Interpretive Summary (BUKIT BINTANG)

BUKIT BINTANG

Did you know Bukit Bintang stylised as Bintang Walk or Starhill. As Kuala Lumpur’s busiest shopping and entertainment district, Bukit Bintang offers everything from indoor theme parks and lively street performances to quaint cafes and award-winning restaurants. It’s also home to massive shopping malls that are within walking distance from one another. The history begin when Tong Shin Road in Bukit Bintang was the focal point of the Malaysia’s deadly May 13 race riots. Back in the late 1980s, corporate magnate Tan Sri Yeoh Tiong Lay proposed a rejuvenated retail cluster in Kuala Lumpur. He started retail developments in this area through a conglomerate YTL Corporation and branded the area as Bintang Walk. The district has since undergone a transformation to become one of the hippest destinations in the city, though the decentralization of malls in Kuala Lumpur of late has seen more sophisticated malls sprouting around the fringes of the city proper at an unprecedented rate. The accommodation options in Bukit Bintang range from stylish 5-star hotels to cosy backpacker inns. There’s also plenty of public transportation to take you beyond the city centre. Featuring some of our favourite restaurants, attractions, nighlife spots, and shopping venues.

Bukit Bintang is one of the city’s shopping districts. Many of the city’s major retail malls are located in this area including Berjaya Times Square, Fahrenheit 88, Low Yat Plaza, Starhill Gallery, Sungei Wang Plaza, Lot 10, and Pavilion Kuala Lumpur well-known stores from popular international brands. List of shopping malls In Bukit Bintang, Berjaya Times Square is currently the 13^th biggest shopping mall in the world. Although, it was initially aimed at the upper-echelon of society, it is currently positioned as a middle-class shopping mall offering youth fashion targeted at the younger crowds. For entertainment, it has the largest indoor theme park in Malaysia located on the 5^th and 7^th floors of the building, it also offers 3D theatre located on the top floor of the retail podium. Next, we go to another shopping mall which is Starhill Gallery. It is probably the ritziest and most luxurious mall in the whole of Kuala Lumpur, alongside Suria KLCC. A Louis Vuitton flagship outlet flank houses whether Christian Dior, Kenzo, and Valentino can be found here. There are many luxury watch boutiques like Rolex, Bedat & Co, Hublot, Audemars Piguet and Jaeger-Le Coultre can be found in this shopping mall. Then we go to the most popular shopping mall with international brands which also known as shopping paradise is Pavilion Kuala Lumpur. It is built in late 2007. It is targeted at the middle-upper segment of society. It offers a diverse tenant mix which makes it one of the more popular malls in KL. A plethora of luxury boutiques ranging from Hermes, Celine, Ermenegildo Zegna, Diane Von Furstenberg to Italian fashion doyens like Furla, Gucci, Miu Miu, Fendi and Prada are also located there. Fahrenheit 88 renamed and refurbished, opened in September 2010, the area previously housed the deteriorating KL Plaza. This shopping mall caters largerly to homegrown, middle-priced retailers despite anchored by Japanese retailer Uniqlo. Lot 10 was opened in 1989, it was considered the Harrods equivalent of Malaysia housing designer outlets like Aigner and Versace. Existing anchor Isetan has undergone a facelift. The entrance is flanked by Zara as well as H&M, popular Swedish multinational retail-clothing outlet. Low Yat Plaza is the ultimate one-stop centre for KL when shopping for electronics gadgets. Sungei Wang Plaza despite opening in 1977 and being the oldest mall in the area, it remains a popular destinations for gamers and thrifty shoppers. The plaza features low-cost items, service businesses, Giant grocery store and is anchored by Parkson.

Let’s admit it, we just can’t get enough of delightful dishes. But with many shops and restaurants that offer yummy food, it’s hard to choose which one can really make our taste buds happy. So, there is some places in Bukit Bintang where you can savor dishes that are oozing with deliciousness. Changkat Bukit Bintang is located near to Bintang Walk and Alor Street. Fine dining joints line the street. It boasts pre-war, colonial buildings which have been refurbished into upmarket restaurants and pubs, serving up western dining. Changkat Bukit Bintang is also home to one of Kuala Lumpur ‘s hippest and happening party venues. Alor Street is an entire street dedicated to cheap hawker food of mainly local Chinese cuisines. Located within walking proximity of Bukit Bintang, it is popular among the locals of offering food served in a traditional open-air atmosphere, with chairs and tables dotting the curbs and road sides. This is a place burgeoning with activity both day and night. The food served in local hawker stalls is generally cleaner than their counterparts in Malaysia’s lee-developed neighbouring countries. For local and foreign Muslim, most of the stalls are non-halal served pork, frog and beer. The street is also home to brothels and massage parlors.

Public transport in Bukit Bintang is Bukit Bintang Monorail Station. It is located at the intersection of Sultan Ismail Road and Bukit Bintang Road. MR5 Imbi Monorail Station which is connected by a pedestrian bridge to Berjaya Times Square. The MR7 Raja Chulan Monorail Station is connected to Pavilion Kuala Lumpur and an elevated pedestrian walkway links it to Suria KLCC. The underground Bukit Bintang MRT Station, part of the Sungai Buloh-Kajang MRT line, opened on 17 July 2017.Bukit Bintang East and Bukit Bintang West which were later combined into one, and made into a connecting station with the eponymous Monorail Station. The MRT Station features 5 exits, serving the nearby shopping malls.

Conclusion, it is safe to say that Bukit Bintang is a place where people from all walks of life blend in together, although not necessarily directly. It is usually rare to see the poor and the rich being at the same place at the same time. However, Bukit Bintang is the best place to meet the Malaysia people of all races, beliefs and economic stratums. This only adds colour and flavor to Bukit Bintang, which has already gained a reputation for being one of the most vibrant and lively places in the KL city centre to visit.