CHINA LOOKING IN KUCHING (FRIENDSHIP PARK)

            Before this, Sarawak known as The Land of Hornbill or other name is North Borneo. Here, you will discover many types’ cultures, races, attractions, flora and fauna, and historical places. There is one best attraction in Sarawak called Friendship Park.

             Friendship Park also known as Taman Sahabat. The China looking place very impressed people who come to visit there. The park have a giant monument of Laksamana Cheng Ho that come from China to southeast asia with his ship around 1403-1433.  

A little bit of history foe Laksamana Zheng He.

           Zheng Ho is a Chinese sailor and explorer under the dynasty of Ming. The emperor of Yong Le was chose him to lead the first explorer from the 7 explorer around 1405-1433. Cheng Ho was started his first explorer around 1405 which is more earlier than the west explorer, Christopher Columbus. During the shipping, there are 300 regular ship and 60 big ship with 28,000 crew were joined. The last explorer of Zheng He was around 1431-1433 which is the reign of emperor Zhu Zhanji. Cheng Ho completed his explored for 23 years.

           According to Malays history, Laksamana Cheng Ho accompany Princess Hang Li Po with 500 Dayang to married Sultan Melaka, Sultan Mansor Syah. Finaly, they stayed at China hill, Melacca. The mix marriage from the society were introduced the ancestry of “baba and Nyonya” until present. Taman Sahabat was build because they are a friendship between Malaysia and Republic of China. China also contribute to build this park. Taman Sahabat was inaugurated by the Minister of Sarawak in 18 may 2006. This unique park is the symbol of friendship between Kuching and Kunming city of China

 

            To visit the Friendship Park only takes about only 20 minute from Kuching Waterfront.  It is Located at Jalan Song nearby Tabuan Height Kuching. At waterfront, you just take a way to Plaza Merdeka. From there, you will reach at the traffic light nearby Plaza Merdeka. You just go straight along the way until you reach traffic lights at the 3^rd Miles. Then you turn left and go straight along the way. Just keep on go straight till you see last traffic lights at Jalan Song where ther is a modern looking metallic arch and an adjoining carpark. At the traffic light, turn right and you will see Friendship Park. Go to the main entrance at the Friendship, you will see the gateway standing on four columns and at the top has two tiered roof has an impressive Chinese architecture. That is the main entrance and you can start your sightseeing at the Friendship Park.

            Friendship Park is a place you can see many types of statues, lake, fishes, historical statue and a big Admiral Cheng Ho’s statues. Besides this, you also can see white stone lions guard the entrance.  It’s just like a gateway into a town in China. There is a entrance to the Tea Pavillion with stall selling cakes, etc. There is indoor section overlooking the lake. The opening times are from 3pm to 11pm but it is closed on Wednesday. There is also has a cat  that represents  Kuching and a panda that represents China. Here, you also can jog, cycling, relaxing and hangout through the reddish Zig-Zag Bridge. A zig-zag bridge leads from the Tea Pavilion over the lake to the Kumming Pavilion. At the center of his bridge is a Wishing Well, there you can throw in some coins and wish for wealth, a good health, marriage, better results, and etc.

Prepared by Afdhol, Hapizan, Warren, Samat