Shenzhen Business Daily · Reading Client Special Reporter Yu Xinhong Text/Picture
Kuala Lumpur, once the Malay word for "muddy estuary", has become the world's tin capital, the rubber kingdom and the diplomatic center of Southeast Asia. Since Malaysia's first prime minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman, declared independence at Kuala Lumpur's Stadium Merdeka in 1957, immigrants from all over the world have flocked to the former mining town in just over 30 years, making it the political, economic, financial, industrial, commercial and cultural centre of Malaysia – a national capital city with a population of more than one million.
The fast pace of the CBD is the pulse of a city's economy. Stand in the square of the famous Petronas Twin Towers and look around at the skyscrapers and traffic. Also a landmark is Merdeka 118, with a total height of 678.9 meters, making it the second tallest building in the world and the tallest building in Malaysia. These skyscrapers divide the sky into irregular shapes, and the glass windows of the office buildings reflect the dazzling sunlight after the rain, as if to symbolize the city's rise from mud to glory.
Leave the concrete forest behind the city's busiest commercial crossroads, Pukit Bintang. There are shopping malls with major brands; The giant screen billboards with a sense of design are dizzying, and the dazzling commodity windows stimulate the shopping nerves of every passerby...... The hustle and bustle of traffic, the buzz of people, the young and energetic Kuala Lumpur, at this moment, is the best portrayal.
If you slow down and explore the city's diverse streets, you'll find its own unique cultural charm. Walk through Petaling Street and wander through a sea of colourful graffiti: Kwong Zai Hong's detailed murals tell interesting stories about the Chinese enclave; The old housing area of Jalan Alor has become a carnival for street artists to flip over paint trays. Skirt the multi-ethnic enclave of one-way streets to the famous Central Art Square (Central Market), a dotted shop that looks like a magical Pandora's box – handicrafts from around the world, exotic clothing, intricate home furnishings, mountains of second-hand books and CDs, vintage-designed jewellery...... World immigrants have not only brought rapid economic development to Kuala Lumpur, but also injected their precious civilization and wisdom into the city's blood.
At night, Kuala Lumpur is the most delicious paradise in the world. The street stalls in the night market have lined up early; The brightly lit food stalls waft out a tantalizing aroma of burnt. Stir-fried kway teow, tender and delicious Hainanese chicken, medicinal bak kut tea, laksa soup with plenty of seafood, milky India cakes, satay skewers with peanut sauce, and a variety of tropical fruits...... Who can resist the pleasure of sipping an iced juice while feasting on it? In addition, there are many small goods stalls and street artists, who shout and perform, and bring the city's night to a climax.
The abundance and beauty of Kuala Lumpur is indescribable. It can be a strong competitor and partner in the development of world politics and economy; It can also be a lazy afternoon, sitting alone in a corner coffee shop......