10 places you should visit in Sibu

SIBU town has been chosen as the venue for the national-level Malaysia Day 2020 celebrations.

Only 500 guests are allowed to attend the official celebration to ensure the standard operating procedures (SOPs) are observed and safe physical distance are maintained in light of COVID-19.

Although the celebration might be ‘small’, Sibu has much to offer to visitors, from the floating supermarkets running through Sungai Rajang, serving villages along the mighty river, to the historic Sungai Merah Heritage Walk showcasing the earliest Chinese settlements in Sibu.

Here are nine places you should visit while in Sibu!

1. Sibu Street Art Murals

Explore the ten murals located at different locations around Sibu. These murals tells the story of Sibu's founding, its heritage and culture.

2. Bawang Assan Iban Longhouses

Bawang Assan is an Iban settlement comprising nine longhouses dating back to the 18th century. You can get to Bawang Assan through a 40 minute boat ride from Sibu. Alternatively, you can take the road to enjoy the lush green forest and fresh air.

3. Sibu Central Market

The largest and most vibrant indoor market in Sarawak. Visitors will be treated to an array of colourful handicrafts and exotic fruits. Do keep a lookout on poultry stalls, where chickens and ducks are neatly wrapped in tubes fashioned from old newspapers.

If you are hungry, don't forget to explore the varieties of Sarawakian food on the first floor such as kolok mee, kampua mee, and other local dishes.

The market can be reached from the Sibu Express Boat Terminal with a 10 to 15-minute walk.

4. The Rejang Esplanade

An attractive landscaped promenade stretching from the Express Boat Terminal to the Kingwood Hotel. Located here is also the iconic Swan Statue, the emblem of Sibu.

5. Sibu Night Market

Opens from 5pm until 10pm, the market offers household goods, footwear, fashion items and local delicacies. A must go for food lover. Enjoy the sumptuous array of food like dim sum, satay, BBQ chicken, steamed bun, dumpling, pastries, cakes and more.

6. Yu Lung San Tien En Si (Jade Dragon Temple)

The Yu Lung San Tien En Si a.k.a Jade Dragon Temple at the Sibu-Bintulu Road is believed to be the largest temple complex not only in Malaysia but also considered to be one of the largest in Southeast Asia.

The temple houses the places of worship for Buddhism, Confucianism and Taoism. It is situated about 17km from Sibu town center.

7. Sungai Merah LED Night Market

The Sungai Merah LED Night Market is a sight to behold, offering a strategic shopping for cheap souvenirs as well as beautiful backdrops for photos.

8. The floating supermarkets

This floating market that services the village and longhouse communities along the Sungai Rajang and its tributaries berth opposite the Tua Pek Kong Temple. Their colourful paintwork makes for unique photo opportunities.

9. Sibu Cultural Heritage Museum

The museum houses a fine collection of antiques, artifacts and photos, cultural exhibits of the various ethnic groups surrounding the Sungai Rajang, including The museum is divided into six sections Orang Ulu, Iban, Malay, Melanau and Chinese. History buffs can learn about the migration of the Chinese community to the Sungai Rajang at this museum.

10. Lau King Howe Hospital Memorial Museum

This hospital on Jalan Pulau served as the principal hospital for the entire Sungai Rajang until the opening of Sibu General Hospital in 1994. Named after its main benefactor, a local philanthropist, it has been converted into a museum that traces the history of medical care in Sarawak.

Find out more about Sibu and its fascinating history and explore the 1,600km-long Sungai Rajang, the longest river in Malaysia. For more go to https://sarawaktourism.com/attraction/sibu/.