Kota Kinabalu facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kota Kinabalu
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| Nickname(s):
"Nature Resort City"
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| Country |  Malaysia |
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| State | Sabah | ||
| Settled by BNBC | 1882 | ||
| Declared capital of North Borneo | 1946 | ||
| Granted city status | February 2, 2000 | ||
| Area | |||
| • City | 351 km2 (136 sq mi) | ||
| Population
(2009)
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| • City | 579 3041 | ||
| • Density | 1,650/km2 (4,260/sq mi) | ||
| • Urban | 500,000 | ||
| • Metro | 700,000 | ||
| Time zone | UTC+8 (MST) | ||
| Website | http://www.dbkk.sabah.gov.my | ||
Kota Kinabalu, formerly known as Jesselton, is the state capital of Sabah, Malaysia and the capital of the Kota Kinabalu District. It is also the capital of the West Coast Division of Sabah. The city is located on the northwest coast of Borneo facing the South China Sea. The Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park lies to its west and Mount Kinabalu, which gave the city its name, is located to its east.
In the 15th century, the area of Kota Kinabalu was under the influence of Bruneian Empire. In the 19th century, the British North Borneo Company (BNBC) first set up a settlement near the Gaya Island, however it was destroyed by fire in 1897. In July 1899, the place located opposite to the Gaya Island was identified as a suitable place for settlements, development in the area was started soon after that. Jesselton became a major trading port in the area, and was connected to the North Borneo Railway.
Jesselton was largely destroyed during World War II. The Japanese occupation of Jesselton provoked several local uprisings notably the Jesselton Revolt but they were eventually defeated by the Japanese. After the war the place was handed to the British Crown Colony.
The British Crown declared Jesselton as the new capital of North Borneo in 1946 and started to rebuild the town. In 1967, Jesselton was renamed as Kota Kinabalu, Kota being the Malay word for Fort and Kinabalu after the nearby Mount Kinabalu. Kota Kinabalu was granted city status in 2000.
Kota Kinabalu is often known as KK both in Malaysia and internationally. It is a major tourist destination and a gateway for travellers visiting Sabah and Borneo. Kinabalu Park is located about 90 kilometres from the city and there are many other 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.
Culture and leisure
There are a number of cultural venues in Kota Kinabalu. The Sabah State Museum is the main museum of Sabah. Near 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 Merdeka Square or also known as "Town Field" is the site where the declaration of Sabah's independence and formation of Malaysia took place. The declaration was announced on 16 September 1963, also known as Malaysia Day. Today the site hosts the annual City Day celebration on 2 February, Merdeka Day celebration on 31 August, and a number of other celebrations and functions.
The Atkinson Clock Tower was built in 1905. It was formerly used as a navigation aid for ships. It is only one of three pre-World War II buildings to survive the war. The Petagas War Memorial is a reminder of those who died when they went against the Japanese forces during World War II.
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 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.
Sutera Harbour Golf & Country Club near the city centre was built on reclaimed land. It features a golf and country club, a marina, and two hotels.
Tanjung Aru, located about 10 kilometres, 6 miles, from the city centre, is one of the beaches along the West Coast. Its name came from the casuarina trees (locally called Aru trees) that grow on the shoreline. The beach is 3 kilometres in length. 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. Prince Phillip Park is freely accessible to the public, while the others need permission. This beach is known for its sunset views.
Located within the Likas Bay area is the Kota Kinabalu City Bird Sanctuary. With an area of 24 acres (9.7 ha), it is one of the few remaining patches of mangrove forest that once existed extensively along the coastal region of Kota Kinabalu. The Sabah Zoological and Botanical Park (Lok Kawi Wildlife Park) in Lok Kawi is the first zoo in Sabah. Set on a 280-acre (1.1 km2) piece of land, it is the largest zoo in Malaysia.
The Green Connection aquarium just outside the centre of KK showcases the fish, coral and reptile biodiversity of Sabah, with exhibits on many of the aquatic ecosystems of Sabah. At the Green Connection aquarium, there are 5 of the top 10 wildlife icons of Borneo like sharks, rays, coral, fish and snakes.
Tun Fuad Stephens Park, located in Bukit Padang, is used for jogging and hiking by locals. It is surrounded by forests and also features a man-made lake. It has food stalls and restaurants. Tunku Abdul Rahman Park is a State Park consisting of the islands of Sapi, Mamutik, Manukan, Sulug and Gaya. It is used for snorkelling. Babagon River in Penampang and Kiansom Falls near Inanam are also places visited for picnics and leisure bathing.
Outside the city, Crocker Range Park is a common spot for jungle trekking and camping. Kota Kinabalu is also the gateway to one of the most popular conservation areas in Malaysia, Kinabalu Park. The park is a two-hour drive away from the city and Mount Kinabalu, which is the 10th highest peak in South-East Asia and the highest in Malaysia, is located there. The Rafflesia Forest Reserve near Tambunan is also within the Crocker Range National Park boundary. The Tuaran Crocodile Farm has around 1400 crocodiles in its enclosure, making it the largest of its kind in Sabah.
The Tun Mustapha Tower (formerly Sabah Foundation Building) is a 30-storey glass building and is supported by high-tensile steel rods, one of only three buildings in the world that is built using this method. Other buildings and sites in the city are the stilt villages, these houses are built on shallow coastal waters and are homes for the Bajau and Suluk inhabitants.
The Sabah State Mosque in Sembulan is the main mosque in the city. The City Mosque on Likas Bay is another significant landmark in the city. On top of an hill in the city, there is also a freemason hall. The Signal Hill Observatory near the CBD offers a scenic view of the city centre, the islands, and the sea.
Images for kids
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"Kina Balu from Pinokok Valley" – lithograph published in 1862.
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Jesselton, c. 1911.
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The North Borneo War Monument was erected in Jesselton in 1923 to remember those fallen British soldiers during the World War I.
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Bomb damage at the town of Jesselton during World War II, this was part of the Borneo Campaign by Allied forces during 1945.
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Disarmed Japanese troops marching towards a prisoner of war (POW) compound in Jesselton after surrendering to the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) on 8 October 1945.
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Children in Jesselton filmed by Australian government representative a year after the war in 1946.
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Kota Kinabalu City Hall.
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A rough map of Kota Kinabalu city and urban area. Blue lines indicate main roads, grey lines indicate railway lines, and pink dotted lines indicate district boundaries.
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View over the southern city central business district.
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View of Kota Kinabalu captured from the International Space Station in 2002.
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View of Greater Kota Kinabalu with skyscrapers dotting the city above lush green treetops.
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The city as seen from the air in 2015.
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Sacred Heart Cathedral.
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City Mosque.
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The Sabah State Mosque, another place of worship sights in the city.
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Pu Tuo Si Temple.
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An oil terminal at Sepanggar Bay operated by Petronas.
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A highway in Kota Kinabalu
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The North Bus Terminal in Inanam serves long-distance buses bound for the north and east of Sabah.
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Interior of a train in Tanjung Aru station.
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A ferry from Labuan at Kota Kinabalu Ferry Terminal.
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Entrance to the Jesselton Point waterfront.
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Sabah Police Headquarters.
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Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
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Kota Kinabalu Polytechnic.
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UMS Chancellory Building.
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Sabah State Library headquarters in the state.
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Suria Sabah during the 2013 Chinese New Year celebrations, this is also one of the shopping malls in the city.
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Golden Screen Cinemas which is located at Suria Sabah Shopping Mall.
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An aerial view of Likas Sport Complex with Likas Stadium, which is the home stadium for Sabah F.C.
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See also
In Spanish: Kota Kinabalu para niños
