If you want to holiday overseas, why not travel to Sarawak? It’s across the sea but is still within Malaysia and has lots of hidden gems waiting for you to discover. Sarawak is not limited to just the cats statue and Miri. Here are 5 underrated Sarawak tourist attractions that you must explore!
Discover Sarawak (Sibu in Particular) in the big picture at the Sibu Heritage Centre. Formerly a Sibu Municipal Council building, this underrated attraction is now a gallery and museum which houses collections from all races in Sibu including Rejang, Melanau and other Borneo ethnic groups. The collections include ?photographs, ?️old maps, antiques, artefacts and other cultural exhibits.
In addition to those collections are exhibits on early Chinese migrants and thousand years old Chinese porcelain and clay vases donated by the Lim Poh Chiang family. This hidden gem is a must-visit if you are interested in learning the history of Sibu.
Those who want to get some souvenirs should definitely stop by here. The Sibu Heritage Centre has a variety of souvenirs and traditional handicrafts at an affordable price range. You’ll be spoiled by choices here.
Entrance Fee
Free
⏰Hours: 9am - 3pm (Weekend & Public Holidays Closed/Appointment Basis Only)
📍Address: 18 2, Jalan Central, Pekan Sibu, 96000 Sibu, Sarawak
Whether you are a fan of Call the Midwife, an aspiring ?⚕️doctor or simply someone who is curious about the ?medical scene from the 20th century, Lau King Howe Hospital Memorial Museum is the only medical museum in Malaysia! Wow! The construction of the Lau King Howe Hospital began in 1931 to accommodate the growing population of Sibu. Unfortunately, Mr Lau passed away before the completion of the hospital in 1936?.
The Lau King Howe Hospital was demolished in 1994 after seeing a drop in patients visiting due to the newly opened Sibu Hospital. The site was then turned into a commercial lot, and a museum was built at the former entrance of the ?Hospital. This museum was then called the Lau King Howe Hospital Memorial Museum and officially opened to the public on 3 August 1996.
There are many ?old medical equipment and machines on display such as surgical tools, dental chairs, a neonatal incubator and many more. Also among the exhibits are old nurse uniforms and information on the history and evolution of the medical system in Sibu and the Lau King Howe Hospital. It is a very informative museum packed with information on medical history from 1936 to 1994.
Entrance Fee
Free
⏰Hours: 9am - 5pm (Mon Closed)
📍Address: Jalan Lau King Howe, 96000 Sibu, Sarawak
Also known as the Jade Dragon Temple, this temple complex is believed to be the largest in Malaysia and Southeast Asia. Upon arrival at the entrance, you might mistakenly think that you’ve just teleported to China! Built in 2004, The Yu Lung San Tian En Temple was the brainchild of Hii Siew Onn, who was 70 years old at that time. This temple was built using materials imported from China by Chinese nationals and native Ibans.
This temple is unique because it combines features and practices of 3 teachings which are Buddhism, Confucianism and Taoism, all under one roof. Some of the attractions in this temple include a Chinese zodiac garden, a fish pond with a pavilion, a 2-storey pagoda with intricate carving, a lodging house and a restaurant.
This is a perfect place to conduct Chinese aesthetic photoshoots, especially while wearing ?traditional Chinese wear like Hanfu or Cheongsam. While this temple is not a secret and is pretty popular, West Malaysians who have never visited Sarawak before might find this majestic temple, otherworldly.
Entrance Fee
Free
⏰Hours: 7:30am - 5pm
📍Address: Jalan Sibu - Bintulu, 96000 Sibu, Sarawak
In Sibu, there is a place that still makes Foochow mee sua or longevity noodles the traditional way. For more than 30 years, Mr Ting Cheng Sieng has been making mee sua using manual labour with his pair of skilled hands. He only makes 25 to 30kg of mee sua noodles per day. If it ?️rains on that day, then no mee sua.
The mee sua-making process is in no way easy, especially the final step before the mee sua is left to dry. It involves using proper techniques and careful handling of pulling and yanking. After all the pulling, the noodles can stretch 3 to 4 metres long. It will then be left to dry under the mercy of the weather.
Visitors who come this underrated attraction in Sarawak can have hands-on experience making the mee sua. Mr Ting and his wife will guide you through the processes. Come in the morning so that you can witness the noodle-making process from dough mixing and kneading all the way to the noodle pulling and ?sun drying. You can ?contact Mr Ting Cheng Sieng at 012-8531 701 to book an appointment.
⏰Hours: 7:30am - 5pm
📍Address:6 ½ miles, Jalan Oya, 96000 Sibu, Sarawak
Sarawak is rich in ?nature, and it would be a waste not to enjoy it. At Merarap Hot Spring Lodge you can enjoy the pristine jungle while relaxing in the ♨️hot spring. This underrated attraction has a beautiful rustic surrounding with water sprouting from the middle of the pool like a geyser!
The water for the hot spring is channelled from a nearby ⛰️mountain water source. There are 4 different pools to accommodate guests with different temperature preferences and tolerance.
The trail to this hidden gem is filled with ?gravel, making it very hard to manoeuvre. It is advisable to come here in a ?4 x 4 or 4WD. In case you decide to stay the ?night, there is lodging too!
📍Address: KM66, Merarap Hotspring, Lawas, Sarawak.
If you are looking for an alternative holiday destination within Malaysia, come to Sarawak! These 5 underrated Sarawak tourist attractions are still waiting for you to explore. You’ll have a blast exploring them.
