Malaysia, great cultural diversity

City at dusk, with Petronas Twin Towers, all 88 stories of them, rising behind

High-rise ambitions in a colourful whirl of cultural diversity.

Kuala Lumpur is an Asian tiger that roars: in almost 150 years, it has grown from nothing to a modern, bustling city. Take in its high-flying triumphs from the viewing deck of one of the world's tallest buildings, then dive down to explore its more traditional culture in the back lanes of Chinatown.

It's a modern Asian city of gleaming skyscrapers, but it retains much of the local colour that has been wiped out in other Asian boom-cities such as Singapore. It has plenty of colonial buildings in its centre, a vibrant Chinatown with street vendors and night markets, and a bustling Little India.

Sizzling satays over hot coals in Jalan Alor



All the excitement of a big city Light Rail system



Your chance to see one Malaysian martial arts movie after another



Outdoor fast food under bobbing Chinese lanterns



View of the Masjid Jamek, or Friday Mosque



Blend of Moorish and Victorian: Sultan Abdul Samad building at night



Hindu shrine in Batu Caves, site of annual body-piercing festival



City went through unprecedented building boom in 1990s



View from skybridge of Petronas Twin Towers, world's tallest building