Three Must-Visit Attractions in Melaka: A Time-Based Classic Day Trip
Malacca, named for Zheng He's voyages, is well-known to us from history textbooks. This small city in Malaysia has transformed from a desolate nameless fishing village into one of the busiest straits in the world. There are still many legends and remnants about Zheng He, making it a favorite overseas tourist destination for Chinese people.
You can reach Malacca from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, by bus. The first impression of the town is that there are suddenly many Chinese-language signs on the streets, buying things in convenience stores and chatting with people in broken English. The locals are very friendly to Chinese tourists, whether it's restaurants or guesthouses.
You don't need too long to explore Malacca, and I think there are three places that are a must-visit, namely the Dutch Red Square, the Straits Mosque, and Jonker Street. Interestingly, the visiting time for these three locations is quite specific, forming a classic Malacca day trip.
Let’s talk about the Dutch Red Square, which is likely the largest square in Malacca and the city center. There are many tourists, especially Chinese tourist groups, who consider it a gathering place for resting, taking photos, and riding local theme tricycles covered in cartoon dolls. The tricycles will play familiar Chinese songs. If it weren't for the national flag hanging on the building, you wouldn't know you were in China!
The Dutch Red Square was built between 1641 and 1660, and it is the oldest Dutch building in Southeast Asia. It’s best to visit during the day, when it’s very lively. It’s also the location of the Malacca Museum, which houses historical artifacts from the Malay, Portuguese, Dutch, and British.
Following the time, you must arrive at the Straits Mosque in the evening. It’s a very famous place to watch the sunset in Southeast Asia. It’s located next to the Straits, surrounded by a somewhat desolate area, and a beautiful mosque appears unexpectedly.
There are generally no tour groups here, mostly small groups of tourists. You can find a staircase and sit and watch the sunset, as long as you feel it’s a good place. Then just wait for the sky to change color!
It's particularly suitable to have snacks when watching the sunset, and some attentive stalls have appeared nearby. I bought a paper-wrapped fried crab for 10 yuan, which is spicy and quite fragrant.
Fried paper-wrapped crabs are just appetizers, and you should quickly return to the Dutch Red Square's Jonker Street. This is basically Malacca’s Chinatown, named after the Hokkien phrase “Street Market.” As early as 600 years ago, when Zheng He made seven voyages and six stationed, he established ‘offices’ in Malacca, making Jonker Street the earliest concentrated settlement area for Chinese migrants to the South Sea.
Today, Jonker Street is full of food stalls, and it’s bustling at night. Many shops have Chinese-language signs or menus. I randomly entered a Hainanese chicken rice shop and surprisingly found that Wu Jianhao had also visited. This food street is a must-visit in Malacca. But remember to visit the night market!
The food on Jonker Street isn’t expensive, you can eat for 12-20 yuan. Don’t worry about being cheated, and the flavors also meet the habits of Chinese people. After a great meal and drinking, you can blow the Malacca sea breeze back to your accommodation. The classic Malacca day trip is thus perfectly finished. If you follow my time, I think you will love this South Sea town.
I am Hugh Entay, a travel professional dedicated to discovering beautiful moments in travel. Welcome to click ‘follow’, don’t miss various travel information every day.
