Description: the capital, Kuala Lumpur, is home to 1.5m residents. It lies some 25km inland of Peninsular Malaysia’s west coast. Its districts include Chinatown, Little India and the colonial district. To the west of the city is the satellite town of Petaling Jaya, which has grown so much it is now effectively an extension of the capital.
Attractions: major highlights include Chinatown; the colonial buildings of Merdeka Square; the Jame Mosque; central market; the Hindu Sri Mahamariamman Temple; and Petronas Towers, currently the world’s tallest building.
New developments: Kuala Lumpur’s Light Rail Transit is operational in the city centre, with work still in progress on more suburban lines. The new Kuala Lumpur International Airport, 33km south of the city in Sepang, is now fully operational and capable of handling 2.5m passengers annually. When completed, a new high-speed rail link connecting with KL’s LRT system will whisk passengers into the city in 35mins.
Entertainment: the central district known as the Golden Triangle boasts a host of bars, clubs and shops. In addition, some restaurants and hotels feature cultural shows.
Getting around: as well as buses and taxis, there is the new Light Rail Transit and the Komuter train system.
Eating out: options range from hawker stalls to top-class restaurants. The district of Bangsar has become a culinary hotspot, as has the satellite town of Petaling Jaya.
Accommodation: properties ranging from guest houses to five-star hotels.
Shopping: for the best atmosphere and the lowest prices, head for the markets – Chow Kit and the art deco Central Market. For upmarket western labels, try the Star Hill shopping mall or Lot 10 Shopping Centre.
Getting there: Malaysia Airlines flies twice daily from Heathrow to Kuala Lumpur, as well as from Manchester. Other carriers include British Airways, KLM, Singapore Airlines, Qantas and Thai Airways.
Tour operators: all major Far East specialists will build a Kuala Lumpur stopover into an itinerary upon request. Several operators, including Premier Holidays and Magic of the Orient, offer flydrive packages.