109-737: Kepayan is a sub-district, or a neighbourhood, within the city of Kota Kinabalu in Sabah , Malaysia . It is located within Kota Kinabalu city district, and borders with the district of Penampang (which certain parts of this neighbourhood are jurisdictionally located under the Penampang District Council since most of it is administered by the Kota Kinabalu City Hall). The Kota Kinabalu International Airport , Sabah Contingent Police Headquarters as well as
218-993: A Federal Court . Another court for the Sharia law were also located in the area of Sembulan. The Sabah Police Contingent Headquarters is located in Kepayan. There are two district headquarters in the city, the Kota Kinabalu District police headquarters located in Karamunsing , and the Penampang District headquarters. Both also operate as police stations. Other police stations are found in KKIA, Tanjung Aru , Putatan , and Menggatal . Police substations (Pondok Polis) are found in Luyang , Likas , Telipok and Babagon. The city's traffic police headquarters
327-591: A naval base for the Royal Malaysian Navy and an oil depot in addition to handling containerised cargo. In 2004, Kota Kinabalu Port handled about 3.6 million tonnes of freight cargo, the third highest in the state after Sandakan Port and Tawau Port. However, it handles the highest number of containers in the state, with 153,793 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU) of containers handled in 2006. Sepanggar Bay Port will have an annual capacity of 200,000 TEU when its container terminal
436-616: A sacred place believed that the act had angered the mountain spirits. Four of the group were convicted on charges of public indecency, and sentenced to three days in jail and a fine of 5,000 ringgit . Following the incident, some of the tourists and their families expressed their apologies to all involved parties, and the government of the United Kingdom began to review its travel advice for Malaysia. Climbers must be accompanied by accredited guides at all times due to national park regulations. There are two main starting points for
545-512: A Land Commissioner, identified a 30 acres (12 ha) site opposite Gaya Island as a replacement for Gantian Bay. The replacement settlement site was a fishing village called Api-Api (see Original names above). The site was chosen due to its proximity to the North Borneo Railway and its natural port that provided good anchorage, which was up to 24 feet deep. By the end of 1899, construction had started on shoplots ,
654-430: A closed canopy 40 meters tall, along with an understory stratum of lower trees, and an emergent stratum of taller trees which extend above the canopy. Montane rain forest , also known as cloud forest, extends from approximately 1400 metres elevation up to 2900 metres. Montane forest typically has a closed canopy with single stratum, and the canopy height generally decreases with elevation. Typical trees include species of
763-506: A distinct Sabahan creole . However, as about 20% of Kota Kinabalu residents are of Chinese descent, Chinese is also widely spoken. Among the Chinese, the most commonly spoken varieties are Huiyang Hakka (Simplified Chinese: 惠阳客家话; Traditional Chinese: 惠陽客家話) and Mandarin . Additionally, most Chinese can speak Cantonese , although with widely varying levels of fluency. Almost all residents are also able to speak English, especially
872-643: A group called Kinabalu Guerrillas in the Jesselton Revolt consisting of local inhabitants. Japanese forces quelled the rebellion after its leader, Albert Kwok , was arrested and executed in 1944. At the later stages of the war, what remained of the town was destroyed again by Allied bombings day and night for over six months as part of the Borneo Campaign in 1945, leaving only three buildings standing. The war in North Borneo ended with
981-547: A narrow flatland between the Crocker Range to the east and the South China Sea to the west. There are six islands off the coast of the city. The largest is Gaya Island , the site of the first British settlement. Approximately 8,000 people live there. The smaller islands, mainly uninhabited, are named Sapi Island, Manukan Island , Sulug Island, Mamutik Island and Sepanggar Island to the north. Sepanggar island
1090-504: A pier and government buildings. This new administrative centre was renamed Jesselton after Sir Charles Jessel , who was the then Vice-Chairman of BNBC. Eventually, Jesselton became a major trading post of North Borneo, dealing in rubber, rattan , honey , and wax. The North Borneo Railway was used to transport goods to the Jesselton harbour. The Malay and Bajau uprisings during those times were not uncommon, and BNBC worked to quell
1199-406: A reference, and/or with a substantial contribution to the development of geological sciences through history.' The climate of the mountain varies from humid tropical at its base to alpine at its summit. The temperature at the summit of Mount Kinabalu usually stands from −4 to 8 °C (25 to 46 °F) from December to January, and 3 to 12 °C (37 to 54 °F) from June to September. Due to
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#17327795298051308-555: A referral hospital for children and women. Hospital Mesra Bukit Padang (Bukit Padang Mental Hospital), which opened in 1971, provides psychiatric services for the entire state. KPJ Specialist Hospital is the largest private hospital with 245 beds. In addition, five other large private health facilities are Gleneagles Kota Kinabalu with 200 beds, Jesselton Medical Centre (JMC) with 73 beds, Damai Specialist Centre (DMC) with 56 beds and Rafflesia Medical Centre (RMC) with 33 beds. There are many government or state schools in and around
1417-430: A significant population of Visayan origin, as well as smaller groups from northern Philippines . In addition to Filipinos, the city is also home to sizeable residence of Indonesian descent . These groups, primarily of Bugis , Banjarese , Torajans and Javanese ancestry, have established visible presence in the city. There is a small population of Indians , Pakistanis , Timorese and Eurasians scattered around
1526-446: A single day trip, or hikers may (usually) stay one night at Laban Rata Resthouse at 3,270 m (10,730 ft) to complete the climb in 2 days, finishing the ascent and descending on the second day. The majority of climbers begin the ascent on day one of a two-day hike from Timpohon gate at 1,866 m (6,122 ft), reaching this location either by minibus or by walking, and then walk to Laban Rata. Most people accomplish this part of
1635-546: Is a Malay word meaning 'Fire'. Wendy Law Suart wrote in her book on North Borneo , The Lingering Eye , "there is in the Sabah State Museum a Dutch map of Borneo and the Celebes dated 1657 in which the settlement where Jesselton was to stand is clearly labelled Api Api. It may have some connection with the seaside tree with breathing roots that bears the same name". There are claims, however, that Kota Kinabalu
1744-627: Is a mixture of many different races and ethnicities . Non-Malaysian citizens form the largest group in the city with 110,556 people followed by Chinese (93,429), Bajau (72,931), Kadazan-Dusun (69,993), other Bumiputras (59,107), Malay (35,835), Murut (2,518), Indian (2,207) and others (5,482). The Chinese are mostly Hakkas and reside mainly in the Luyang area as well as in Likas and Damai neighbourhoods with significant populations in other suburbs such as Manggatal, Inanam and Telipok. There
1853-536: Is a name for the mountain in the Dusun language . There is also a source claiming that the term originated from Ki Nabalu , Ki meaning "have" or "exist", and Nabalu meaning "spirit of the dead". The word kota comes from Malay word kota which in turn comes from the Sanskrit word कोट्ट (kota) which means fort, fortress, castle, fortified house, fortification, works, city, town, or place encircled by walls. It
1962-533: Is a very young mountain as the granodiorite cooled and hardened only about 10 million years ago. The present landform is considered to be a mid- Pliocene peneplain, arched and deeply dissected, through which the Kinabalu granodiorite body has risen in isostatic adjustment. It is still pushing up at the rate of 5 mm (0.20 in) per annum. During the Pleistocene Epoch of about 100,000 years ago,
2071-474: Is also a sizeable Cantonese-speaking population and smaller communities of Hokkien and Fuzhounese -speaking Chinese scattered throughout all areas of the city. Most of the Fuzhounese speakers in particular emigrated to Sabah from the neighbouring Malaysian state of Sarawak. Kota Kinabalu is home to a diverse range of indigenous groups. The Kadazans , who predominantly come from Penampang and Papar, and
2180-435: Is also used formally in a few other Malaysian towns and cities, for example, Kota Bharu , Kota Tinggi , and Kota Kemuning . It can also be used informally to refer to any towns or cities. Hence, a direct translation of the name Kota Kinabalu into English would be "City of Kinabalu" or "Kinabalu City". Besides Jesselton, there are also other older names for Kota Kinabalu. The most popular is Api-Api , or simply Api , which
2289-513: Is completed. The Kota Kinabalu Ferry Service operates from a passenger ferry terminal located at Jesselton Point, providing ferry and motorboat services to nearby islands. There are also regular scheduled ferry services to Labuan . The Kota Kinabalu Court Complex is located along Kebajikan Road. It contains three High Courts , six Magistrates' courts , six Sessions Courts including the Child Sexual Offence Court and
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#17327795298052398-452: Is defined within the borders of what is the district , formerly the municipality, of Kota Kinabalu. With an area of 351 square kilometres, it is the smallest but the most populous district in Sabah. It encompasses Tanjung Aru and Kepayan in the south, up to Telipok and Sepanggar in the north. The urban expanse of the city however extends into the district of Penampang on the south of
2507-488: Is essentially a massive pluton formed from granodiorite which is intrusive into sedimentary and ultrabasic rocks , and forms the central part, or core, of the Kinabalu massif. The granodiorite is intrusive into strongly folded strata, probably of Eocene to Miocene age, and associated ultrabasic and basic igneous rocks . It was pushed up from the Earth's crust as molten rock millions of years ago. In geological terms, it
2616-475: Is growing steadily and the urban sprawl extends to the towns of Inanam , Menggatal , Sepanggar , Telipok and south of the district border to Penampang , Putatan , and Lok Kawi . Kota Kinabalu is generally isolated from the rest of the country; it is located about 1,624 kilometres (1,009 mi) from Kuala Lumpur in Peninsular Malaysia and 804 kilometres (500 mi) from Kuching in
2725-556: Is known as the Western Line and managed by the Sabah State Railway , providing daily services for commuters, travellers, as well as for cargo transportation. A separate company operates the leisure tour also called the North Borneo Railway , which caters mainly for tourists. This antique steam train service only running on Saturday and Wednesday mornings from Tanjung Aru station to Kinarut station before returning to
2834-401: Is largely inhabited by Kadazans and Bruneian Malays. The Brunei Malays and Bajau are Muslims . The Kadazan-Dusuns, Muruts, Rungus and Lundayeh/Lun Bawang mainly practice Folk forms of Christianity, Islam, or Animism, whilst the Chinese are mainly Buddhists , Taoist or Christians. There are numerous Roman Catholic, Basel (Lutheran), Anglican, Evangelical, and Methodist churches throughout
2943-492: Is located along Lorong Dewan near Gaya Street, and the marine police headquarters is located near the city ferry terminal along Tun Razak Road . Kota Kinabalu Central Prison is located in Kepayan . There are three public hospitals , six publics health clinic , two child and mother health clinics, six village clinics, one mobile clinic and six 1Malaysia clinics in Kota Kinabalu. Queen Elizabeth General Hospital , which
3052-527: Is located along Penampang Road and named after Queen Elizabeth II , is the largest public hospital in the state with 589 beds. Built in 1957, it is the most important healthcare centre in the city and one of three general hospitals in Sabah. Queen Elizabeth Hospital II was established then after the acquisition of the former building of Sabah Medical Centre (SMC) in 2009. The second main government hospital are mainly used for heart centre. Hospital Wanita dan Kanak-kanak (Sabah Women and Children Hospital) serves as
3161-571: Is located north of the National Park opposite Sepanggar Bay . Flat land is at a premium in the city centre, and there is a strict limit to the height of buildings: the airport is 7 km (4 mi) away, and the city is directly in the flight path. Most of the Central Business District (CBD) today is built on land reclaimed from the sea. The original local plant life has largely disappeared, but several hills within
3270-473: Is one of the main gateways into Sabah and East Malaysia. In addition to domestic flights within Sabah and Malaysia, KKIA is also serviced by international flights to several cities in southeast and northeast Asia, as well as Perth in Australia. Kota Kinabalu has two ports: Kota Kinabalu Port and Sepanggar Bay Container Port (SBCP). Kota Kinabalu Port mainly handles loose/bulk cargo, while SBCP operates as
3379-407: Is some 6 m (20 ft) less than the previously thought and hitherto published figure of 4,101 m (13,455 ft). The mountain and its surroundings are among the most important biological sites in the world, with between 5,000 and 6,000 species of plants, 326 species of birds, and more than 100 mammalian species identified. Among this rich collection of wildlife are famous species such as
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3488-563: Is the state capital of Sabah , Malaysia . It is also the capital of the Kota Kinabalu District as well as the West Coast Division of Sabah. The city is located on the northwest coast of Borneo facing the South China Sea . The Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park lies to its west and Mount Kinabalu , which gave the city its name, is located to its east. Kota Kinabalu has a population of 452,058 according to
3597-614: The British North Borneo Company . It was built for the main purpose of transporting commodities from the Interior Division to the port in Jesselton (now Kota Kinabalu) during the period of British rule. The railway line connects Tanjung Aru in Kota Kinabalu to Tenom and several other towns in between, and it is the only railway system operating in East Malaysia . Today, the railway line
3706-597: The Dusuns , from the west coast and the interior of Sabah, are among the largest groups. The Bajaus , originally from Tuaran and Kota Belud, also have a significant presence in the city, along with other Bajau communities from various coastal regions of Sabah. The Malay population in Kota Kinabalu is primarily descended from Bruneian Malays , with smaller communities from the Malay Peninsula and Sarawak. Additionally, there are several other indigenous groups, including
3815-606: The Federation of Malaya formed the Federation of Malaysia in 1963, it became known as Sabah, and Jesselton remained its capital. On 22 December 1967, the State Legislative Assembly under Chief Minister Mustapha Harun passed a bill renaming Jesselton as Kota Kinabalu. The city was upgraded to city status on 2 February 2000. Being the capital city of Sabah, Kota Kinabalu plays an important role in
3924-644: The Kota Kinabalu City Hall (Dewan Bandaraya Kota Kinabalu). The current mayor of Kota Kinabalu is Sabin Samitah, who became the latest mayor after taking over the post from Noorliza Awang Alip on 1 January 2024. Iliyas in turn became the second mayor of the city after taking over from Abdul Ghani Rashid in 2006. The city obtained city status on 2 February 2000, and prior to this it was administered by Majlis Perbandaran Kota Kinabalu (Kota Kinabalu Municipal Council/Kota Kinabalu Town Hall). The city
4033-485: The Murut , Suluk , Sungai , Lun Bawang/Lundayeh , Bisaya , Illanun , Kedayan , Ida'an and Rungus , who have relocated to the city for socio-economic opportunities from different parts of the state. Penampang district is populated mainly by Kadazans, while Bajaus and Dusuns mainly reside in Likas, Sembulan, Inanam, Menggatal, Sepanggar and Telipok. In Tuaran, both Dusun and Bajau communities are prominent, while Papar
4142-509: The black shrew ( Suncus ater ). However, others of its endemics, such as the Bornean ferret-badger ( Melogale everetti ) and Rattus baluensis , have also recently been recorded in the nearby Mount Tambuyukon . Endemic annelids number less than a dozen known species but include the Kinabalu giant red leech that preys on various earthworms, including the Kinabalu giant earthworm . In
4251-467: The earlier migrants have been naturalised as Malaysian citizens. However, there are still some Filipinos living in the city without proper documentation as illegal immigrants . The majority of Filipino migrants in the city come from the southern Philippines and the Sulu Archipelago , with notable communities of Chavacano speakers and Bangsamoro background. Additionally, there is
4360-508: The 2 officers and 3 Hong Kong soldiers were trapped for 16 days and did not eat for five days before being rescued when stretchers were lowered by helicopter. The breakaway party of five completed the first descent of the gully in three days. A book about the 31-day fight for survival entitled Descent into Chaos was published in 1996 and a film drama The Place of the Dead was released in 1997. The first successful complete descent of Low's Gully
4469-478: The 2010 census; when the adjacent Penampang and Tuaran districts are included, the metro area has a combined population of 628,725. The 2020 Census revealed an increase in the municipal population to 500,421, while the wider area including the Penampang and Putatan districts had a population of 731,406. In the 15th century, the area of Kota Kinabalu was under the influence of Bruneian Empire . Historically,
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4578-516: The 28th highest peak in Southeast Asia , and 20th most prominent mountain in the world. The mountain is located in Ranau district, West Coast Division of Sabah , Malaysia . It is protected as Kinabalu Park , a World Heritage Site . In 1997, a re-survey using satellite technology established its summit (known as Low's Peak) height at 4,095 m (13,435 ft) above sea level, which
4687-608: The Japanese. After the war, BNBC was unable to finance the high cost of reconstructions and the place was ceded to the British Crown Colony . The British Crown declared Jesselton as the new capital of North Borneo in 1946 and started to rebuild the town. After the formation of Malaysia, North Borneo was renamed as Sabah. In 1967, Jesselton was renamed as Kota Kinabalu, Kota being the Malay word for City and Kinabalu after
4796-603: The Kadazandusuns called the area by the name of Dondoung. In the 19th century, the British North Borneo Company (BNBC) first set up a settlement near the Gaya Island . However, it was destroyed by fire in 1897 by a local leader named Mat Salleh . In July 1899, the place located opposite to the Gaya Island was identified as a suitable place for settlements. Development in the area was started soon after that; and
4905-535: The Kina Balu (Chinese widow) as a reference to the mountain. This story lacks coherence due to the likelihood that the Dusun people, who have lived in the area for approximately 6000 years, would not have been aware of the term "Cina" (Chinese in Malay) and thus could not have adapted it to "Kina" to refer to Chinese people or China. The Chinese language itself employs distinct words to represent Chinese individuals or
5014-509: The Kota Kinabalu Central Prison, are located in Kepayan. 5°55′26.4″N 116°03′55.7″E / 5.924000°N 116.065472°E / 5.924000; 116.065472 This Sabah location article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Kota Kinabalu Kota Kinabalu ( Malaysian: [ˈkota kinaˈbalu] ; formerly known as Jesselton ), colloquially referred to as KK ,
5123-511: The Southwest Monsoon occurs between May and September. There are also two successive inter-monsoons from April to May and from September to October. During the 1995–2004 period, Kota Kinabalu's average temperature ranges from 26 °C (79 °F) to 28 °C (82 °F). April and May are the hottest months, while January is the coolest one. The average annual rainfall is around 2,400 millimetres and varies markedly throughout
5232-496: The capital of North Borneo instead of Sandakan , which had also been destroyed by the war. The Crown Colony administration designed a plan, later known as the "Colonial Office Reconstruction and Development Plan for North Borneo: 1948–1955", to rebuild North Borneo. This plan provided £ 6,051,939 for the rebuilding of infrastructure in North Borneo. When the Crown Colony of North Borneo together with Sarawak , Singapore and
5341-563: The city ( Papar , Beaufort , Sipitang , Limbang etc.). A third bus terminal, the North Kota Kinabalu Bus Terminal in Inanam district, services intercity buses heading towards destinations north and north-east of the city ( Ranau , Sandakan , Lahad Datu, Tawau , Semporna etc.). Taxis are available throughout the city. A railway system formerly known as the North Borneo Railway was established in 1896 by
5450-551: The city (too steep for building) are still clothed with tropical rainforest . One of these is Signal Hill, which confines the CBD to the shore. In the area of Likas Bay, the remnants of an extensive mangrove forest was nearly lost. In 1996, the state government declared 24 acres (9.7 ha) of the forest as a protected area. This forest is now known as the Kota Kinabalu City Bird Sanctuary . The sanctuary
5559-460: The city border, which includes the towns of Donggongon and Putatan . The combined area of Kota Kinabalu District and the contiguous built up areas in Penampang and Putatan is known as Greater Kota Kinabalu . The district of Penampang has an area of 466 square kilometres, and is administered by Majlis Daerah Penampang (Penampang District Council). On one end of the scale, Kota Kinabalu may sometimes only refer to, especially by local inhabitants,
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#17327795298055668-429: The city centre or central business district near the sea facing Gaya Island. On the other end of the scale, it may also refer to the metropolitan area which includes urban Kota Kinabalu (Greater Kota Kinabalu), and the surrounding towns of Papar and Kinarut in the south, and Tuaran and Tamparuli in the north, being within its zone of influence. Kota Kinabalu is located on the west coast of Sabah. The city lies on
5777-530: The city's industrial and commercial activity, making it a major growth centre in East Malaysia, as well for the BIMP-EAGA (Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area) region. The internal roads linking different parts of the city are generally state roads constructed and maintained by the state's Public Works Department . Most major internal roads are dual-carriageways . One of
5886-570: The city. A small number of Hindus , Sikhs , Animists , and secularists can also be found. The Census 2020 Report showed an increase to 500,421 inhabitants. There is also a sizeable Filipino population in the city. The first wave of migrants arrived in the late 15th century during the Spanish colonisation , while a later wave arrived in the early 1970s, driven away from the Philippines by political and economic uncertainties there. Most of
5995-829: The city. Among the well-established and prestigious boarding schools in Sabah is Sekolah Menengah Sains Sabah , formally known as Sekolah Berasrama Penuh Sabah (SBPS), which was in Bukit Padang, currently located at Tuaran district, Sabah. Other secondary schools are KK High School , SM La Salle, Sekolah Menengah Shan Tao, Sekolah Menengah Taman Tun Fuad, Sekolah Menengah Likas, Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Perempuan Likas, Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan St. Francis Convent, Sekolah Menengah All Saints, Sekolah Menengah Stella Maris, Sekolah Menengah Saint Michael , Maktab Sabah , Sekolah Menengah Lok Yuk, Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Agama Kota Kinabalu and Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Agama Tun Ahmadshah . There are independent private schools in
6104-532: The city. Among them are Sabah Tshung Tsin Secondary School , Kian Kok Middle School , Maktab Nasional and Seri Insan Secondary School. Mount Kinabalu Mount Kinabalu ( Dusun: Gayo Ngaran or Nulu Nabalu , Malay : Gunung Kinabalu ) is the highest mountain in Borneo and Malaysia . With an elevation of 4,095 metres (13,435 ft), it is the third-highest peak of an island on Earth,
6213-470: The city. More recently, the number of expatriates living in the city, whether temporarily or permanently, have also increased. Most of them come from China, South Korea, Japan, Australia, Taiwan and Europe. Interracial marriages are not uncommon and Kadazan-Chinese intermarriages are particularly common. The mixed race offspring of Kadazan and Chinese are referred to as Sino-Kadazans or simply "Sinos". The people of Kota Kinabalu mainly speak Malay , with
6322-473: The city. Some examples are Lintasan Deasoka, Api-Api Centre and Singgah Mata Street. Since the 15th century, the area of what is now Kota Kinabalu came under the influence of the Bruneian Empire . In the late 1800s, the British North Borneo Company (BNBC) began to establish colonial settlements throughout North Borneo . In 1882, BNBC founded a small settlement in the area known as Gaya Bay, which
6431-632: The climb in 3 to 6 hours. Since there are no roads, the supplies for the Laban Rata Resthouse are carried by porters, who sometimes bring more than 35 kg (77 lb) of supplies on their backs. Hot food and beverages are available at Laban Rata. Most rooms have no hot water in the bathrooms and whilst the dining area is heated, most rooms are not. The last 2 km (6,600 ft), from the Laban Rata Resthouse at 3,270 m (10,730 ft) to Low's Peak (summit) at 4,095.2 m (13,436 ft), takes between 2 and 4 hours. The last part of
6540-404: The climb is on bare granite rock. Given the high altitude, some people may suffer from altitude sickness although staying overnight at the lodges before the climb and climbing at a lower rate of ascent may reduce the likelihood of this happening. Low's Gully (named after Hugh Low who first looked down into it in 1851) is a 1,800 m (5,906 ft) deep gorge carved out by glaciation on
6649-538: The climb: the Timpohon Gate (located 5.5 km (3.4 mi) from Kinabalu Park Headquarters, at an altitude of 1,866 m (6,122 ft)), and the Mesilau Nature Resort . The latter starting point is slightly higher in elevation, but crosses a ridge, adding about two kilometres to the ascent and making the total elevation gain slightly higher. The Mesilau Trail is no longer accessible due to
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#17327795298056758-503: The coldness of the mountain from December to January, there are a few occasions where frost and ice appear at the summit of Mount Kinabalu. Snow has been recorded three times in this area; in 1975, 1993 and 2022. Mount Kinabalu along with other upland areas of the Crocker Mountains is known worldwide for its biodiversity with plants of Himalayan , Australasian , and Indomalayan origin. A recent botanical survey of
6867-427: The conifer Dacrydium gibbsiae , Leptospermum recurvum , and species from the plant families Myrtaceae and Ericaceae , along with dwarf shrubs, mosses, lichens, liverworts, and ferns. Orchids are abundant and diverse in subalpine and alpine plant communities, except for at the highest summits. Above 3,500 meters conditions are too extreme for trees, and above 3,700 meters persistent ground frost limits plants to
6976-519: The earthquake and a massive landslide that followed it. Ranau and many parts of Sabah West Coast were affected and Donkey Ear's Peak was heavily damaged. Six days before the earthquake, a group of ten western tourists (comprising six men and four women from Canada, Germany, Netherlands and the United Kingdom) had stripped naked and urinated while on the mountain's summit. Local people were deeply offended, and many who considered Kinabalu to be
7085-515: The earthquake in 2015. The two trails meet about 2 km (1.2 mi) before Laban Rata. Sabah Parks grants a summit-climbing permit only to climbers who stay at mountain huts. Due to the limited number of beds at the mountain huts, only 130 people are allowed to climb Mount Kinabalu per day. Accommodation is available inside the park or outside near the headquarters. Sabah Parks has privatised Mount Kinabalu activities to an organisation called Sutera Sanctuary Lodges. The mountain may be climbed on
7194-433: The economy is slowly diminishing. More recently, a move towards a more tertiary-based industry has become more apparent, especially with regards to the boom in the tourism industry. Many state-level, national-level and international commercial banks, as well as some insurance companies have their headquarters or branches here. The overseas Chinese population also contributes to the development of KK since their immigration in
7303-432: The endemic Nepenthes rajah ). The parasitic Rafflesia plant, which has the largest single flower in the world, is also found in Kinabalu (particularly Rafflesia keithii whose flower grows to 94 cm (37 in) in diameter), though blooms of the flower are rare and difficult to find. Meanwhile, another Rafflesia species, Rafflesia tengku-adlinii , can be found on the neighbouring Mount Trus Madi and
7412-663: The first recorded ascent of Mount Kinabalu's summit plateau in March 1851 with local Dusun guide Lemaing of Kampung Kiau. Low did not scale the mountain's highest peak, however, considering it "inaccessible to any but winged animals". In April and July 1858, Low was accompanied on two further ascents by Spenser St. John , the British Consul in Brunei. The highest point of Mount Kinabalu was finally reached in 1888 by zoologist John Whitehead . British botanist Lilian Gibbs became
7521-614: The first woman and the first botanist to summit Mount Kinabalu in February 1910. Botanist E. J. H. Corner led two important expeditions of the Royal Society of Great Britain to the mountain in 1961 and 1964. Kinabalu National Park was established in 1964. The park was designated a natural World Heritage Site in 2000. On 5 June 2015 at 07:15 MST , the area around Mount Kinabalu was damaged by an earthquake. Eighteen people, including hikers and mountain guides, were killed by
7630-539: The former station. In 2016, the Tanjung Aru railway station was moved to Aeropod with a new terminal and more public facilities. Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) (ICAO Code : WBKK, IATA Code: BKI) is a main hub for Malaysia Airlines and a secondary hub for AirAsia and MASwings . It has one terminal and is the second busiest airport in Malaysia after Kuala Lumpur International Airport and
7739-410: The four parliamentary constituencies in the city: Sepanggar ( P.171 ), Kota Kinabalu ( P.172 ), Putatan ( P.173 ), Tuaran ("P.176") and Penampang ( P.174 ). The city also elects 9 representatives to the state legislature from the state assembly districts of Karambunai, Inanam, Likas, Api-Api, Luyang, Tanjung Aru, Petagas, Kepayan, Segama, Menggatal, Tuaran, Lido, and Moyog. The city is administered by
7848-428: The gigantic Rafflesia plants and orangutans . Mount Kinabalu has been accorded UNESCO World Heritage status. Low's Peak can be climbed by a person in good physical condition and there is no need for mountaineering equipment at any point on the main route, but climbers must be accompanied by accredited guides at all times due to national park regulations and may experience altitude sickness . Mount Kinabalu
7957-434: The government, includes Karamunsing, the port area (Tanjung Lipat), Signal Hill, Kampung Air, Sinsuran, Segama, Asia City, Gaya Street (Old Town), Bandaran Berjaya, Api-Api, Sutera Harbour and Sembulan. Outlying neighbourhoods and residential suburbs include Kepayan Ridge, Tanjung Aru, Petagas, Kepayan, Lido, Lintas, Nosoob, Bukit Padang, Luyang, Damai, Lok Kawi, Bukit Bendera, Kasigui, Bundusan, Likas and Kolombong. The city
8066-609: The hardiest grasses, sedges and dwarf shrubs, including Leptospermum recurvatum and Rhododendron ericoides , which grow in crevices and other sheltered areas on the rocky summits. The plants of Mount Kinabalu have high levels of biodiversity and endemism (i.e. species which are found only within Kinabalu Park and are not found anywhere else in the world). Orchids are the best-known example, with 866 species in 134 genera, including species of Bulbophyllum , Dendrobium , Coelogyne , Liparis , and Calanthe , and some of
8175-406: The highly valued Paphiopedilum slipper orchids . There are also over 600 species of ferns (more than the whole of Africa's 500 species) of which 50 are found nowhere else. Mount Kinabalu has the richest collection in the world of Nepenthes pitcher plants (five of the thirteen are found nowhere else on earth), some of which reach spectacular proportions (the largest-pitchered in the world being
8284-467: The late 19th century. Their original role was often a ' coolie ' (manual labourer) and today many Chinese work as shopowners. A number of industrial and manufacturing companies also have plants here, especially in the industrial districts of Likas, Kolombong, and Inanam. The ongoing construction of the 8,320-acre (33.7 km ) Kota Kinabalu Industrial Park (KKIP) in Sepanggar is intended to boost
8393-642: The long-standing threat of piracy in the region. Jesselton was partially razed by the British during their retreat from the advancing Japanese and suffered further devastation when the Allies bombed it in 1945. After the Japanese takeover of Borneo , it was again renamed Api. Several rebellions against the Japanese military administration took place in Api. One major rebellion in the town occurred on 10 October 1943 by
8502-423: The major industrial and commercial centres of East Malaysia . These two factors combine to make Kota Kinabalu one of the fastest-growing cities in Malaysia. Kota Kinabalu is named after Mount Kinabalu , which is situated about 50 kilometres east-northeast of the city. Kinabalu is derived from the name Aki Nabalu meaning the "revered place of the dead." Aki means "ancestors" or "grandfather", and Nabalu
8611-439: The major roads here is Lintas-Tuaran Bypass Road, which together serves almost as a ring road , circling the city and connecting the districts and suburbs surrounding the city, namely Putatan, Penampang, Luyang, Likas, Inanam, Menggatal, Sepanggar and Tuaran. There are currently no freeways in the city or in any other part of Sabah. The city is linked by highways to other towns in Sabah. These are mainly federal roads maintained by
8720-449: The massive mountain was covered by huge sheets of ice and glaciers which flowed down its slopes, scouring its surface in the process and creating the 1,800 m (5,906 ft) deep Low's Gully (named after Hugh Low ) on its north side. Its granitic composition and the glacial formative processes are readily apparent when viewing its craggy rocky peaks. In respect of it being 'one of the youngest granitic intrusions exposed on Earth and
8829-429: The mountain estimated a staggering 5,000 to 6,000 plant species (excluding mosses and liverworts but including ferns). It is therefore one of the world's most important biological sites. A reason for its rich diversity and endemisms is that its great height could have provided refuge to cold-adapted species during interglacials. In 2015, a major Malaysian-Dutch study showed that the unique flora, fauna, and fungi on
8938-402: The mountain summit are younger than the mountain itself, and have evolved from both local and distant montane ancestors. The flora of the mountain varies with elevation and geology. Lowland forest extends up to about 1500 metres elevation, and consists of two main types, based on the dominant tree species – mixed dipterocarp forest and mixed Casuarina forest. Lowland forests generally have
9047-516: The mountain. The mountain is home to some 100 mammalian species mostly living high in the trees, including one of the great apes, the Bornean orangutan (though sightings of these are uncommon; estimates of its numbers in the park range from 25 to 120). Other mammals include three kinds of deer, the Malayan weasel ( Mustela nudipes ), Oriental small-clawed otter ( Aonyx cinerea ), and leopard cat ( Prionailurus bengalensis ). Endemic mammals include
9156-520: The name to the Dusun expression "tina balu," which translates to "a widow mother," suggesting that tina balu may represent the spirit of the mountain itself. Alternatively, some propose that "Kinabalu" results from the combination of two Dusun words, "ki" (have/has) and "nabalu" (mountain), forming "ki-nabalu" or "have mountain." It is a common practice among the Dusun people to name places based on their distinctive features or characteristics, exemplified by
9265-516: The national Public Works Department. Highway routes from Kota Kinabalu include: Regular bus services operate in the city. Aside from buses, minibuses or vans are used as an alternative mode of public transport. There are two main bus terminals in the city centre. The terminal along Tun Razak Road provide bus services to different parts of the city and its outskirts, while the KK Sentral terminal provides intercity services to destinations south of
9374-530: The nearby Maliau Basin . Mount Kinabalu's above-average biodiversity in plant life is due to a combination of several unique factors: its setting in one of the richest plant regions of the world (the tropical biogeographical region known as western Malesia which comprises the island of Sumatra , the Malay Peninsula , and the island of Borneo ), the fact that the mountain covers a wide climatic range from near sea level to freezing ground conditions near
9483-465: The nearby Mount Kinabalu . Kota Kinabalu was granted city status in 2000. Kota Kinabalu is often known as KK both in Malaysia and internationally. It is a major tourist destination and a gateway for travellers visiting Sabah and Borneo. Kinabalu Park is located about 90 kilometres from the city and there are many other tourist attractions in and around the city. Kota Kinabalu is also one of
9592-476: The neighbouring state of Sarawak . Kota Kinabalu features a tropical monsoon climate (Am) with constant high temperatures, and a considerable amount of rain and high humidity throughout the course of the year. Two prevailing monsoons characterise the climate of this part of Sabah are the Northeast Monsoon and the Southwest Monsoon. The Northeast Monsoon occurs between November and March, while
9701-519: The north side of Mount Kinabalu, which is exceptionally inhospitable due to its depth and high rainfall. In March 1994 two British Army officers were severely criticised after leading a party of 7 British and 3 Hong Kong soldiers in an attempt to abseil and climb down into the gully that required extensive rescue efforts from both the RAF and the Malaysian army. The party were not equipped with radios and
9810-620: The official surrender of the Japanese 37th Army by Lieutenant General Baba Masao in Labuan on 10 September 1945. After the war on the edge of bankruptcy, the British North Borneo Company returned to administer Jesselton but was unable to finance the huge costs of reconstruction. They gave control of North Borneo to the British Crown on 18 July 1946. The new colonial government elected to rebuild Jesselton as
9919-399: The people of the city is " orang KK ", where orang means "person" or "people" in Malay. The terms "K.K-ites" and "K.K-ians" have also been used to a limited extent. People from Sabah are called Sabahans. The following is based on Department of Statistics Malaysia 2010 census. The Malaysian Census 2010 Report estimated the population of Kota Kinabalu at 452,058. The city's population
10028-473: The place called "kiwaig," meaning "having water. A popular story told to Western and Chinese tourists states that the name "Kinabalu" actually means "Cina Balu" (meaning "A Chinese Widow"). Due to the lingual influence among the Kadazan Dusun of Sabah , the pronunciation for the word "cina" (chee-na) was changed to "Kina" (kee-na). An earlier book by Spenser St. John published in 1863 mentioned
10137-415: The place was named "Api-api" before it was renamed after Sir Charles Jessel , the vice-chairman of BNBC, as "Jesselton". Jesselton became a major trading port in the area, and was connected to the North Borneo Railway . Jesselton was largely destroyed during World War II . The Japanese occupation of Jesselton provoked several local uprisings notably the Jesselton Revolt but they were eventually defeated by
10246-638: The plant families Fagaceae and Lauraceae , with conifers increasingly abundant at higher elevations. The lower montane forests have a high diversity of orchid and fern species. Carnivorous plants , including species of Nepenthes , Drosera , and Utricularia , are most diverse between 2200 and 2550 meters elevation, in areas with high rainfall and a stunted, open tree canopy. The montane forests are interspersed with areas of graminoid scrub, generally associated with hypermagnesic cambisol soils. Sub-alpine scrub extends from 2,600 to 3,200 m (8,530 to 10,499 ft). It includes short trees and shrubs such
10355-575: The plant life, and plant communities on ultramafic soils show lower stature and lower biomass, higher levels of endemism, and a distinct species composition compared to plant communities at similar elevations elsewhere on the mountain. The variety of plant life is also habitat for a great variety of birds and mammals. There are some 326 species of birds in Kinabalu Park, including the spectacular rhinoceros hornbill , mountain serpent-eagle , Dulit frogmouth , eyebrowed jungle flycatcher , and bare-headed laughingthrush . Twenty-four birds are mainly found on
10464-465: The political and economic welfare of the population of the entire state. It is the seat of the state government where almost all of their ministries and agencies are based. Most of the Malaysian federal government agencies and departments are also located in Kota Kinabalu. The Sabah State Legislative Assembly is located at the nearby Likas Bay. There are four members of parliament (MPs) representing
10573-553: The site of spectacular tropical glacial landscapes', the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS) included the 'Mount Kinabalu Neogene granite' in its assemblage of 100 'geological heritage sites' around the world in a listing published in October 2022. The organisation defines an IUGS Geological Heritage Site as 'a key place with geological elements and/or processes of international scientific relevance, used as
10682-420: The southern part of the city which was filled with coconut trees. Yet another name was Singgah Mata which literally means "transit eye", but can be loosely translated as "pleasing to the eye". It is a name said to have been given by fishermen from Gaya Island referring to the strip of land that is today's downtown Kota Kinabalu. Today, all these names have been immortalised as names of streets or buildings around
10791-600: The summit zone, at least 26 endemic species of land snail exist. In 2012, a major scientific expedition, jointly organised by the Malaysian Sabah Parks and the Dutch Naturalis Biodiversity Center , performed DNA analysis of several dozen endemic flora, fauna, and fungi, to understand the evolutionary origin of the unique biodiversity of Kinabalu. The steep mountainsides with poor soil are not suitable for farming or for
10900-404: The summit, the jagged terrain and diversity of rocks and soils, the high levels of rainfall (averaging about 2,700 mm (110 in) a year at park HQ), and the climatic instability caused by periods of glaciation and catastrophic droughts which result in evolution and speciation . This diversity is greatest in the lowland regions (consisting of lowland dipterocarp forests, so called because
11009-522: The timber industry so the habitats and animal life of Kinabalu remain largely intact, with about a third of the original habitat now degraded. Kinabalu Park was established in 1964 and the nearby mountains were protected as the Crocker Range National Park in 1984. However even national park status does not guarantee full protection, as logging permits were granted on Trus Madi in 1984. British colonial administrator Hugh Low made
11118-474: The tree family Dipterocarpaceae are dominant). However, most of Kinabalu's endemic species are found in the mountain forests, particularly on ultramafic soils. The ultramafic rocks which make up parts of the mountain create soils rich in certain metallic elements (nickel, cobalt, chromium, and manganese), high cation imbalances (high Mg:Ca molar quotients), and deficiencies of some nutrients including potassium and phosphorus. These soil conditions affect
11227-426: The usage of the language. Kadazan has been considered an endangered language , along with the culture of ethnic Kadazans. Besides being the capital city, Kota Kinabalu is also the main industrial and commercial centre for Sabah. The economy is dominated by the primary sector of industry . Historically, the secondary sector dominated the economy, but due to rapid urbanisation and economic development, this sector of
11336-488: The year. February and March are typically the driest months while rainfall peaks in the inter-monsoon period in October. The wind speed ranges from 5.5 to 7.9 m/s during the Northeast Monsoon but is significantly lower to 0.3 to 3.3 m/s during the Southwest Monsoon. There have not been any official or popular adjectives, or demonyms , to describe the people of Kota Kinabalu. A simple way to describe
11445-482: The younger generation. However, some find it difficult to speak fluently due to a limited vocabulary and the general lack of usage of the English language as a conversational lingua franca among Sabahans as a whole. The number of Kadazan-Dusun speakers is thought to have dropped significantly throughout Sabah, especially in larger towns or cities like Kota Kinabalu. However, some effort has been taken by some to revive
11554-426: Was achieved by a 27 strong joint Malaysian-British team led by mountaineer and former British Army officer Pat Gunson in 1998. Several narratives exist that explain the primary beliefs surrounding the mountain's name. The most plausible origin of the word "Kinabalu" is believed to be derived from the Dusun phrase 'Aki Nabalu,' signifying "the revered place of the dead" . Another possible interpretation attributes
11663-514: Was actually named after a nearby river called Sungai Api-Api . In Chinese, the city is still known as 'Api', which is the Hakka pronunciation for 亚庇 ( Simplified Chinese ; Traditional Chinese : 亞庇; Pinyin : yà bì ). Another suggested historical name is Deasoka , which roughly means "below the coconut tree" in the Bajau language. The Bajau locals purportedly used this name to refer to a village in
11772-531: Was already inhabited by the Bajau people. The first settlement was at Gaya Island . However, in 1897, the settlement was burned and destroyed by the indigenous Bajau- Suluk chief Mat Salleh . After the destruction, BNBC decided to relocate the settlement to the more easily defended mainland at Gantian Bay (now Sepanggar Bay) in 1898. However, Gantian Bay was found to be unsuitable and in July 1899, Henry Walker,
11881-557: Was given additional protection as a State Cultural Heritage Site in 1998. The five islands (of Gaya, Sapi, Manukan, Sulug, Mamutik) opposite the city, and their surrounding waters, are also preserved as the Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park . The park was named in honour of the first Prime Minister of Malaysia, Tunku Abdul Rahman . The park is a recreational spot for tourists and local people. The Kota Kinabalu city centre, consisting of mostly businesses and
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