The association would have helped new immigrants to settle, find work and

so on. This temple was built between 1897 and 1906. All the materials and
craftsmen were imported from southern China which is where this clan
originates.

As a result the temple is similar in architectural style to ones which you

might find in Guangdong province, China.

Across the busy street, seemingly surrounded by motorways, you will see
the KL & Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall. This whitewashed, domed
building was completed in 1923 and is mainly used for meetings and
functions. In 2005 it was recognised as a National Heritage site.

Proceeding along Jalan Petaling you will see a traditional-looking

shophouse to your left opposite the police station. This shophouse, complete
with bamboo chick blinds and a saloon-style half door, is home to the Old
China Cafe, a cosy restaurant serving tasty Peranakan food.

The cafe oozes character and is decorated with antiques, old photos and
paintings.

Next up on your Chinatown Walking Tour is a handsome low green

building, the Chan See Shue Yuen Clan Association temple. A clan
association is a kind of club for people with the same surname which in this
case is 'Chan' and includes 'Tan' and 'Chen' whose names are written using
the same Chinese characters. That makes it a very big clan!

Further up, Petaling Street becomes pedestrianised and lined on both sides
with stalls selling souvenirs, bags, shoes, T shirts, pens, watches, fake
DVDs, and imitation/pirated branded goods. Selling fake products is of
course illegal in Malaysia but these vendors still seem to find ways to
remain in business.
Open till late in the evening it is very popular with foreign tourists. You will
need to practice your bargaining skills to avoid being overcharged. Compare
prices (all stalls are selling the same sort of stuff) and it is possible to get
some very good bargains. But if you pay RM50 for a 'Rolex' watch don't
expect it to work for very long!
You will need to make a detour away from Petaling Street if you want to
see Guan Di Temple (see Chinatown Walking Tour map).
Earlier you paid your respects to the Goddess of Compassion at Guan Yin
temple. Now it is time to admire the statue of the Taoist God of War (Guan
Di) which is believed by its devotees to have special powers. It is said that
well-wishers who touch the statue will receive its protection and have their
wishes granted provided they have a pure mind (having a pure mind is, of
course, the hard part!)
The coiled incense spirals hanging from the roof and the general antiquity
of the building lends a special atmosphere to this temple.
Be sure to leave a small donation towards the temple's upkeep and to ensure
that you do not get on the wrong side of Guan Di!
Nearby is a Hindu temple, Sri Maha Mariamman Temple and if you are
still in the mood for visiting temples it is worth the effort.
Said to be the oldest functioning Hindu temple in Malaysia, a temple has
stood on this site since 1873 though the current building was remodelled
substantially in 1968.
Elaborate wall friezes tell tales from Hindu scriptures. The finely decorated
entrance gate (gopuram) is constructed in typical Tamil style and measures
23 meters high.
If you wish to enter you have to leave your shoes outside and you might
wish to employ the locker service to ensure they are still there when you get
out. (I usually do not have to bother due to the shabby state of my
footwear!).
From here it is a short stroll to Kasturi Walk, the newly pedestrianised and
covered Jalan Hang Kasturi featuring various kiosks aimed at the tourist
market.
 Before finishing up at Central Market make sure you visit
the Annexe ,across an alleyway at the far end of Central Market, where you
can find a number of art galleries showcasing various local and regional
artists. In particular you should drop in at Art House Gallery Museum of
Ethnic Arts and see their unrivalled collection of tribal arts from Borneo
and beyond.

The next door Central Market is the last stop on the Chinatown Walking
Tour and for many people it would be the highlight.

The sign on the entrance says 'Since 1888' but the current building dates
from 1933 and is designed in the Art-Deco style that was popular at that
time.

In those days the building served as a wet market but today it is probably
the biggest and best place in Kuala Lumpur to shop for handicrafts, gifts
and souvenir items. It is air-conditioned too which will be a relief after your
long sweaty walk! If you have any energy left after completing this Chinatown Walking Tour
you can continue walking from Central Market and follow the guidance in
On the upper level you can find various eating outlets including Precious my next city trail, the KL Heritage Trail.
Old China(the same company as the Old China Cafe and serving similar
delicious Nyonya cuisine) and Ginger Restaurant (serving Thai/Malaysian
cuisine).