SIBU

		General Information Places of Interest Shopping

Sibu is the gateway to the mighty Rajang River and its vast hinterland. As the main commercial centre and port for the Rajang Basin, Sibu is the starting point for one of the world's great river journeys. The second largest town in Sarawak, Sibu is situated on the confluence of the Rajang and Igan River, 130 km from the South China Sea. It is a thriving, modern town dominated by its bustling and crowded waterfront. Sibu's wealth and fame are largely due to its enterprising, hard working Foochow community, who arrived in Sarawak from Southern China during the reign of Rajah Charles Brooke (1900 - 1917), and the town is still frequently referred to as "New Foochow". Nowadays, however, Sibu's populaton of 180,000 is a colourful mix of Chinese, Malays, Ibans and other ethnic races. Each race takes great pride in its own traditions and customs, but racial harmony and unity are the norm here.

Places of Interest

Native Market
The Lembangan Market is the place to get a real taste of Sarawak. With its 700 stalls located along the Lembangan River between Mission Road and Channel Road, it is used by the local and upriver villagers and longhouse dwellers, who sell a fascinationg range of jungle produce, including flying foxes, squirrels, snakes, turtles, snails edible jungle fruits and ferns. It is open daily but is most popular on weekends and public holidays.

Pasar Malam
The pasar malam or night market is a Malaysian institution,popular with young and old alike. Every night hundreds of stalls are set up by the roadside and all kinds of goods and foodstuffs are sold. The pasar malam is a great place to try all kinds of local delicacies and sweets, and to experience local life. Sibu's pasar malam is located along High Street, Market Road and Lembangan Lane, and the stalls are open daily from 6.30 to 10.00 pm.

Golden Triangle
The Golden Triangle is Sibu's central business and entertainemnt district. It is filled with hundreds of shops, many restaurants, several hotels and the multi-storey Sarawak House shopping complex. It is a heaven for shoppers, especially during public holidays and festive seasons.

Seven-Storey Pagoda
The seven-storey pagoda is said to be more beautiful than its counterparts in South-East Asia, and even Taiwan. The pagoda offers panoramic views of Sibu town. It is situated next to the centurey-old Tua Pek Kong Temple.

Rajang Esplanade
An ideal place to relax or take an evening stroll, the Esplanade was completed in 1987, using reclaimed land along the river front. it is frequently used for cultural performances and public events.

Sibu Civic Centre
The Civic Centre is situated 2.5 km from the town centre on Tun Abang Haji Openg Road. It houses a mini-museum devoted to the town's history which contains many intresting photographs and cultural artefacts from the various races. It is also a popular venue for conferences, exhibitions, concerts and community events, and is open from 10.30 am - 5.30 pm Tuesday to Sunday.

Jubilee Park
Opened in March 1993, Jubilee Park has become favourite local place to relax and unwind especially during weekends and public holidays. Phase one of the park covers 8 acres and comprises an observation tower, sky steps, pavilion, amphitheatre, landscaped gardens, canteen, lagoon, children's playground and barbecue areas. The park will cover more than 200 acres when it is fully completed.

Forestry Recreation Park
The Forestry Recreation Park covers 200 hectares of land at 18.5 km Ulu Oya Road. Managed by the Forestry Department, the park serves as the centre for carrying out research into soil and plants, particularly the mixed dipterocarp species such as Belian, Engkabang, Alan and Bintangor. A section of the park is open to the public. The park's facilities includie a camping site, a 30-metre watch tower, a cattle and deer farm, and a huge fish pond. A major attraction to be included soon is a butterfly farm.

Pepper Marketing Board Malaysia - Sibu
The state of Sarawak produces 95% of Malaysian pepper hence the trade name, Sarawak Pepper. Over 90% of the 25,000 tonnes produced annually is exported to some 40 countries around the world. Traditionally, 80% of the crop is processed into black pepper with the remainder being turned into white pepper. At the moment Malaysia ranks 4th as a pepper producing nation. Today, pepper production has taken a different approach with the introudction of Specialty Pepper (creamy pepper, naturally clean black pepper and extra bold black pepper), Sarawak Green Pepper products (pepper sauce and pickle) and processed pepper products (sweets and perfume). The Rajang riverine towns of Sarikei and Bintangor accounts for 40% of the State's total production.

The Pepper Marketing Board - Sibu Branch located at Jalan Then Kung Suk at Upper Lanang Light Industrial Estate welcomes visitors and is open during office hours. At a pre-arranged time, visitors will be taken on a guided tour of how Sarawak pepper is processed and packed for export. There are processed pepper products available for sale.

KTM Edible Mushroom (S) Culture Farm
The first large scale mushroom farm in Sarawak has generated much interest among locals and foreign visitors alike. Set up with the expertise of a grower from China, the farm produces some 8 to 9 varieties of edible mushroom for local consumption and propagation. The main varieties produced here are the Lingzi (chinese medicinal applications), Oyster and Abalone mushrooms (culinary usage). Seedlings are available for sale to add to your private vegetable garden.

An interesting specie found here is the Bamboo mushroom. Although it requires 60 days of germination, it only takes half an hour to bloom before it is ready for harvesting, failing which rot will set in. Large size abalone mushrooms make delicious "steak" a la black pepper.

Come 1996, the farm will be re-located to a bigger premise at Km 18, jalan Ulu Oya. In the meantime the farm welcomes visitors at its Jalan Umpi Rantai location, Off Upper Lanang Road. However, one is advised to pre-arange for a view of one man's fascination affair with fungus.

Malay kampongs
The local Malay Kampongs are accessible via a short river cruise along the Igan River between Rajang Port Authority and Sungai Antu Industrial Estate, they consist of several hundred traditional Malay wooden houses built on stilts. The river bank is always a hive of activities, with children bathing and men fishing and boat building. At nearby kampong Datu there is a stately mosque.

Iban Longhouse
A trip to the Sibu area is incomplete without taking the opportunity to visit an Iban longhouse. Although the Ibans in the Sibu area are modern people who have fully embraced the 20th century, they still practise many traditional customs and retain their 'adat' or traditional law. The Ibans are a warm and hospitable people, and this hospitality, coupled with their rich and colourful customs and traditions, can be a memorable experience.

Purchasing Souvenirs