Kuching#Transportation

The name "Kuching" was already in use for the city by the time Brooke arrived in 1839. There are many theories as to the derivation of the name "Kuching". It was perhaps derived from the Malay word for cat, "kucing", or from Cochin, an Indian trading port on the Malabar Coast and a generic term in China and British India for trading harbour. Some Hindu artefacts can be seen today at the Sarawak State Museum.{{cite web |title=Origin of Name - Kuching |url=http://www.ata.my/swk_origin.php |website=Asia Tourism Alliance |access-date=4 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150204143557/http://www.ata.my/swk_origin.php |archive-date=4 February 2015 |url-status=dead}} However, another source reported that Kuching was previously known as "Sarawak" before Brooke arrived. The settlement was renamed to "Sarawak Proper" during the kingdom's expansion. It was only in 1872 that Charles Brooke renamed the settlement to "Kuching".Rowthorn C, Cohen M, Williams C. (2008). In [https://books.google.com/books?id=vvXoC8F5Oq0C&dq=James+Brooke+named+Kuching+Sarawak&pg=PA162 Borneo. Ediz. Inglese] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221216135701/https://books.google.com/books?id=vvXoC8F5Oq0C&pg=PA162&dq=James+Brooke+named+Kuching+Sarawak&hl=en&sa=X&ei=dPXRVN2mOcaUuAT604LYDQ&ved=0CCgQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=James%20Brooke%20named%20Kuching%20Sarawak&f=false |date=16 December 2022 }}. Lonely Planet. p. 162. Google Book Search. Retrieved 4 February 2015.

There was one unlikely theory based on a story of miscommunication. According to the story, James Brooke arrived in Kuching on his schooner Royalist. He then asked his local guide about the name of the town. The local guide mistakenly thought that Brooke was pointing towards a cat, and so had said the word "Kuching". However, ethnic Malays in Sarawak have always used the term "pusak" for cats (cognate with Filipino pusa), instead of the standard Malay word "kucing" (cognate with Filipino kuting which refers to kittens). Despite this etymological discrepancy, Sarawakians have adopted the animal as a symbol of their city, and it features in statues as well as the municipal council's coat of arms - an example of heraldic canting.

Some source also stated that it was derived from a fruit called "mata kucing" (Euphoria malaiense), a close relative of the Longan{{Cite web |url=http://www.darwin.nt.gov.au/sites/default/files/Mata%20Kucing.pdf |title=Mata Kucing is a close relative of Longan (Euphoria longana). |access-date=6 June 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140319201454/http://www.darwin.nt.gov.au/sites/default/files/Mata%20Kucing.pdf |archive-date=19 March 2014 |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web |url=http://www.doa.sarawak.gov.my/modules/web/download_show.php?id=540 |title=Mata Kucing is similar to that of Longan fruit. |access-date=6 June 2014 |archive-date=23 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923215543/http://www.doa.sarawak.gov.my/modules/web/download_show.php?id=540 |url-status=dead}} that grows widely in Malaysia and Indonesia.{{cite news |url=http://www.philstar.com/modern-living/727589/truly-cool-kuching |title=Truly cool Kuching |newspaper=The Philippine Star |date=17 September 2011 |access-date=6 June 2014 |author=Paulo Alcazaren |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140606073025/http://www.philstar.com/modern-living/727589/truly-cool-kuching |archive-date=6 June 2014 |url-status=dead}} There was also a hill in the city that was named after the fruit, which is called Bukit Mata Kuching. Harriette McDougall writing to her son in the 19th century, stated that the name was derived from a stream of the same name, called "Sungai Kuching" or Cat River in English.{{cite book |author=Sarawak Museum |title=A brief history of Kuching |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=a4BuAAAAMAAJ |year=1993 |publisher=Sarawak Museum}} On page 64 of Bampfylde and Baring-Gould's 1909 'A History of Sarawak under its Two White Rajahs', it says: "Kuching, the capital of Sarawak, is so called from a small stream that runs through the town into the main river...." The stream was situated at the foot of Bukit Mata Kuching and in front of the Tua Pek Kong Temple. In the 1950s, the river became very shallow because of silt deposits in the river. The river was later filled to make way for roads.

There is another theory that Kuching actually means "Ku" (古)- Old and "Ching" (井) - Well or "old well" (古井) in Chinese. During the Brooke administration, there was no water supply and water-borne diseases were common. In 1888, an epidemic broke out which later was known as "Great Cholera Epidemic". A well situated in the present day China Street in Main Bazaar helped to combat the disease by providing clean water supply. Due to increased demand for a water supply, the role of the well was later replaced by water treatment plant on the Bau Road.Francis Chan, The Borneo Post, 1 September 2013

{{Further|Sultanate of Sarawak}}File:James Brooke photo.jpg.]]

Sarawak was part of the Bruneian Empire since the reign of the first Sultan of Brunei, Sultan Muhammad Shah. Kuching was the third capital of Sarawak, founded in 1827 by the representative of the Sultan of Brunei, Pengiran Indera Mahkota.{{cite book |author=Pat Foh Chang |title=Legends and History of Sarawak |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jDWHZwEACAAJ |access-date=13 July 2012 |year=1999 |publisher=Chang Pat Foh |isbn=978-983-9475-06-7}} Prior to the founding of Kuching, the two past capitals of Sarawak were Santubong, founded by Sultan Pengiran Tengah in 1599, and Lidah Tanah, founded by Datu Patinggi Ali in the early 1820s. The founding of Kuching was spurred by the discovery of antimony ore at the upper Sarawak river in 1924, which was in high demand in the market of nearby Singapore. A Dutch report mentioned that there lived about a hundred Malays and three houses of Chinese in the area shortly before the founding of Kuching.{{cite journal |last1=CRAIG A. LOCKARD |title=THE EARLY DEVELOPMENT OF KUCHING, 1820—1857 |journal=Journal of the Malaysian Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society |date=1976 |volume=49 |issue=2 |pages=107–110 |jstor=41492141 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/41492141}} The arrival of Mahkota was not popular with the local Malay chiefs, whose autonomy was restricted by Mahkota's increasing tax and labour demands. The chiefs moved upriver, allied with Dayaks, and rebelled against Brunei. Neither side could gain an edge over the other until 1840 when Pengiran Raja Muda Hashim, the Bruneian Prime Minister, offered to hand over the governorship of Sarawak to British adventurer James Brooke to acquire his help to defeat the rebel chiefs.

Pengiran Raja Muda Hashim later ceded the territory to James Brooke as a reward for helping him to counter the rebellion.{{cite book |author1=Faisal S. Hazis |author2=Mohd. Faisal Syam Abdol Hazis |title=Domination and Contestation: Muslim Bumiputera Politics in Sarawak |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nhAU_JcFNZ0C&pg=PA25 |access-date=18 July 2013 |year=2012 |publisher=Institute of Southeast Asian Studies |isbn=978-981-4311-58-8 |pages=5–25–26–29}} The rebellion was crushed in November 1840, and on 24 September 1841, Brooke was appointed as the Governor of Sarawak with the title of Rajah. It was not announced until 18 August 1842, following Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin II's ratifying the governorship, and requiring Brooke to pay an annual sum of $2,500 to the Sultan. Since that time, Kuching became the seat of the Brooke government.{{cite book |title=Borneo. Ediz. Inglese |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vvXoC8F5Oq0C&pg=PA162 |access-date=18 July 2013 |year=2008 |publisher=Lonely Planet |isbn=978-1-74059-105-8 |pages=162–}}

File:Kuching, Sarawak; a square-towered building and the jail. Ph Wellcome V0037399.jpg

File:The National geographic magazine (Page 164) BHL40563162 (cropped).jpg, {{circa|1919}}.]]

The administration was later continued by his nephew, Charles Brooke. As an administrative capital, it became the centre of attention and development.{{cite book |author1=Trudy Ring |author2=Noelle Watson |author3=Paul Schellinger |title=Asia and Oceania: International Dictionary of Historic Places |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=voerPYsAB5wC&pg=PT866 |access-date=18 July 2013 |date=12 November 2012 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-136-63979-1 |pages=866–}} Improvements included a sanitation system. By 1874, the city had completed several developments, including construction of a hospital, prison, Fort Margherita, and many other buildings.

Charles Brooke's wife, in her memoir (My Life in Sarawak), included this description of Kuching:

{{blockquote|The little town looked so neat and fresh and prosperous under the careful jurisdiction of the Rajah and his officers, that it reminded me of a box of painted toys kept scrupulously clean by a child. The Bazaar runs for some distance along the banks of river, and this quarter of the town is inhabited almost entirely by Chinese traders, with the exception of one or two Hindoo shops....Groceries of exotic kinds are laid out on tables near the pavement, from which the purchasers make their choice. At the Hindoo shops you can buy silks from India, sarongs from Java, tea from China and tiles and porcelain from all parts of the world, laid out in picturesque confusion, and overflowing into the street.{{cite book |author=Margaret Brooke |title=My Life in Sarawak |page=62 |date=1913 |publisher=Methuen & Company, Limited}}|Margaret Brooke, wife of Charles Brooke.}}

The Astana (Palace), which is now the official residence of the governor of Sarawak, was constructed next to Brooke's first residence. He had it built in 1869 as a wedding gift to his wife.{{cite book |author1=Charles De Ledesma |author2=Mark Lewis |author3=Pauline Savage |title=Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hS0_GehsGPwC&pg=PA414 |access-date=18 July 2013 |year=2003 |publisher=Rough Guides |isbn=978-1-84353-094-7 |pages=414–}}{{cite web |url=https://seeds.theborneopost.com/2014/09/16/the-last-goodbye/ |title=The last goodbye |author=Patricia Hului |publisher=The Borneo Post Seeds |date=16 September 2014 |access-date=31 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171231005018/https://seeds.theborneopost.com/2014/09/16/the-last-goodbye/ |archive-date=31 December 2017 |url-status=dead}} Kuching continued to prosper under Charles Vyner Brooke, who succeeded his father as the Third Rajah of Sarawak. In 1941, Kuching was the site of the Brooke Government Centenary Celebration.{{cite book |author=Steven Runciman |title=The White Rajah: A History of Sarawak from 1841 to 1946 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=m4_O9GB4KBoC&pg=PA248 |access-date=18 July 2013 |date=3 February 2011 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=978-0-521-12899-5 |pages=248–}} A few months later, the Brooke administration came to a close when the Japanese occupied Sarawak.

File:Kuching Town Street Scene (AWM 030346-01).JPG

File:Japanese Propaganda, Kuching, Sarawak (AWM 118699).JPG in Jawi script found in the town after the capturing of the town by the Australian forces.]]

During the Second World War, six platoons of infantry from 2/15 Punjab Regiment were stationed at Kuching in April 1941.{{cite book |author1=Patricia Pui Huen Lim |author2=Diana Wong |title=War and Memory in Malaysia and Singapore |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ADkiembZcLYC&pg=PA125 |access-date=18 July 2013 |year=2000 |publisher=Institute of Southeast Asian Studies |isbn=978-981-230-037-9 |pages=125–127}} The Regiment defended Kuching and Bukit Stabar airfield from being the destroyed by the Japanese. Defence was mainly concentrated on Kuching and Miri. However, on 24 December 1941, Kuching was conquered by the Japanese forces. Sarawak was ruled as part of the Japanese Empire for three years and eight months, until the official Japanese surrender on 11 September 1945. The official surrender was signed on HMAS Kapunda at Kuching.{{cite web |url=http://www.navy.gov.au/hmas-kapunda |title=HMAS Kapunda |access-date=4 June 2014 |publisher=Royal Australian Navy |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140604111658/http://www.navy.gov.au/hmas-kapunda |archive-date=4 June 2014 |url-status=dead}}{{cite book |author=Ooi |first=Keat Gin |author-link=Keat Gin Ooi |title=Southeast Asia: A Historical Encyclopedia, from Angkor Wat to Timor. R-Z. volume three |date=1 January 2004 |publisher=ABC-CLIO |isbn=978-1-57607-770-2 |pages=1177–}}{{cite book |author=Jackson |title=British Empire and 2ND Ww (E) |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cghbp0WbhxAC&pg=PA445 |access-date=18 July 2013 |date=9 March 2006 |publisher=Continuum |isbn=978-0-8264-4049-5 |pages=445–}} From March 1942, the Japanese operated the Batu Lintang camp, for POWs and civilian internees, {{cvt|5|km}} outside Kuching.{{cite book |author=Keat Gin Ooi |title=Japanese Empire in the Tropics: Selected Documents and Reports of the Japanese Period in Sarawak, Northwest Borneo, 1941 - 1945 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3t5OngEACAAJ |year=1998 |publisher=Ohio Univ. Center for Internat. Studies |isbn=978-0-89680-199-8 |pages=6–11}}

After the end of World War II, the town survived and was wholly undamaged.{{cite book |author=Yvonne Byron |title=In Place of the Forest; Environmental and Socio-Economic Transformation in Borneo and the Eastern Malay Peninsula |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7BYEnHOQ8KkC&pg=PA215 |year=1995 |publisher=United Nations University Press |isbn=978-92-808-0893-3 |pages=215–}} The third and last Rajah, Sir Charles Vyner Brooke later ceded Sarawak to the British Crown on 1 July 1946.{{cite book |author1=James Stuart Olson |author2=Robert Shadle |title=Historical Dictionary of the British Empire: A-J |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=L-X-XYB_ZkIC&pg=PA200 |access-date=18 July 2013 |year=1996 |publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group |isbn=978-0-313-29366-5 |pages=200–}}{{cite book |author1=Gerard A. Postiglione |author2=Jason Tan |title=Going to School in East Asia |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HuE--CIdDuEC&pg=PA210 |access-date=18 July 2013 |year=2007 |publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group |isbn=978-0-313-33633-1 |pages=210–}} During the Crown Colony period, the government worked to develop and improve the infrastructure on Sarawak. Kuching was revitalised as the capital of Sarawak under the British colonial government.{{cite book |author=Pat Foh Chang |title=Legends and history of Sarawak |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CqJuAAAAMAAJ |access-date=18 July 2013 |year=1999 |publisher=Chang Pat Foh |isbn=978-983-9475-07-4}} When Sarawak, together with North Borneo, Singapore and the Federation of Malaya, formed the Federation of Malaysia in 1963,{{cite book |author=Boon Kheng Cheah |title=Malaysia: The Making of a Nation |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Owo39zRMQbwC&pg=PA93 |access-date=18 July 2013 |year=2002 |publisher=Institute of Southeast Asian Studies |isbn=978-981-230-175-8 |pages=93–}} Kuching kept its status as the state capital and was granted a city status on 1 August 1988.{{cite web |url=http://www.mbks.sarawak.gov.my/modules/web/page.php?id=153&menu_id=0&sub_id=116 |title=History |publisher=Council of the City of Kuching South |date=14 May 2014 |access-date=16 May 2014 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140515164215/http://www.mbks.sarawak.gov.my/modules/web/page.php?id=153&menu_id=0&sub_id=116 |archive-date=15 May 2014 |url-status=dead }}{{cite book |title=Kuching: towards a new horizon |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dG4uAAAAMAAJ |access-date=18 July 2013 |year=1988 |publisher=Kuching Municipal Council}} Kuching experienced further development throughout the years as the state capital. On 29 July 2015, Kuching was declared as "City of Unity" by One Malaysia Foundation for racial harmony that existed in the city because of cross-racial marriages, multi-racial schools, fair scholarship distributions, and balanced workforce patterns.{{cite news |title=Kuching to celebrate new status as 'City of Unity' |url=http://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2015/07/31/kuching-to-celebrate-new-status-as-city-of-unity/ |access-date=31 August 2015 |newspaper=The Star (Malaysia) |date=31 July 2015}}{{cite news |last1=Blake |first1=Chen |title=Kuching to be declared world's first 'City of Unity' |url=http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2015/07/29/kuching-to-be-declared-worlds-first-city-of-unity/ |access-date=31 August 2015 |work=Free Malaysia Today |date=29 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150822055206/http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2015/07/29/kuching-to-be-declared-worlds-first-city-of-unity/ |archive-date=22 August 2015}}

File:Greater Kuching map en.svg with a total area of 2030.94 square kilometres:

{{legend|#fec9e5|Kuching North City Hall (DBKU)}}

{{legend|#fff15c|Kuching South City Council (MBKS)}}

{{legend|#f1d9b1|Padawan Municipal Council (MPP)}}

{{legend|#c9fbb2|Kota Samarahan Municipal Council (MPKS, formerly MDS)}}]]

As the capital of Sarawak, Kuching plays an important role in the political and economic welfare of the population of the entire state as it is the seat of the state government where almost all of their ministries and agencies are based. The Sarawak State Legislative Assembly is located in a suburb, Petra Jaya.

There are 5 Members of Parliament (MPs) representing the five parliamentary constituencies and twelve state legislative assemblymen in the state legislature representing the twelve state constituencies in Kuching district.

Kuching is the only city in Malaysia to be administered by two mayors; the city is divided into Kuching North and Kuching South.{{cite book |author=Tamara Thiessen |title=Borneo: Sabah - Brunei - Sarawak |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DCDkRTYwN5AC&pg=PA244 |access-date=20 July 2013 |year=2012 |publisher=Bradt Travel Guides |isbn=978-1-84162-390-0 |pages=244–246–266}} Each of these is administered by a mayor for Kuching South and a commissioner for Kuching North. The current commissioner for Kuching North is Datu Junaidi Reduan, who took over from Datuk Haji Abang Abdul Wahab Abang Julai on 31 August 2019 while Datuk Wee Hong Seng became the new mayor for the Kuching South in 2019, succeeding Dato' James Chan Khay Syn.{{Cite web |title=CM: Wee Hong Seng appointed MBKS mayor, Junaidi Reduan new DBKU Datuk Bandar |url=https://www.theborneopost.com/2019/08/22/cm-wee-hong-seng-appointed-mbks-mayor-junaidi-reduan-new-dbku-datuk-bandar/ |access-date=24 October 2020 |website=The Borneo Post Online|date=22 August 2019 }} The city obtained a city status on 1 August 1988, and since that it was administered by Kuching North City Hall (DBKU) and Kuching South City Council (MBKS).

The city is defined within the borders of what is the Kuching District. With an area of {{cvt|1868.83|km2|mi2}}, it is the most populous district in Sarawak.{{cite web |url=http://www.sarawak.gov.my/uploads/assets/files/ePub/Fact_and_Figures_2012.pdf |title=Sarawak : Population By Administrative District 2000 & 2010 |publisher=Sarawak State Government |work=Sarawak Fact and Figures by State Planning Unit, Chief Minister's Department |date=2012 |access-date=6 June 2014 |pages=11/16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141016133801/http://www.sarawak.gov.my/uploads/assets/files/ePub/Fact_and_Figures_2012.pdf |archive-date=16 October 2014 |url-status=dead }} The area then subdivided into two sub-districts, namely Kuching Proper and Padawan. Kuching Proper included the city area and northern part of Padawan municipality (e.g. Batu Kawah, Matang Jaya), while PadawanNot to be confused with Padawan municipality. sub-district (southern part of Padawan municipality) included Kota Padawan, Teng Bukap and Borneo Highlands (Mambong). The combined area of Kuching North City Hall, Kuching South City Council, Padawan Municipal Council, and the Kota Samarahan Municipal Council is known as Greater Kuching.{{cite web |url=http://www.healthycity.sarawak.gov.my/project6.html |title=Various Studies Aiming To Develop A Better Kuching (Greater Kuching Urban and Regional Study) |publisher=Sarawak State Government |work=Shankland Cox Ltd |access-date=6 June 2014 |volume=1}}

File:Panorama of Kuching.jpg

Kuching is located on the banks of the Sarawak River in the northwestern part of the island of Borneo.{{cite book |author=Alastair Morrison |title=Fair Land Sarawak: Some Recollections of an Expatriate Official |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=U80cU8Fx1kAC&pg=PA93 |access-date=19 July 2013 |date=1 January 1993 |publisher=SEAP Publications |isbn=978-0-87727-712-5 |pages=93–}} The limits of the City of Kuching include all that area in Kuching District containing an area approximately {{cvt|431.01|km2|mi2}} bounded from Gunung Lasak (Mount Lasak) in Muara Tebas to Batu Buaya (Crocodile Rock) in the Santubong peninsula following a series of survey marks as stated in the First Schedule of the City of Kuching Ordinance, 1988. As a simplification of the legal statute, the Kuching city limits extend from the Kuching International Airport in the south to the northern coast of the Santubong and Bako peninsulas; from the Kuching Wetlands National Park in the west to the Kuap River estuary in the east. The Sarawak River generally splits the city into North and South. The highest point in the city is Mount Santubong on the Santubong peninsula, which is at {{cvt|810.2|m}} above sea level, located 35 km north of the city centre.{{cite news |last1=Kit |first1=Lee Yu |title=Scaling Santubong |url=http://www.thestar.com.my/story/?file=%2F2007%2F1%2F20%2Flifetravel%2F16461304&sec=lifetravel |access-date=28 March 2015 |newspaper=The Star (Malaysia) |date=20 January 2007 |archive-date=28 March 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150328165605/http://www.thestar.com.my/story/?file=%2F2007%2F1%2F20%2Flifetravel%2F16461304&sec=lifetravel |url-status=dead }} Rapid urbanisation has occurred in Greater Kuching and the urban sprawl extends to Penrissen, Kota Sentosa, Kota Padawan, Batu Kawah, Matang, Samariang, Siburan, Tarat, Kota Samarahan, Asajaya as well as Serian which is located about 65 km from Kuching.

Kuching has a tropical rainforest climate (Köppen climate classification Af), moderately hot but very humid at times and receives substantial rainfall.{{cite web |url=http://1063457201.n137365.test.prositehosting.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Venture-into-Borneo.pdf |title=Venture into Borneo |quote=Borneo has a typically equatorial climate, with temperatures fairly constant throughout the year. (page 17) |author=Thomas Cook |publisher=Thomas Cook Tours |access-date=10 November 2013}} The average annual rainfall is approximately {{cvt|4200|mm|in}}.{{cite web |url=http://www.worldclimate.com/cgi-bin/data.pl?ref=N01E110+2100+96413W |publisher=WorldClimate |title=Kuching, Malaysia Weather History and Climate Data |access-date=28 June 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140604112500/http://www.worldclimate.com/cgi-bin/data.pl?ref=N01E110%2B2100%2B96413W |archive-date=4 June 2014 |url-status=dead}} Kuching is the wettest populated area (on average) in Malaysia with an average of 247 rainy days per year. Kuching receives only 5 hours of sunshine per day on average and an average of only 3.7 hours of sunshine per day in the month of January (wettest month of the year).{{cite web |url=http://www.met.gov.my/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=75&Itemid=1089&limit=1&limitstart=2&lang=english |title=General Climate of Malaysia (Sunshine and Solar Radiation) |publisher=Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (Malaysia) |access-date=4 June 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140604112542/http://www.met.gov.my/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=75&Itemid=1089&limit=1&limitstart=2&lang=english |archive-date=4 June 2014 |url-status=dead}} The wettest times are during the North-East Monsoon months of November to February and the city's driest months are June through August. The temperature in Kuching ranges from {{cvt|19|°C}} to {{cvt|36|°C}} but the average temperature is around {{cvt|23|°C}} in the early hours of the morning and rises to around {{cvt|33|°C}} during mid afternoon.{{cite web |url=http://ser.cienve.org.tw/download/22-5/22-5-5.pdf |title=An assessment of influence of meteorological factors on PM10 and NO2 at selected stations in Malaysia |author1=Doreena Dominick |author2=Mohd Talib Latif |author3=Hafizan Juahir |author4=Ahmad Zaharin Aris |author5=Sharifuddin M. Zain |publisher=Department of Environmental Sciences (Universiti Putra Malaysia), Centre of Excellence for Environmental Forensics (Universiti Putra Malaysia), School of Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences (Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia) and Department of Chemistry (Universiti Malaya) |access-date=10 November 2013 |archive-date=10 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131110092427/http://ser.cienve.org.tw/download/22-5/22-5-5.pdf |url-status=dead}} This temperature stays almost constant throughout the year if it is not affected by the heavy rain and strong winds during the early hours of the morning which can bring the temperature down to {{cvt|19|°C}}, but this is very rare.

{{Kuching weatherbox}}

The term "Kuchingite" has been used to describe the people of Kuching, although it is not official. However, the simplest way to call the people of Kuching is only by "orang Kuching", which means "people of Kuching" in English.

{{bar box

|title=Ethnic composition in Kuching (2023)

|titlebar=

|left1=Ethnic group

|right1=Percent

|float=right

|bars=

{{bar percent|Malay|#B0BF1A|31.8}}

{{bar percent|Chinese|#CE2029|33.6}}

{{bar percent|Iban|#FFAA1D|23.3}}

{{bar percent|Bidayuh|#A3C1AD|7.4}}

{{bar percent|Others|#856088|3.7}}

}}

In a recent survey by Department of Statistics Malaysia (DoSM) in 2023, the survey reported that Kuching had a total population of 613,522. This including overall population in both Kuching areas (North Kuching, South Kuching, and Padawan) consists primarily of Malays (208,154), Chinese (219,882), Iban (152,897), Bidayuh (48,635), non-Malaysian citizens (5,602), other Sarawak Bumiputras (Orang Ulu) (931), Melanau (6,870) and Indian (10,879).{{cite web |url=http://www.statistics.gov.my/portal/download_Population/files/population/04Jadual_PBT_negeri/PBT_Sarawak.pdf |title=Population Distribution by Local Authority Areas and Mukims, 2022 |date=December 2021 |publisher=Statistics Department, Malaysia |access-date=19 July 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141114152728/http://www.statistics.gov.my/portal/download_Population/files/population/04Jadual_PBT_negeri/PBT_Sarawak.pdf |archive-date=14 November 2014 |url-status=dead}} The Chinese are made up of Hokkien, mainly in the urban areas and in the suburbs.{{cite book |title=Southeast Asian Exports Since the 14th Century: Cloves, Pepper, Coffee, and Sugar |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0q_r9aYSF_MC&pg=PA68 |access-date=19 July 2013 |date=1 January 1998 |publisher=Institute of Southeast Asian |isbn=978-981-3055-67-4 |pages=68–}} Other Chinese subgroups consist of Foochow, Hainanese, Teochew, Cantonese, Hakka and Henghua.

Many community from Iban, Bidayuh, and Orang Ulu are mainly Christians (while some people still practising Animism). Meanwhile Chinese also practise either Buddhism, Taoism or Christianity. Most of the Malays and Melanau are Muslim in Kuching District. There is also some community from Hindus and Sikhs, although their population is really fewer.

There is a size-able population of non-citizens, who mostly come from the bordering Indonesian region of Kalimantan, most of whom are migrant workers.{{cite book |author=Tim Huxley |title=Disintegrating Indonesia?: Implications for Regional Security |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zUfcAAAAQBAJ&pg=PA79 |date=13 September 2013 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-136-04928-6 |pages=79–}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1309&dat=19861022&id=XNRHAAAAIBAJ&pg=3723,1524809 |title=Keeping tabs on illegal immigrants |newspaper=New Straits Times |date=22 August 1986 |access-date=5 June 2014 |pages=6}} Since the British period, a small population of South Asians—notably, Pakistanis—have lived in the city, their livelihoods primarily the selling of clothing and spices.{{cite book |author=Judith M. Heimann |title=The Most Offending Soul Alive: Tom Harrisson and His Remarkable Life |url=https://archive.org/details/mostoffendingsou00judi |url-access=registration |year=1998 |publisher=University of Hawaii Press |isbn=978-0-8248-2199-9 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/mostoffendingsou00judi/page/270 270]–}} Other migrants who came during the British era included Bugis from the Dutch East Indies, and other peoples from neighbouring Dutch Borneo.{{cite news |url=http://www.theborneopost.com/2017/12/08/bugis-in-sarawak-also-malaysians-sba-chief/ |title=Bugis in Sarawak also Malaysians — SBA chief |author=Peter Sibon |newspaper=The Borneo Post |date=8 December 2017 |access-date=31 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171231005627/http://www.theborneopost.com/2017/12/08/bugis-in-sarawak-also-malaysians-sba-chief/ |archive-date=31 December 2017 |url-status=dead}} Being a diverse, "melting-pot" city, interracial marriages (among those of different ethnic backgrounds) are common in Kuching, and the city itself is home to over 30 distinct ethnic groups.{{cite book |author=Damian Harper |title=Malaysia, Singapore & Brunei. Ediz. Inglese |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9a02sRJKFhMC&pg=PA339 |access-date=19 July 2013 |year=2007 |publisher=Lonely Planet |isbn=978-1-74059-708-1 |pages=339–}}{{cite web |url=http://investvine.com/seeing-tourism-through-the-eyes-of-sarawaks-big-village/ |title=Tourism through the eyes of Sarawak's 'big village' |author=Justin Calderon |publisher=Investvine |date=14 April 2013 |access-date=20 July 2013 |archive-date=28 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230528235442/http://investvine.com/seeing-tourism-through-the-eyes-of-sarawaks-big-village/ |url-status=dead }}

File:St Joseph Cathedral Kuching.jpg|St. Joseph's Cathedral (Roman Catholic)

File:Tampak Luar St Thomas Cathedral (2).jpg|St. Thomas's Cathedral (Anglican)

File:Masjid Bandaraya Kuching.jpg|Kuching City Mosque

File:Hong San Si Temple 03.jpg|Hong San Si Temple

Sri Srinivasagar Kaliamman Temple 01.jpg|Sri Srinivasagar Kaliamman Temple

{{See also|Sarawak Malay}}

Besides being the capital city of Sarawak, Kuching is a business hub and cultural centre for the Malay populace.{{cite journal |url=http://www.ukm.my/ppbl/Gema/pp.pdf |title=Social Variation Of Malay Language In Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia: A Study On Accent, Identity And Integration |author1=Idris Aman |author2=Rosniah Mustaffa |journal=GEMA Online Journal of Language Studies |year=2009 |volume=9 |issue=1 |pages=66 |publisher=Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities (National University of Malaysia) |issn=1675-8021 |access-date=6 June 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140606204927/http://www.ukm.my/ppbl/Gema/pp.pdf |archive-date=6 June 2014 |url-status=dead }} The dialect of Malay spoken in Kuching is known as Bahasa Sarawak (Sarawakian Malay Language), a subset of the Malay language.{{cite book |author1=Paitoon M. Chaiyanara |author2=Sanggam Siahaan |author3=Hilman Pardede |author4=Selviana Napitupulu |author5=Basar Lolo Siahaan |author6=Siska Anggita Situmeang |title=SIJLL (Singapore International Journal of Language and Literature) |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=i0jEIG7piBcC&pg=PA149 |access-date=20 July 2013 |publisher=LLC Publishing |pages=149– |issn=2251-2829}} The local dialect in Kuching is different from that spoken or heard in Miri. Since the second-largest population in Kuching is made up of Han Chinese, the Chinese language is also commonly spoken, particularly Hokkien and Mandarin.{{cite book |author=Richard L. Schwenk |title=The Potential for Rural Development in the New Seventh Division of Sarawak: A Preliminary Background Report |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=40QZqUu3FzkC&pg=PA18 |access-date=20 July 2013 |year=1973 |publisher=Institute of Southeast Asian |pages=18– |id=GGKEY:NGE9XLE3DRH}} Almost all residents are able to speak English.{{cite web |url=http://www.eturbonews.com/42532/kuching-easy-abc |title=Kuching is as easy as ABC |publisher=eTurbo News |date=7 February 2014 |access-date=7 June 2014 |author=Nelson Alcantara}} A number of speciality and private schools provide English as a medium of instruction (primarily for wealthy and/or expatriate children), among other foreign language courses which can be found through the city.{{cite book |author=Heidi Munan |title=CultureShock! Borneo: A Survival Guide to Customs and Etiquette |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RTKJAAAAQBAJ&pg=PA113 |date=15 October 2009 |publisher=Marshall Cavendish International Asia Pte Ltd |isbn=978-981-4484-49-7 |pages=113–}}

File:Kuching, Commercial Centre.jpg

Kuching is one of the main industrial and commercial centres for Sarawak. Many state-level, national-level, and international commercial banks, as well as some insurance companies, maintain their headquarters and corporate offices here. The economy is dominated by the primary sector, and currently by the tertiary-based industry, as the state government envisioned Sarawak being transformed into a more developed state by 2020.{{cite web |url=http://www.undp.org.my/files/editor_files/files/REDD%2Bspecial%20page/Development%20Briefing%20to%20REDD%20Workshop.pdf |title=Sarawak's Development Plans (Sectoral Shift, 1980 - 2010 ..from Primary to Secondary and Tertiary Sectors) |publisher=United Nations Development Programme |work=State Planning Unit (Chief Minister's Department) |date=2 August 2012 |access-date=7 June 2014 |pages=4}}{{cite web |url=http://investvine.com/sarawak-state-planning-unit-leads-the-way-towards-2020-economic-ambitions/ |title=Sarawak State Planning Unit leads the way towards 2020 economic ambitions |publisher=Investvine |date=19 December 2011 |access-date=7 June 2014 |archive-date=14 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714133037/http://investvine.com/sarawak-state-planning-unit-leads-the-way-towards-2020-economic-ambitions/ |url-status=dead }}

There are three main industrial areas in Kuching—Pending Industrial Estate (mixed and light industries), Demak Laut Industrial Park (mixed, light, and medium industries) and Sama Jaya Free Industrial Zone (hi-tech, computer and electronics industries).{{cite web |title=Industrial Estate by Division |url=http://www.sarawak.gov.my/web/home/article_view/211/227/ |website=sarawak.gov.my |publisher=Official website of the Sarawak Government |access-date=3 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150315050820/http://sarawak.gov.my/web/home/article_view/211/227/ |archive-date=15 March 2015}} This is intended to boost the city's commercial and industrial activity, making it a major point of growth in East Malaysia, as well for the BIMP-EAGA (Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area). Kuching has hosted numerous national, regional and international conferences, congresses and trade fairs, such as the Malaysia Global Business Forum,{{cite web |url=http://www.malaysiaglobalbusinessforum.com/delegate-prospectus/ |title=Delegate prospectus |publisher=Malaysia Global Business Forum |access-date=28 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120314225240/http://www.malaysiaglobalbusinessforum.com/delegate-prospectus/ |archive-date=14 March 2012 |url-status=dead}} Tomorrow's Leaders Summit,{{cite news |url=http://www.theborneopost.com/2011/03/11/starbucks-coffee-the-official-beverage-at-youth-summit/ |title=Starbucks Coffee the official beverage at youth summit |date=14 March 2011 |work=The Borneo Post |location=Malaysia |access-date=28 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150211154622/http://www.theborneopost.com/2011/03/11/starbucks-coffee-the-official-beverage-at-youth-summit/ |archive-date=11 February 2015 |url-status=dead}} International Hydropower Association (IHA) World Congress,{{cite news |url=http://mrem.bernama.com/viewsm.php?idm=17774 |title=Press release: INTERNATIONAL HYDRO POWER ASSOCIATION TO BRING WORLD CONGRESS TO SARAWAK, BORNEO IN 2013 |date=14 July 2011 |work=Bernama |location=Malaysia |access-date=28 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714144723/http://mrem.bernama.com/viewsm.php?idm=17774 |archive-date=14 July 2014 |url-status=dead}} ASEAN Tourism Forum,{{cite web |title=ASEAN Tourism Forum 2014 |url=http://asiapacific.unwto.org/event/asean-tourism-forum-2014 |website=unwto.org |publisher=World Tourism Organization |access-date=3 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150321203020/http://asiapacific.unwto.org/event/asean-tourism-forum-2014 |archive-date=21 March 2015 |quote=ATF 2014 was held in Kuching in the Malaysian province of Sarawak from the 16th- 23rd of January.}} and Routes Asia Conference.{{cite news |last1=Tan |first1=Kevin |last2=Ho |first2=Janet |title=500 for Historic Routes Asia Conference |url=http://www.newsarawaktribune.com/news/20264/500-for-historic-Routes-Asia-in-Kuching/ |access-date=3 July 2015 |publisher=New Sarawak Tribune |date=6 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150704000036/http://www.newsarawaktribune.com/news/20264/500-for-historic-Routes-Asia-in-Kuching/ |archive-date=4 July 2015}} Furthermore, Kuching was chosen as a permanent host for the biennial ASEAN International Film Festival and Awards (AIFFA).{{cite news |url=http://www.theborneopost.com/2014/06/19/kuching-now-a-permanent-venue-for-aiffa/ |title=Kuching now a permanent venue for Aiffa |date=19 June 2014 |work=The Borneo Post |location=Malaysia |access-date=28 August 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140818225207/http://www.theborneopost.com/2014/06/19/kuching-now-a-permanent-venue-for-aiffa/ |archive-date=18 August 2014 |url-status=dead}} These events are normally held at the Borneo Convention Centre.

Kuching Port Authority (KPA), established in 1961, started its operations at Tanah Puteh Port (Sim Kheng Hong Port) in 1975 with an annual capacity of 350,000 tonnes. Its operations have since been shifted to Pending and Senari terminals, with an annual capacity of 2.9 million tonnes and 7 million tonnes, respectively. {{Proper name|KPA}} also controls Biawak Oil Jetty, which handles petroleum products.{{cite web |title=Kuching Port celebrated 44th Anniversary |url=http://www.apamalaysia.com/tag/kuching-ports/ |publisher=ASEAN Ports Association |access-date=21 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100605050113/http://www.apamalaysia.com/tag/kuching-ports/ |archive-date=5 June 2010}}{{cite web |title=Introduction: Port Information |url=http://www.kpa.gov.my/modules/web/pages.php?mod=webpage&sub=page&id=74&menu_id=0&sub_id=1 |publisher=Kuching Port Authority |access-date=21 October 2015}}{{cite web |title=Terminals |url=http://www.kpa.gov.my/modules/web/pages.php?mod=webpage&sub=page&id=61&menu_id=0&sub_id=90 |publisher=Kuching Port Authority |access-date=21 October 2015}}

Historically, the Chinese have contributed heavily to the city's economy since their migration during the Brunei Sultanate period, after the discovery of antimony ore, and also during the Charles Vyner Brooke administration (who encouraged the immigration of the Chinese for planting black pepper).

File:Traffic Junction Near Civic Centre Tower, Kuching.jpg.]]

File:Kuching Highway from rural areas.jpg road connecting the rural areas with the city.]] Kuching's roads, thoroughfares and motorways are overseen by one of the two local councils, the DBKU (Dewan Bandaraya Kuching Utara) and MBKS (Majlis Bandaraya Kuching Selatan), or the state's Public Works Department. Roads overseen by the latter department are generally state roads or federal roads.

Most major internal roads are dual-carriageways. Kuching is linked by roads to other towns within Sarawak, mainly by federal roads. The city is also famous for a number of roundabouts, including the oldest and largest one, the Datuk Abang Kipali Bin Abang Akip Roundabout.{{cite news |url=http://www.theborneopost.com/2013/07/25/new-landscaping-for-oldest-roundabout/ |title=New landscaping for oldest roundabout |newspaper=The Borneo Post |date=25 July 2013 |access-date=8 June 2014 |author=Jonathan Chia |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140608065059/http://www.theborneopost.com/2013/07/25/new-landscaping-for-oldest-roundabout/ |archive-date=8 June 2014 |url-status=dead}} The roundabouts are typically landscaped and are efficient for handling traffic congestion.{{cite web |url=http://www.sabah.gov.my/jpas/news/Conv06/Papers/Pap8_SPU.pdf |title=URBAN TRANSPORT GROWTH: THE CHALLENGES AHEAD – THE NEW REALISM AND INSTITUTIONAL CHANGES |publisher=Sabah State Government |work=State Planning Unit, Chief Minister's Office, Sarawak (Fourth Sabah-Sarawak Environmental Convention) |year=2006 |access-date=8 June 2014 |author=Lawrence Tseu |pages=11/23 |archive-date=14 September 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120914090906/http://www.sabah.gov.my/jpas/news/Conv06/Papers/Pap8_SPU.pdf |url-status=dead }} However, traffic lights are more commonly used now as the city's traffic continues to rise.

As Kuching is located near the equator, potholes have the tendency to develop on the roads during the monsoon season, usually at the end of the year, due to coinciding with winter in the Northern Hemisphere. Roads leading outside of the city to the more rural regions were of a slightly inferior quality, with regards to maintenance, but are now being upgraded.{{cite web |url=http://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2012/10/25/pan-borneo-highway-to-be-upgraded/ |title=Pan Borneo Highway to be upgraded |work=The Star |date=25 October 2012 |access-date=8 June 2014 |author1=Martin Carvalho |author2=Yuen Meiking |author3=Rahimy Rahim}} Highway routes from Kuching include:

• {{JKR|1-15}} Kuching–Serian Highway
• {{JKR|801}} Kuching Bypass
• Kuching–Kota Samarahan Expressway
• {{MES-E|24}}
• Matang Highway

File:Taxi in Kuching 02.jpg in the city are painted in red and yellow.]]

There are two types of taxis operating within the city: the standard taxis are the red-and-yellow painted automobiles. A slightly larger taxi, painted in blue, is available as well; these are more comfortable, but slightly more expensive (thus known as "executive taxis").{{cite book |author1=Lonely Planet |author2=Daniel Robinson |author3=Adam Karlin |author4=Paul Stiles |title=Lonely Planet Borneo |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=P33B08y_kBAC&pg=PT276 |date=1 May 2013 |publisher=Lonely Planet |isbn=978-1-74321-651-4 |pages=276–}} In 2014, a smartphone taxi-booking app called GrabTaxi was launched, making Kuching the fifth area (after Klang Valley, Cyberjaya, Putrajaya, and Johor Bahru) to benefit from the app's services and coverage.{{cite web |url=https://sg.news.yahoo.com/taxi-booking-app-myteksi-launches-043007899.html |title=Taxi booking app MyTeksi launches in Kuching, one of the most improbable Malaysian city |publisher=Yahoo! News |work=Vulcan Post |date=17 March 2014 |access-date=8 June 2014 |author=Jacky |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140608133247/https://sg.news.yahoo.com/taxi-booking-app-myteksi-launches-043007899.html |archive-date=8 June 2014 |url-status=dead}}

The main bus terminal is Kuching Sentral, opening in 2012,{{cite news |url=http://www.theborneopost.com/2014/02/12/kuching-sentral-system-boosts-bus-companies-sales-and-revenues/ |title=Kuching Sentral system boosts bus companies' sales and revenues |newspaper=The Borneo Post |date=12 February 2014 |access-date=8 June 2014 |author=Sharon Kong |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140608142703/http://www.theborneopost.com/2014/02/12/kuching-sentral-system-boosts-bus-companies-sales-and-revenues/ |archive-date=8 June 2014 |url-status=dead}} located in the south of the city—about 5 minutes' drive away from Kuching International Airport and 20 minutes from the city centre.{{cite web |url=http://www.expressbusmalaysia.com/bus-stations/kuching-bus-terminal |title=Kuching Bus Terminal |publisher=Express Bus Malaysia |access-date=8 June 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140608143508/http://www.expressbusmalaysia.com/bus-stations/kuching-bus-terminal |archive-date=8 June 2014 |url-status=dead}} The terminal serves as a starting point for long-distance trips to Brunei, Sabah, and West Kalimantan, Indonesia.{{cite web |url=http://www.etawau.com/Geography/Sarawak/Kuching/Transportation/Kuching_Bus_Terminal.htm |title=Kuching Sentral |publisher=e-tawau |date=24 March 2013 |access-date=8 June 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140608153006/http://www.etawau.com/Geography/Sarawak/Kuching/Transportation/Kuching_Bus_Terminal.htm |archive-date=8 June 2014 |url-status=dead}} Another bus terminal is the Old Kuching Bus Terminal, which is only operating as some bus companies and drivers reportedly have been unwilling to use Kuching Sentral's newer facilities, due to undisclosed or unknown reasons.{{cite web |url=https://www.asiaone.com/News/AsiaOne+News/Malaysia/Story/A1Story20120309-332480.html |title=Stand-off over Kuching Sentral |publisher=AsiaOne |work=New Straits Times |date=9 March 2012 |access-date=8 June 2014 |author=John Teo |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140608153823/http://news.asiaone.com/News/AsiaOne%2BNews/Malaysia/Story/A1Story20120309-332480.html |archive-date=8 June 2014 |url-status=live}} Other minibuses and carpool van services are also available in the city.

File:Kuching Water Transportation.jpg, the main water transport in Kuching.]]

Kuching, like most towns in Sarawak, has connections to other urban centres and settlements by water transport. Between the banks of the Sarawak River, near the city centre, many 'tambang' (traditional roofed wooden sampan) can be seen carrying passengers from one riverbank to another.{{cite book |author=Outlook Publishing |title=Outlook Traveller |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=izEEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT69 |date=September 2008 |publisher=Outlook Publishing |pages=69–}} For those staying along the river banks, it is a short way to getting to the city-proper. The wharf for express boats servicing transport to further areas such as Sibu and Bintulu, is located in the east of the city at the Sim Kheng Hong Port (formerly known as the Tanah Puteh Port) in Pending.{{cite book |author=Sarawak. Jabatan Kerja Raya |title=Annual Report |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dT0HAQAAIAAJ |year=1974}}{{cite web |url=http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19610607-1.2.65.aspx |title=Tanah Puteh |publisher=National Library Board |work=The Straits Times |date=7 June 1961 |access-date=9 June 2014 |pages=8}}

File:Kuching International Airport at Night.jpg at night.]]

Kuching International Airport (KCH) (ICAO Code: WBGG) is the main gateway for air passengers. The airport's history dates back to the 1940s and today the airport has undergone and is still undergoing many major redevelopments.{{cite web |title=About Kuching International Airport |url=http://www.klia.com.my/?m=business&c=business_about&id=14 |publisher=Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad |access-date=28 January 2015}} The airport terminal is listed as the fourth busiest airport in Malaysia according to total passenger movements in 2013.{{cite web |title=2013 Annual Report |url=http://ir.chartnexus.com/malaysiaairports/doc/ar/ar2013.pdf |publisher=Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad |access-date=28 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150420213127/http://ir.chartnexus.com/malaysiaairports/doc/ar/ar2013.pdf |archive-date=20 April 2015 |url-status=dead }} Since 2009, the airport has grown rapidly with an increasing number of passengers and aircraft movement. It is the secondary hub for Malaysia Airlines{{cite web |title=Malaysia Airlines |url=https://www.hahnair.com/en/agents/airline/mh |publisher=Hahn Air |access-date=28 January 2015}} and AirAsia{{cite web |title=The Air Asia Family |url=http://www.airasia.com/my/en/about-us/corporate-profile.page |publisher=Air Asia |access-date=28 January 2015}} while becoming the third hub for MASWings,{{cite web |title=MASWings |url=http://www.maswings.com.my/en/contact-us |publisher=MASWings |access-date=28 January 2015 |archive-date=20 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140520221025/http://www.maswings.com.my/en/contact-us |url-status=dead}} which serves flights to smaller towns and rural areas in East Malaysia.

The current court complex is located in Petra Jaya.{{cite web |url=http://www.kgcourt.sarawak.gov.my/Kuching%20Website/contact.htm |title=Kuching Court |publisher=Kuching High Court |access-date=10 June 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140610050813/http://www.kgcourt.sarawak.gov.my/Kuching%20Website/contact.htm |archive-date=10 June 2014 |url-status=dead}}{{cite web |url=http://wtwy.com/files/reports/spb-vol4-issue-3.pdf |title=KUCHING CITY NORTH - PETRA JAYA |publisher=CH Williams Talhar Wong & Yeo Sdn Bhd |work=Sarawak Property Bulletin |date=July–September 2006 |access-date=10 June 2014 |pages=3 |volume=4 |issue=3}} It contains the High Court, Sessions Court, and the Magistrate Court.{{cite web |url=http://www.highcourt.sabah.sarawak.gov.my/apps/highcourt/v3/modules/highcourt_web/page.php?id=4 |title=Structure of The Court (STRUCTURE OF THE HIGH COURT IN SABAH & SARAWAK) |publisher=The High Court in Sabah and Sarawak |access-date=10 June 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140330065620/http://www.highcourt.sabah.sarawak.gov.my/apps/highcourt/v3/modules/highcourt_web/page.php?id=4 |archive-date=30 March 2014}} Another courts of Syariah and native were also located in the city.{{cite web |url=http://www.esyariah.gov.my/portal/page/portal/Portal%20E-Syariah%20BI/Portal%20E-Syariah%20Profil%20JKSM |title=Name And Address of the State Syariah Judiciary Office |publisher=E-Syariah |access-date=10 June 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140610051657/http://www.esyariah.gov.my/portal/page/portal/Portal%20E-Syariah%20BI/Portal%20E-Syariah%20Profil%20JKSM |archive-date=10 June 2014 |url-status=dead}}{{cite web |url=http://www.nativecourt.sarawak.gov.my/modules/web/page.php?id=39 |title=Native Courts of Sarawak |publisher=Sarawak Native Court |access-date=10 June 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140610052312/http://www.nativecourt.sarawak.gov.my/modules/web/page.php?id=39 |archive-date=10 June 2014 |url-status=dead}} The Sarawak Police Contingent Headquarters is located in Badruddin Street.{{cite web |url=http://www.supsrwk.gov.my/department_details.php?id=6 |title=Alamat Ibu Pejabat Polis Diraja Malaysia (Kuching) |publisher=Federal Secretary Office, Sarawak |access-date=10 June 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140610054016/http://www.supsrwk.gov.my/department_details.php?id=6 |archive-date=10 June 2014 |url-status=dead}} There is only one district headquarters in the city, which is the Kuching District police headquarters located in Simpang Tiga Road.{{cite web |url=http://www.rmp.gov.my/direktori/direktori-pdrm/sarawak/kuching |title=Direktori PDRM Sarawak - Kuching |language=ms |publisher=Royal Malaysia Police |access-date=1 August 2015 |archive-date=3 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200603203708/http://rmp.gov.my/direktori/direktori-pdrm/sarawak/kuching |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |url=http://www.theborneopost.com/2014/11/16/sarawak-aims-to-recruit-2280-volunteer-reserves-by-2017/ |title=Sarawak aims to recruit 2,280 volunteer reserves by 2017 |publisher=Federal Secretary Office, Sarawak |date=16 November 2014 |access-date=28 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150227201452/http://www.theborneopost.com/2014/11/16/sarawak-aims-to-recruit-2280-volunteer-reserves-by-2017/ |archive-date=27 February 2015 |url-status=dead}} Kuching Prison Complex is located in Puncak Borneo Street.{{cite web |url=http://www.thestar.com.my/story/?file=%2F2012%2F7%2F6%2Fsarawak%2F11612128&sec=sarawak |title=Kuching Prison Complex officially opened |work=The Star |date=6 July 2012 |access-date=10 June 2014 |archive-date=10 June 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140610115627/http://www.thestar.com.my/Story/?file=%2F2012%2F7%2F6%2Fsarawak%2F11612128&sec=sarawak |url-status=dead }} Temporary lock-ups or prison cells are found in most police stations around the city.

{{See also|List of hospitals in Malaysia}}

File:27 August 2011 Sarawak General Hospital.jpg

There are many types of health services in the city, such as the main public hospitals, public health clinics, other type of health clinics, mobile clinic, flying doctor service, village clinics, and 1Malaysia clinic.{{cite web |url=http://www.sarawak.gov.my/en/residents/health |title=Health in Sarawak |publisher=Sarawak State Government |access-date=10 June 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140610124538/http://www.sarawak.gov.my/en/residents/health |archive-date=10 June 2014 |url-status=dead}} The main hospital is the Sarawak General Hospital which is the oldest hospital since 1923. Another hospital is Rajah Charles Brooke Memorial Hospital.{{cite web |url=http://www.sarawak.health.gov.my/hospital.htm |title=Hospital Program |publisher=Sarawak State Health Department |access-date=10 June 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140610130853/http://www.sarawak.health.gov.my/hospital.htm |archive-date=10 June 2014 |url-status=dead}} Hospital Sentosa (Sentosa Mental Hospital), opened in 1958, provides psychiatric services for the entire state and known as the second oldest hospital in Sarawak after the main hospital.{{cite web |url=http://www.ijknsarawak.gov.my/uploads/InventoryKemudahan/Hosp_sentosa.pdf |title=History of Sentosa Hospital |language=ms |publisher=Sarawak State Health Department |access-date=10 June 2014 |pages=1 |archive-date=14 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714204757/http://www.ijknsarawak.gov.my/uploads/InventoryKemudahan/Hosp_sentosa.pdf |url-status=dead}}

Normah Medical Specialist Centre in Petra Jaya is the largest private hospital (with 130 beds) in Sarawak.{{cite web |url=http://www.normah.com.my/index.shtml |title=About us (Overview) |publisher=Normah Medical Specialist Centre |access-date=10 June 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140610132030/http://www.normah.com.my/index.shtml |archive-date=10 June 2014 |url-status=dead}} In addition, three other large private health facilities are Borneo Medical Centre with (120 beds),{{cite web |url=http://www.borneomedicalcentre.com/en/about-us/ |title=About us |publisher=Borneo Medical Centre |access-date=10 June 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140610133924/http://www.borneomedicalcentre.com/en/about-us/ |archive-date=10 June 2014 |url-status=dead}} Timberland Medical Centre with (100 beds),{{cite web |url=http://www.hospitaldirectoryasia.com/HospitalPage.aspx?id=16780 |title=Hospitals based in Malaysia |publisher=Hospital Directory Asia |access-date=28 August 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150828082205/http://www.hospitaldirectoryasia.com/HospitalPage.aspx?id=16780 |archive-date=28 August 2015 |url-status=dead}} and KPJ Healthcare with (75 beds).{{cite web |url=http://www.kcsh.kpjhealth.com.my/ |title=KPJ Healthcare |publisher=Kuching Specialist Hospital |access-date=10 June 2014}} Kuching Specialist Hospital located in BDC was scheduled to open its operation to the public in 2020, with a 70-bed capacity.

{{See also|List of schools in Sarawak}}

File:Building A of Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus.jpg.]]

In the city, all schools under the National Education System (government education institution category), are managed by the Kuching Combined Education Office (Pejabat Pelajaran Gabungan Kuching). There are many government or state schools in and around the city. Like other Malaysian schools, schools in the city are divided into four levels of education — pre-school, primary, secondary (lower and upper) and post-secondary (excluding tertiary). Among the well-established and prestigious boarding schools in the city is Sekolah Menengah Sains Kuching, which is located at Batu Kawa and Sekolah Menengah Sains Kuching Utara, which is located at Matang Jaya.{{cite web |title=SENARAI SEKOLAH MENENGAH DI NEGERI SARAWAK (List of Secondary Schools in Sarawak) – See Kuching |url=http://emisportal.moe.gov.my/emis/emis2/emisportal2/doc/fckeditor/File/senarai_sek_09/menengah/SarawakM.pdf |publisher=Educational Management Information System |access-date=9 June 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150227201213/http://emisportal.moe.gov.my/emis/emis2/emisportal2/doc/fckeditor/File/senarai_sek_09/menengah/SarawakM.pdf |archive-date=27 February 2015 |url-status=dead}} Other government secondary schools including some of the oldest and well known are SMK St. Joseph, SMK St. Thomas, SMK St. Teresa and SMK St. Mary as well as others like SMK Green Road, Kolej Datu Patinggi Abang Haji Abdillah, SMK Tun Abang Haji Openg, SMK Batu Lintang, and SMK Padungan. Kuching has 4 out of 14 Chinese independent schools in Sarawak. These are Chung Hua Middle School No. 1 (古晋中华第一中学), Chung Hua Middle School No. 3 (古晋中华第三中学), Chung Hua Middle School No. 4 (古晋中华第四中学) and Batu Kawa Min Lit secondary school (石角民立中学).{{cite web |title=砂拉越华文独中通讯录 (Communication directory of Sarawak Chinese independent schools) |url=http://shadongzong.org/secondary-schools/ |access-date=1 March 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131231125149/http://shadongzong.org/secondary-schools/ |archive-date=31 December 2013 |language=zh}} There are also three international schools in Kuching, namely Tunku Putra International School,{{cite news |last1=Tuah |first1=Yvonne |title=Tunku Putra School offers unique education platform in Kuching |url=http://www.theborneopost.com/2013/07/01/tunku-putra-school-offers-unique-education-platform-in-kuching/ |access-date=9 May 2015 |newspaper=The Borneo Post |date=1 July 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150509010355/http://www.theborneopost.com/2013/07/01/tunku-putra-school-offers-unique-education-platform-in-kuching/ |archive-date=9 May 2015}} Lodge International School{{cite news |title=Lodge International School celebrates best IGCSE results in school history |url=http://www.newsarawaktribune.com/news/42387/Lodge-International-School-celebrates-best-IGCSE-results-in-school-history/ |access-date=9 May 2015 |publisher=New Sarawak Tribune |date=31 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150509010518/http://www.newsarawaktribune.com/news/42387/Lodge-International-School-celebrates-best-IGCSE-results-in-school-history/ |archive-date=9 May 2015}} and Borneo International School. Other private schools in Kuching are Sunny Hill School{{cite news |last1=Umpang |first1=Matthew |title=Iconic Sunny Hill a 'time-tested' school |url=http://www.theborneopost.com/2014/10/21/iconic-sunny-hill-a-time-tested-school/ |access-date=9 May 2015 |newspaper=The Borneo Post |date=21 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150509011109/http://www.theborneopost.com/2014/10/21/iconic-sunny-hill-a-time-tested-school/ |archive-date=9 May 2015}} and St. Joseph's Private Schools.{{cite news |last1=Aubrey |first1=Samuel |title=St Joseph's Private Schools open |url=http://www.theborneopost.com/2012/01/07/st-josephs-private-schools-open/ |access-date=9 May 2015 |newspaper=The Borneo Post |date=7 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120415024935/http://www.theborneopost.com/2012/01/07/st-josephs-private-schools-open/ |archive-date=15 April 2012}}

There are currently no public university campuses in Kuching, apart from the Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences building situated next to the Sarawak General Hospital. The Sarawak State Government moved the last remaining public university campus (Universiti Teknologi MARA) from Kuching to Kota Samarahan in 1997 in a long-term initiative to transform Kota Samarahan into an education hub.{{cite web |url=http://www.bernama.com/bernama/state_news/bm/news.php?id=312312&cat=srm |title=Samarahan Semakin Pesat Berkembang |language=ms |publisher=Bernama |date=5 February 2008 |access-date=9 June 2014 |author=Rudy Rukimin Rambli |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140609083600/http://www.bernama.com/bernama/state_news/bm/news.php?id=312312&cat=srm |archive-date=9 June 2014 |url-status=dead}} Kuching is home to three private universities: the Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus, the only branch campus of Swinburne University of Technology outside Australia; Executive College; and UCSI University, Sarawak Campus which houses the Faculty of Hospitality and Management. A polytechnic and community college, both known as Politeknik Kuching Sarawak and Kolej Komuniti Kuching are also located in the city.

File:Segi College Sarawak.png

Other private colleges can be found through the city with most of the colleges are subsidiaries from universities and university colleges established in West Malaysia, such as SEGi College, Sarawak, Sunway College Kuching, Limkokwing Borneo, PTPL Sarawak, Wawasan Open University, Open University Malaysia, and Twintech College Sarawak. There are private institutions conducting franchised programmes from full-fledged universities (apart from running their own courses) such as SATT College (conducting franchised programmes from Universiti Teknologi MARA) and the Institute of Dynamic Management, Sarawak (conducting franchised programmes from Universiti Tun Abdul Razak). The International College of Advanced Technology Sarawak or ICATS is an institution created as the state government's initiative to enhance technical and vocational training education among school leavers.{{cite web |url=http://www.thestar.com.my/news/community/2013/12/01/striving-for-twofold-increase-cm-very-aggressive-plans-to-produce-more-technical-education-graduates/ |title=Striving for two-fold increase |work=The Star |date=1 December 2013 |access-date=9 June 2014 |author=Yu Ji |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140609095304/http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Community/2013/12/01/Striving-for-twofold-increase-CM-Very-aggressive-plans-to-produce-more-technical-education-graduates/ |archive-date=9 June 2014}} The college was established from the former INTI College Sarawak facilities.{{cite web |url=http://www.thestar.com.my/news/community/2013/11/29/ppks-ilmu-buys-inti-college-facility-for-rm22mil/ |title=PPKS Ilmu buys Inti College facility for RM22mil |work=The Star |date=29 November 2013 |access-date=9 June 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140609102018/http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Community/2013/11/29/PPKS-Ilmu-buys-Inti-College-facility-for-RM22mil/ |archive-date=9 June 2014}} Operated by a state-owned subsidiary, ICATS focuses on producing human capital for the hi-tech sector, especially for the development of the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy.{{cite web |url=http://www.thestar.com.my/news/community/2013/12/04/help-realise-score-dream-technical-education-institutions-urged/ |title=Help realise SCORE dream, technical education institutions urged |work=The Star |date=4 December 2013 |access-date=9 June 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140609100826/http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Community/2013/12/04/Help-realise-SCORE-dream-technical-education-institutions-urged/ |archive-date=9 June 2014}}

File:The Sarawak State Library.gif.]]

The Sarawak State Library is the major information resource centre and provides information services for the public and private sectors.{{cite web |title=Sarawak State Library: Our Background |url=http://www.pustaka-sarawak.com/Pustaka-Sarawak/about_us.php?do=our_background&abt_id=1 |publisher=Sarawak State Library |access-date=4 June 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140604113052/http://www.pustaka-sarawak.com/Pustaka-Sarawak/about_us.php?do=our_background&abt_id=1 |archive-date=4 June 2014 |url-status=dead}} The library serves Kuching and its outskirts as the main depository of public records. In addition, it administers, monitors, and facilitates the operations of 36 village libraries in the state funded by the National Library of Malaysia.{{cite web |title=Sarawak State Library: Public Library Services |url=http://www.pustaka-sarawak.com/Pustaka-Sarawak/about_us.php?do=public_library_services&abt_id=13 |publisher=Sarawak State Library |access-date=4 June 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140604113233/http://www.pustaka-sarawak.com/Pustaka-Sarawak/about_us.php?do=public_library_services&abt_id=13 |archive-date=4 June 2014 |url-status=dead}}

Other public libraries in Kuching include the DBKU City Library{{cite web |title=Introduction to DBKU city library |url=http://www.librarynet.com.my/libraries/dbkulib_intro.html |publisher=librarynet.com.my |access-date=28 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150227202108/http://www.librarynet.com.my/libraries/dbkulib_intro.html |archive-date=27 February 2015 |url-status=dead}} and village libraries such as in Bandar Baru Samariang, Kampung Samariang Lama, and Taman Sepakat Jaya.

File:Old Sarawak Museum.jpg building was built by Rajah Charles Brooke in 1891 and designed based on the architecture of a Normandy town hall.{{cite web |url=http://seeds.theborneopost.com/2015/07/27/discover-sarawak-museums-architectural-origins/ |title=Discover Sarawak Museum's architectural origins |publisher=The Borneo Post Seeds |date=27 July 2015 |access-date=3 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180803094516/http://seeds.theborneopost.com/2015/07/27/discover-sarawak-museums-architectural-origins/ |archive-date=3 August 2018 |url-status=dead}}]]

Kuching maintains several museums showcasing its culture and history. The Sarawak State Museum is one of the finest museums in Asia and is known as Kuching's oldest and most historical building, which exhibits collections of the indigenous races in Sarawak.{{cite book |author=Alice Yen Ho |title=Old Kuching |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GlhvAAAAMAAJ |year=1998 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-983-56-0050-0}}{{cite book |author=Robert L. Winzeler |title=The Architecture of Life and Death in Borneo |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=niS2FbfVzj4C&pg=PA160 |date=January 2004 |publisher=University of Hawaii Press |isbn=978-0-8248-2632-1 |pages=160–}}{{cite book |author1=Jan van Harssel |author2=Richard H Jackson |author3=Lloyd E. Hudman |title=National Geographic Learning's Visual Geography of Travel and Tourism |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=B1LmAgAAQBAJ&pg=PT530 |date=23 January 2014 |publisher=Cengage Learning |isbn=978-1-305-17647-8 |pages=530–}} Directly opposite the Sarawak Museum is the Borneo Cultures Museum which replaced the Tun Abdul Razak Hall. The Borneo Cultures Museum (opened on 9 March 2022) is a modern five-storey building with a distinctive architectural design that reflects Sarawak's unique traditional crafts and rich cultural heritage.{{Cite web |title=Sarawak Museum Department |url=https://museum.sarawak.gov.my/page-0-209-169-Borneo-Cultures-Museum.html |access-date=23 September 2022 |website=museum.sarawak.gov.my}} While located right behind the Borneo Cultures Museum is the Islamic Heritage Museum.

Other museums in Kuching include the Chinese History Museum, Kuching Cat Museum, Sarawak Timber Museum and Textile Museum Sarawak. Kuching is also home to the first ever planetarium in Malaysia,{{cite book |title=Asiatechnology |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ynq5AAAAIAAJ |publisher=Review Publishing Company Limited}} the Sultan Iskandar Planetarium which is adjacent to the Kuching Civic Centre.

File:Astana Sarawak.JPG, one of the historical landmarks in the city.]]

Interesting historical landmarks and sites of Kuching include The Astana (the former palace of the White Rajahs and currently the official residence of the Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Sarawak), and Fort Margherita.

The oldest street of Kuching is the Main Bazaar, a row of 19th century Chinese shophouses located along the Kuching Waterfront overlooking the Sarawak River. It offers the city's best concentration of antique and handicraft shops. The Main Bazaar is part of Kuching's old town, which also includes Carpenter Street and India Street.{{cite web |url=https://sarawaktourism.com/attraction/main-bazaar-carpenter-street/ |title=Main Bazaar and Carpenter Street |publisher=Sarawak Tourism |access-date=7 March 2017 |location=Kuching}} The old Courthouse building, which sits in between Carpenter Street and India Street, has undergone major renovation and now houses the Sarawak Tourism Board complex.{{cite web |url=https://sarawaktourism.com/blog/explore-kuching-heritage-in-2-hours/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150207231949/http://sarawaktourism.com/blog/explore-kuching-heritage-in-2-hours/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=7 February 2015 |title=Explore Kuching Heritage in 2 hours |publisher=Sarawak Tourism |date=14 September 2012 |access-date=7 March 2017 |location=Kuching}} Some other interesting areas around the central business district include Padungan Street, which is the Chinatown of Kuching.{{cite book |author1=Charles de Ledesma |author2=Mark Lewis |author3=Pauline Savage |title=The Rough Guide to Malaysia, Singapore & Brunei |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UfojoOlXKDcC |year=2000 |publisher=Rough Guides |isbn=978-1-85828-565-8}} In 2014, calls for the Historic Monuments of Kuching's inclusion in the world heritage list were made public.{{cite news |url=http://www.theborneopost.com/2014/11/19/call-for-nomination-of-kuching-waterfront-to-become-unesco-world-heritage-site/ |title=Call for nomination of Kuching Waterfront to become Unesco World Heritage site |newspaper=The Borneo Post |date=19 November 2014 |access-date=23 January 2019}} In 2017, a study was conducted on the possibility of Kuching to be nominated in the world heritage list.{{cite web |url=https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/metro-news/2017/11/30/improving-kuchings-chances-of-receiving-unesco-recognition/ |title=Improving Kuching's chances of receiving Unesco recognition |author=Geryl Ogilvy |work=The Star |date=30 November 2017 |access-date=23 January 2019}}

File:Darul Hana Purple.jpg

A number of leisure spots and conservation areas can be found in Kuching. The Talang-Satang National Park was established with the primary aim of conserving Sarawak's marine turtle population.{{cite web |url=http://www.theborneopost.com/2012/03/20/talang-satang-national-park-a-sanctuary-for-endangered-turtles/ |title=Talang Satang National Park a sanctuary for endangered turtles |work=Bernama |publisher=The Borneo Post |date=20 March 2012 |access-date=6 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140806055933/http://www.theborneopost.com/2012/03/20/talang-satang-national-park-a-sanctuary-for-endangered-turtles/ |archive-date=6 August 2014 |url-status=dead}} It covers a total area of approximately {{cvt|19,400|hectare|0}}, and comprises all lands below the high tide marks on the respective islands.{{cite web |url=http://www.sarawakforestry.com/htm/snp-np-satang.html |title=Talang-Satang National Park |publisher=Sarawak Forestry Corporation |access-date=6 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140806060315/http://www.sarawakforestry.com/htm/snp-np-satang.html |archive-date=6 August 2014 |url-status=dead}} The park also comprises the coastline and sea surrounding four islands of the southwest coast of Sarawak; Talang Besar, Talang Kecil off Sematan, and Satang Besar and Satang Kecil off Santubong, near Kuching. These four "Turtle Islands" are responsible for 95% of all the turtle landings in Sarawak and the park also includes the Tukong Ara-Banun Island Wildlife Sanctuary, two tiny islets which are important nesting sites for colonies of bridled terns and black-naped terns.

Damai, one of Sarawak's main beach resort area, is located on the Santubong Peninsula, about 35 minutes drive from Kuching.{{cite web |url=http://www.etawau.com/Geography/Sarawak/01_Kuching/Kuching/JalanJalan/Santubong.htm |title=Santubong Peninsula (Damai Beach Resort and its surrounding) |publisher=e-tawau |date=4 April 2013 |access-date=6 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140806080857/http://www.etawau.com/Geography/Sarawak/01_Kuching/Kuching/JalanJalan/Santubong.htm |archive-date=6 August 2014 |url-status=dead}} The area has sandy beaches at the foot of an imposing jungle-covered mountain. Damai features three world-class resort hotels such as the Damai Beach Resort, Damai Puri Resort and Spa and One Hotel Santubong.{{cite book |author1=Jane Bickersteth |author2=Amanda Hinton |title=Malaysia & Singapore Handbook |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=E5cuAQAAIAAJ |year=1996 |publisher=Footprint Handbooks |isbn=978-0-8442-4909-4}} Each resort has their own private beach, swimming pool and offers jet-skiing, waterskiing, windsurfing, mountain biking, tennis, squash and fitness centres. There is also an international standard 18-hole golf course designed by the legendary Arnold Palmer located nearby.{{cite web |url=http://www.damaigolf.com/aboutus.php |title=About Damai Golf |publisher=Damai Golf and Country Club |access-date=6 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140730105219/http://www.damaigolf.com/aboutus.php |archive-date=30 July 2014 |url-status=dead}} Other attractions include the Damai Central, Permai Rainforest Resort, Sarawak Cultural Village and the sleepy fishing villages of Santubong and Buntal with their excellent seafood restaurants. While for visitors who like adventurous activities, there is a trekking activity on Mount Santubong.

Aside from that, Damai is also one of the places in Sarawak to see the Irrawaddy dolphin as the mammals can be spotted along the Salak River, Santubong estuary and at the Bako-Buntal Bay.{{cite book |author=Helen Oon |title=Malaysia |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uT77tYHpde8C&pg=PA60 |year=2008 |publisher=New Holland Publishers |isbn=978-1-84537-971-1 |pages=60–}} The Santubong Peninsula offers a few sites for bird watching with the BirdLife International Organisation has registered the whole area on Bako-Buntal Bay as an 'Important Bird Area'. Between October and March, the Buntal River becomes an important wintering ground for bird migration. Birds which have been spotted by the Malaysian Nature Society (Kuching Branch) at Buntal include a variety of plovers, sandpipers, egrets, terns, and other rare migrants, while resident birds include collared kingfisher, the white-bellied sea eagle, and brahminy kite.{{cite web |url=http://www.etawau.com/Island/indexSarawak.htm |title=Islands and Beaches of Sarawak (Damai Beach, Santubong Peninsula) |publisher=e-tawau |date=6 August 2013 |access-date=6 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140806095847/http://www.etawau.com/Island/indexSarawak.htm |archive-date=6 August 2014 |url-status=dead}}

National parks in Kuching include the Bako National Park{{cite web |url=http://www.sarawakforestry.com/htm/snp-np-bako.html |title=Bako National Park |publisher=Sarawak forestry cooperation |access-date=28 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150129164858/http://www.sarawakforestry.com/htm/snp-np-bako.html |archive-date=29 January 2015 |url-status=dead}} and the Kuching Wetlands National Park{{cite web |url=http://www.lonelyplanet.com/malaysia/kuching-wetlands-national-park |title=Introducing Kuching Wetlands National Park |publisher=Lonely Planet |access-date=28 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150211155038/http://www.lonelyplanet.com/malaysia/kuching-wetlands-national-park |archive-date=11 February 2015 |url-status=dead}} as well as the Semenggoh Wildlife Centre which operates an orangutan orphanage and rehabilitation program.{{cite web |url=http://www.sarawakforestry.com/htm/snp-nr-semenggoh.html |title=Semenggoh Wildlife Centre |publisher=Sarawak forestry cooperation |access-date=28 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150211155038/http://www.lonelyplanet.com/malaysia/kuching-wetlands-national-park |archive-date=11 February 2015 |url-status=dead}} Also available near Kuching are the Gunung Gading National Park{{cite web |url=http://www.sarawakforestry.com/htm/snp-np-gading.html |title=Gunung Gading National Park |publisher=Sarawak forestry cooperation |access-date=28 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140804060000/http://www.sarawakforestry.com/htm/snp-np-gading.html |archive-date=4 August 2014 |url-status=dead}} and the Kubah National Park.{{cite web |url=http://www.sarawakforestry.com/htm/snp-np-kubah.html |title=Kubah National Park |publisher=Sarawak forestry cooperation |access-date=28 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131202200259/http://www.sarawakforestry.com/htm/snp-np-kubah.html |archive-date=2 December 2013 |url-status=dead}} Located about 40-minutes drive from Kuching is Santubong, a prominent beach resort area home to numerous world-class beach resorts. Other beaches near Kuching are the Lundu Beach and the Sematan Beach.{{cite web |url=http://www.sarawak-vacation-destinations.com/Lundu-tourist-attractions.html |title=Lundu Tourists Attractions is a mixture of nature beauty and sandy beaches |publisher=Sarawak -vacations-destinations.com |access-date=28 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130623085807/http://www.sarawak-vacation-destinations.com/Lundu-tourist-attractions.html |archive-date=23 June 2013 |url-status=dead}} The Borneo Highlands Resort (currently closed) is also nearby, located 1000-metres above sea level.{{cite web |url=http://www.borneohighlands.com.my/ |title=Welcome to Borneo Highlands Resort |publisher=Borneo Highlands Resort |access-date=28 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150121194453/http://www.borneohighlands.com.my/ |archive-date=21 January 2015 |url-status=dead}}

File:DUN Sarawak.JPG.]]

File:Islamic Heritage Museum - Madrasah Melayu Kuching (Old) 01.jpg Melayu Kuching (which is now as Islamic Heritage Museum).]]

The Kuching Waterfront is a 2 kilometre long riverside esplanade stretching from the main hotel and commercial heartland of the city to downtown Kuching.{{cite book |title=Craft Arts International |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=M7BUAAAAMAAJ |year=1994 |publisher=Craft Art Pty. Limited}} Designed by Sydney architects, the waterfront landscaped is served with food stalls, restaurants, benches and offers an excellent views of the Astana, Fort Margherita, and the New Sarawak State Legislative Assembly Building. The waterfront also features an observation tower, an open-air theatre and musical fountains.

The Kuching Orangutan Murals are vital images of a wheelbarrow filled with eight young orangutans and another baby orangutan swinging from a pipe. It was painted by Ernest Zacharevic along Power Street in the city on 27 April 2014. This latest mural is painted in Zacharevic's usual interactive style, with an actual wheelbarrow sliced into half and secured to the wall to enable the public to take selfies while holding onto the handle. On the other hand, the baby orangutan was painted over a nail on the wall, where people can 'place' items in its hand.{{cite news |url=http://www.theborneopost.com/2014/04/29/zacharevic-moves-on-to-five-more-masterpieces-on-kuching-walls/ |title=Zacharevic moves on to five more masterpieces on Kuching walls |newspaper=The Borneo Post |date=29 April 2014 |access-date=4 August 2015}}

File:Stadion MBKS 2024 03.jpg

In football, Kuching is represented by Kuching City F.C., who plays at Sarawak State Stadium and Sarawak United F.C., who plays at Sarawak Stadium.

File:Medan Niaga Satok.jpg

{{See also|List of shopping malls in Malaysia}}

Kuching features a number of shopping malls. These include VivaCity Megamall, Aeon Mall Kuching Central, The Spring, Plaza Merdeka, Farley Mall, CityONE Megamall, Kuching Sentral, Emart Lee Ling, Emart Batu Kawa, Emart Tabuan Jaya, Eco Mall, MetroMall, Aeroville Mall, Eastern Mall, Matang Mall, Sarawak Plaza, Riverside Shopping Complex, Majma' Mall, Moyan Square, Genesis Parade, Green Heights Mall, Wisma Saberkas, and many more. More shopping malls are set to open in the city as construction continues. The Satok Weekend Market is located at Medan Niaga Satok and operated in Saturdays and Sundays. A varieties of vegetables and fruits can be found there including other handicrafts, forest produce (such as wild honey), orchid plants, and a whole range of local snacks and delicacies.{{cite web |url=https://sarawaktourism.com/attraction/satok-weekend-market/ |title=Satok Weekend Market |publisher=Sarawak Tourism |access-date=7 March 2017 |archive-date=21 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201021070652/https://sarawaktourism.com/attraction/satok-weekend-market/ |url-status=dead }}

File:The National geographic magazine (Page 165) BHL40563162.jpg

There are five cinemas located around the city, most of them located inside shopping mall buildings (The Spring, CityONE, VivaCity, Riverside, Summer Mall). Most of the cinemas are owned by either Golden Screen Cinemas, MBO Cinemas, TGV Cinemas and mmCineplexes.{{cite news |url=http://www.thesundaily.my/news/782646 |title=TGV to open first cinema in Sarawak next year |newspaper=The Sun |date=28 July 2013 |access-date=21 December 2015 |archive-date=15 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180915192315/http://www.thesundaily.my/news/782646 |url-status=dead }} Bookaroo, a children's literature festival, has been travelling from India to Kuching every year since 2016 and takes place in April to feature the Bookaroo Kuching Fest. The festival invites authors, illustrators, storytellers, and performers from all over the world, urging children to bring books with them.{{cite web |url=http://www.bookaroo.in/city-homepage/kuching-2016/ |title=Bookaroo Festival Kuching 2016 |publisher=Bookaroo |access-date=21 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170421040200/http://www.bookaroo.in/city-homepage/kuching-2016/ |archive-date=21 April 2017 |url-status=dead}}{{cite web |url=http://www.bookaroo.in/year/ |title=Bookaroo Festival Kuching 2017 |publisher=Bookaroo |access-date=21 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170421040339/http://www.bookaroo.in/year/ |archive-date=21 April 2017 |url-status=dead}}

Since 1997, Kuching has been host to the Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF), an annual music festival which brings performers and spectators to the region from all over the world. Hosted by the Sarawak Cultural Village near the Mount Santubong, the festival is now one of the largest musical events in Malaysia.{{cite web |url=http://goasia.about.com/od/Events-and-Holidays/a/Rainforest-World-Music-Festival.htm |title=Rainforest World Music Festival - Tips for enjoying the RWMF near Kuching in Sarawak, Borneo |publisher=goasia.about.com |access-date=28 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140710104118/http://goasia.about.com/od/Events-and-Holidays/a/Rainforest-World-Music-Festival.htm |archive-date=10 July 2014 |url-status=dead}}{{cite web |url=https://www.fest300.com/festivals/rainforest-world-music-festival |title=Rainforest World Music Festival - Join tens of thousands of melody-makers and party-goers in the Malaysian jungle for a three day-long celebration of diverse musical styles from around the globe. |publisher=fest300.com |access-date=28 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141024184440/https://www.fest300.com/festivals/rainforest-world-music-festival |archive-date=24 October 2014 |url-status=dead}}{{cite web |url=http://www.asiarooms.com/en/community/festivals-and-events/music-festivals-asia/ |title=7 Biggest Music Festivals in Asia for 2014 |publisher=asiarooms.com |access-date=28 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140828162028/http://www.asiarooms.com/en/community/festivals-and-events/music-festivals-asia/ |archive-date=28 August 2014 |url-status=usurped}} RWMF had been voted as Top 25 Best International Festivals by the British-based magazine Songlines.{{cite web |url=http://www.thestar.com.my/story/?sec=sarawak&file=%2f2011%2f4%2f8%2fsarawak%2f8437342 |title=RWMF among 25 top festivals |work=The Star |date=8 April 2011 |access-date=28 January 2015 |archive-date=11 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150211155938/http://www.thestar.com.my/story/?sec=sarawak&file=%2f2011%2f4%2f8%2fsarawak%2f8437342 |url-status=dead }}

Music radio station set up in Sarawak is Radio Klasik FM (87.6), Nasional FM (88.1), Sarawak FM (88.9), TraXX FM (89.9), Ai FM (90.7), Cats FM (99.3), Hot FM (94.3), Hitz (95.3), Era (96.1), My (96.9), Mix (97.7), One FM (98.3), Lite Sarawak (100.1), Bernama Radio (100.9), Sinar (102.1) and Melody (103.7).

{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in Malaysia#Kuching|l1=List of twin towns and sister cities in Malaysia}}

Several countries have set up their consulates in Kuching, including Australia,{{cite web |url=http://www.dfat.gov.au/missions/countries/myku.html |title=Australian Consulate in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia |publisher=Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Australia |access-date=3 June 2014 |archive-date=23 June 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140623005153/http://dfat.gov.au/missions/countries/myku.html |url-status=dead}} Brunei,{{cite web |url=http://www.mofat.gov.bn/index.php/directory-of-missions-abroad/item/523-consulate-general-of-brunei-darussalam-in-kuching-sarawak-malaysia |title=Consulate General of Brunei Darussalam in Kuching, Sarawak Malaysia |publisher=Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Brunei |access-date=3 June 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140606211208/http://www.mofat.gov.bn/index.php/directory-of-missions-abroad/item/523-consulate-general-of-brunei-darussalam-in-kuching-sarawak-malaysia |archive-date=6 June 2014 |url-status=dead }} China,{{cite web |url=http://www.fmprc.gov.cn/mfa_eng/wjb_663304/zwjg_665342/2498_665360/2499_665362/t14541.shtml |title=Chinese Consulate-General in Kuching (Malaysia) |publisher=Ministry of Foreign Affairs, China |access-date=3 June 2014}} Denmark,{{cite web |url=http://malaysia.um.dk/en/travel-and-residence/danish-consulates/ |title=Danish Consulates |publisher=Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Denmark |access-date=3 June 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140606223459/http://malaysia.um.dk/en/travel-and-residence/danish-consulates/ |archive-date=6 June 2014}} France,{{cite web |url=http://www.ambafrance-my.org/Consulate |title=Consulate |publisher=Embassy of France in Kuala Lumpur |access-date=3 June 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140606210718/http://www.ambafrance-my.org/Consulate |archive-date=6 June 2014 |url-status=dead }} Indonesia,{{cite web |url=http://www.kjrikuching.com/ |title=Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia, Kuching |publisher=Consulate General of Indonesia, Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia |access-date=4 June 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140605114651/http://www.kjrikuching.com/ |archive-date=5 June 2014 |url-status=dead }} Poland{{cite web |url=http://eeas.europa.eu/delegations/malaysia/documents/eu_travel/hon_consulates_in_malaysia_en.pdf |title=Honorary Consulates in Malaysia |publisher=European External Action Service |access-date=2 June 2013}} and the United Kingdom.{{cite web |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/priority/supporting-british-nationals-in-malaysia |title=Supporting British nationals in Malaysia |quote=Working with local partners and honorary representatives in Penang, Langkawi, Kota Kinabalu and Kuching to assist British nationals |publisher=Government of the United Kingdom |access-date=4 June 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714210143/https://www.gov.uk/government/priority/supporting-british-nationals-in-malaysia |archive-date=14 July 2014}}

Kuching currently has twelve sister cities:

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}

• {{flagicon|PRC}} Dali, China.{{cite news |url=http://www.theborneopost.com/2015/05/07/dbku-and-bai-ethnic-group-sign-letter-of-intent/ |title=DBKU and Bai ethnic group sign letter of intent |newspaper=The Borneo Post |date=7 May 2015 |access-date=8 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150508150657/http://www.theborneopost.com/2015/05/07/dbku-and-bai-ethnic-group-sign-letter-of-intent/ |archive-date=8 May 2015 |url-status=dead}}
• {{flagicon|PRC}} Kunming, China.{{cite web |url=http://en.kunming.cn/index/content/2012-04/20/content_2923506.htm |title=Kunming and Kuching build sister city relations |author=InKunming |publisher=en.kunming.cn |date=20 April 2012 |access-date=9 August 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140604113701/http://en.kunming.cn/index/content/2012-04/20/content_2923506.htm |archive-date=4 June 2014 |url-status=dead}}
• {{flagicon|PRC}} Xiamen, China.{{cite web |url=http://www.richmondreview.com/news/149095385.html |title=Richmond to become 16th sister of Xiamen |quote=Richmond will be Xiamen's first Canadian sister city and fourth in North America, where Xiamen's other friends are Baltimore, Md., Sarasota, Fla. and Guadalajara, Mexico. Its other sister cities are Cardiff, Wales; Sasebo, Japan; Cebu, Philippines; Wellington, New Zealand; Penang, Malaysia; Marathon, Greece; Sunshine Coast, Australia; Kaunas, Lithuania; Zoetermeer, Netherlands; Kuching, Malaysia; Surabaya, Indonesia; and Mokpo, South Korea. |author=Matthew Hoekstra |publisher=Richmond Review |date=26 April 2012 |access-date=4 June 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140604113916/http://www.richmondreview.com/news/149095385.html |archive-date=4 June 2014 |url-status=dead}}
• {{flagicon|PRC}} Zhenjiang, China.{{cite news |url=http://www.nst.com.my/nation/general/cities-abroad-keen-to-forge-ties-with-kuching-1.118862 |title=Cities abroad keen to forge ties with Kuching |newspaper=New Straits Times |date=2 August 2012 |access-date=4 June 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140604114202/http://www.nst.com.my/nation/general/cities-abroad-keen-to-forge-ties-with-kuching-1.118862 |archive-date=4 June 2014 |url-status=dead}}
• {{flagicon|IDN}} Bandung, Indonesia.{{cite web |url=https://bandungkita.id/2019/09/21/sarawak-malaysia-jajaki-kerjasama-sister-city-dengan-kota-bandung/ |title=Sarawak Malaysia Jajaki Kerjasama Sister City dengan Kota Bandung |trans-title=Sarawak Malaysia Establish Sister City Co-operation with Bandung City |author=M Zezen Zainal M |language=id |publisher=Bandung Kita |date=21 September 2019 |access-date=26 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190926030359/https://bandungkita.id/2019/09/21/sarawak-malaysia-jajaki-kerjasama-sister-city-dengan-kota-bandung/ |archive-date=26 September 2019 |url-status=dead}}{{cite web |url=http://www.galamedianews.com/bandung-raya/234505/sarawak-malaysia-ajak-kota-bandung-jadi-sister-city.html |title=Sarawak Malaysia Ajak Kota Bandung Jadi Sister City |trans-title=Sarawak Malaysia Invites Bandung City To Become Sister City |author=Brilliant Awal |language=id |publisher=Gala Media News |date=21 September 2019 |access-date=26 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190926030659/http://www.galamedianews.com/bandung-raya/234505/sarawak-malaysia-ajak-kota-bandung-jadi-sister-city.html |archive-date=26 September 2019 |url-status=dead}}
• {{flagicon|IDN}} Pontianak, Indonesia.{{cite web |url=https://www.thestar.com.my/news/community/2011/08/27/kuching-bags-one-of-only-two-coveted-tourist-city-award-in-asia |title=Kuching bags one of only two coveted 'Tourist City Award' in Asia |author=Yu Ji |work=The Star |date=27 August 2011 |access-date=1 July 2015}}
• {{flagicon|IDN}} Singkawang, Indonesia.{{cite web |url=https://en.antaranews.com/news/128632/sarawak-chambers-explore-cooperation-with-singkawang |title=Sarawak Chambers explore cooperation with Singkawang |author1=Rendra Oxtora |author2=Aria Cindyara |author3=Fardah Assegaf |publisher=Antara |date=9 July 2019 |access-date=26 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190926025705/https://en.antaranews.com/news/128632/sarawak-chambers-explore-cooperation-with-singkawang |archive-date=26 September 2019 |url-status=dead}}
• {{flagicon|MAS}} Johor Bahru, Malaysia.
• {{flagicon|SAU}} Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
• {{flagicon|USA}} Nashville, United States
• {{flagicon|CAN}} Ottawa, Canada
• {{flagicon|KOR}} Guro, South Korea.{{cite news |url=http://www.theborneopost.com/2012/08/30/mbks-establishes-relationship-with-korean-city/ |title=MBKS establishes relationship with Korean city |author=Eve Sonary Heng |newspaper=The Borneo Post |date=30 August 2012 |access-date=4 June 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140604114628/http://www.theborneopost.com/2012/08/30/mbks-establishes-relationship-with-korean-city/ |archive-date=4 June 2014 |url-status=dead}}

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{{Portal|Malaysia}}

• Tua Pek Kong Temple, Kuching
• Archdiocese of Kuching
• Kuching Heroes' Cemetery
• List of roads in Kuching

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• {{cite report |last=Fleming |first=Tom |date=May 2021 |title=Malaysia: Kuching Sarawak |url=https://www.britishcouncil.my/sites/default/files/malaysia_cultural_cities_profile_kuching_sarawak.pdf |series=Cultural Cities Profile East Asia |location=Kuala Lumpur |publisher=British Council Malaysia |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240406065608/https://www.britishcouncil.my/sites/default/files/malaysia_cultural_cities_profile_kuching_sarawak.pdf |archive-date=6 April 2024 |access-date=8 April 2025}}

{{refend}}

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{{Sarawak}}

{{Cities in Malaysia}}

{{Most populous cities in Malaysia}}

{{Authority control}}

{{good article}}

Category:Populated places in Sarawak

Category:Populated places established in 1827

Category:1827 establishments in Asia

Category:State capitals in Malaysia