malaysia. It is also the capital of the West Coast Division of Sabah. The city is located along the northwest coast of Borneo facing the South China Sea. The Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park[3] lies on its west and Mount Kinabalu, which gave the city its name, is located towards the east. Kota Kinabalu proper has a population of 452,058,[4] while the larger urban area, which includes the Penampang district, has an estimated population of 628,725.[4] Kota Kinabalu is often known as KK within Malaysia and internationally. For the locals it is also known as Api-Api.[5] It is a major fishing destination and a popular gateway for travellers visiting Sabah and Borneo.[2][6] Kinabalu National Park is located about 90 kilometres from the city and there are many tourist attractions in and around the city. Kota Kinabalu is also one of the major industrial and commercial centres of East Malaysia. These two factors combine to make Kota Kinabalu one of the fastest growing cities in Malaysia.[7][8] There are a number of cultural venues in Kota Kinabalu. The Sabah State Museum, situated near the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, is the main museum of Sabah.[3] In the vicinity of the museum are the Science and Technology Centre, Sabah Art Gallery, and the Ethno Botanic Gardens. Wisma Budaya Art Gallery in the city centre hosts some national as well as regional art exhibitions. The Hongkod Koisaan building in Penampang is home to the Kadazan-Dusun Cultural Association (KDCA).[92] It hosts the annual Kaamatan or Harvest Festival and the Unduk Ngadau beauty contest, which is held concurrently, in March. Monsopiad Cultural Village (Kampung Monsopiad) features cultural shows related to the Kadazan-Dusun culture. It is named after the legendary Kadazan-Dusun headhunting warrior, Monsopiad.[93] Kota Kinabalu also features a number of shopping malls. These include Kompleks Karamunsing, Centre Point, Wisma Merdeka, Warisan Square, Plaza Wawasan, Kompleks Asia City,[3] City Mall, KK Plaza, Suria Sabah and 1Borneo, which is the largest hypermall in Kota Kinabalu.[69] Newly constructed malls in Kota Kinabalu include the Suria Sabah Shopping Mall, which currently holds GSC Kota Kinabalu, and Megalong Shopping Mall, which is situated in the district of Penampang.[69] Karamunsing, where Kompleks Karamunsing is situated, is an area that has more computer shops per capita than anywhere else in Sabah.[110] The weekly Gaya Street Sunday Market features a gathering of local hawkers selling a wide range of items from traditional ethnic cultural souvenirs to pets and flowers.[111] The Kota Kinabalu Handicraft Market (formerly known as the Filipino Market) features vendors selling traditional handicrafts, souvenirs and foodstuffs.[112] There are many leisure spots and conserved areas in and around Kota Kinabalu. Anjung Samudra (KK Waterfront) is a waterfront entertainment spot in the city centre which features restaurants, cafes, pubs, and a nightclub. The Royal Sabah Turf Club in Tanjung Aru hosts weekly horse racing events but has since closed and moved to Tambalang Race Course in Tuaran due to the expansion of Kota Kinabalu International Airport. The North Borneo Railway, which begins its journey from Tanjung Aru station, offers a scenic tour of the countryside in the West Coast Division and the Interior Division.[15] The railway journey ends in the town of Tenom.[15] Sutera Harbour Golf & Country Club near the city centre was built on reclaimed land.[3] It features a golf and country club, a marina, and two hotels. Tanjung Aru, located about 6 kilometres from the city centre, is one of the beaches along the West Coast. Its name was derived from the casuarina trees (locally called Aru trees) that grow on the shoreline.[97] The beach is over 2 kilometres in length and is complemented with a number food and drink stalls, restaurants, and night entertainment clubs. In the vicinity of Tanjung Aru lies the Kinabalu Golf Club, Prince Philip Botanical Park, KK Yacht Club, and Shangri-La's Tanjung Aru Beach Resort. This beach is famous for its sunset.[98][99] Info Taken from Wikipedia.com Credits to Wikipedia.com http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kota_Kinabalu

• published: 23 Dec 2013
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