The CityGuide was updated: 20 November 2024
Kota Kinabalu, affectionately known as KK in Malaysia, is a fascinating and richly ‘blessed’ city. Situated on the shores of the South China Sea, it is flanked by lush tropical islands and clear blue waters on one side, and Mount Kinabalu on the other. The city is renowned for some of the finest sunsets in the world.
Originally named Jesselton, the city was flattened during World War II but has risen from the ashes to become a thriving, vibrant, and colourful city. While much of Kota Kinabalu is relatively new, legacies of its Chinese trading history and colonial past are scattered throughout, alongside water villages and an ever-expanding array of commercial and residential developments.