Malacca Ancient City is one of the oldest ancient cities in Malaysia.
The ancient city of Malacca is one of the oldest ancient cities in Malaysia. It was built in 1403 and was once the capital of the Malacca Kingdom. It is located on the north bank of the Strait of Malacca, with the Malacca River running through the city. Due to its superior geographical location and rich resources, the city was colonized by Portugal, the Netherlands and Britain in history.
History and Culture
The ancient city of Malacca has witnessed the exchange and integration of Eastern and Western cultures. There are both traditional Malay cultural buildings, such as the Sultan's Palace, and architectural relics from the Portuguese and Dutch periods, such as the Porta de Santiago, St. Paul's Church and the Dutch Red House. In addition, since Zheng He stopped at Malacca five times during his seven voyages to the West, many Chinese cultural elements are still preserved here, such as Sam Po Hill, Sam Po Pavilion and Zheng He Cultural Center.
Tourist attractions
1. Porta de Santiago: This is Malacca’s landmark building, built by the Portuguese in 1511 and is the symbol of the ancient city.
2. Dutch Red House: A representative building from the Dutch colonial period, now the city hall.
3. St. Paul's Church: Founded by the Portuguese Governor in 1511, it is one of the oldest churches built by Europeans in Southeast Asia.
4. Sanbao Mountain: Named in memory of Zheng He, it is an important symbol of Chinese culture.
5. Jonker Street: This is where the Chinese gather, with many antique shops, handicraft shops and traditional food.
Cultural characteristics
The residents of Malacca include Malays, Chinese, Indians, descendants of Portuguese, etc., most of whom are fluent in multiple languages. The architectural style here combines various cultural elements such as Malay, Chinese, Dutch, and Portuguese. The streets in the city are winding and narrow, and the exterior walls of the buildings often have exquisite tiles and Chinese-style decorations.
In 2008, the ancient city of Malacca was listed as a World Cultural Heritage along with George Town in Penang.