Kuantan Attractions

Situated near the mouth of the Kuantan River, Kuantan is the capital of Pahang and it is a busy tourist hub. It is also home to Teluk Chempedak, Batu Hitam and Cherating beaches. The start of the east coast beach strip that stretches all the way to Kota Bharu, the city is a major stop on most bus routes that head north, south or across the peninsula. Most people assume there’s little to interest them here, but if truth be told there are several sightseeing attractions in town worth exploring.

Firstly there’s a beautiful fishing village at Beserah where you can observe the daily life of villagers. Alternatively you can choose to visit the yawning caverns of Gua Charas or examine the varied memorabilia at Muzium Tokoh Negeri. On the other hand you can choose to stop over at the ornate and distinctive Lao Zi Temple or Wan Fo Tien Temple.

Beserah Beach

Situated 10 kilometres from Kuantan town, Beserah is a tiny fishing village especially known for its seafood restaurants. Kodak-worthy moments include the sight of Beserah fishermen herding water buffaloes with carts onto the beach to assist them in pulling in their catch for the day. A few kilometres north of Beserah is Batu Hitam Beach – also known as Black Stones Beach.

Gua Charas

Located at the foot of the imposing 1,000 metre-high Panching Hill, Gua Charas is a limestone cave best known for the 'sleeping Buddha' stone sculpture in it. With numerous other natural limestone formations that resemble religious and animal figures, the temple is a popular spot for devotees who wish to pay homage to different deities. According to locals, the best time to visit the caves is approximately 11:00 when the sun lights up the cavern beautifully.

Heroes Musuem

Known as the Muzium Tokoh Negeri, the Heroes Museum – adjacent to the Pahang Tourism office – is housed in a beautifully refurbished colonial-era mansion. Opened in 2000, it is situated nearby the State Mosque and has six galleries as well as an audio-visual room and a library. The exhibits range from relics that depict the history of the Malay Sultanate to artefacts that portray the country’s struggle for independence against Japanese occupation and British colonialism.

Lao Zi Temple

13 kilometres from Sungai Lembing, Lao Zi Temple is home to the reputedly ‘longest manmade dragon’. Start out your winding journey to the temple going in through its ‘tail’ and coming out at the temple when you exit its ‘mouth’. Devotees believe that good luck comes to those who make the 2,700-foot pilgrimage through the dragon; annually, close to 100,000 visitors drop in to pay homage to the founder of Taoism.

Masjid Sultan Ahmad Shah 1

Constructed between 1991 and 1993, this powder-blue building is the east coast’s best known mosque and one of Kuantan’s top tourist draws. Located beside a vast football field, the structure features Moorish architecture as well as beautiful designs and etchings. At night it’s a pretty sight when its minarets, spires and turrets are brightly lit.

Natural Batik Factory

Sprawled across 86,000 square-feet, Natural Batik Factory houses the east coast’s largest batik showroom. Besides batik products, the establishment also retails fashion creations ranging from baju kurung to beachwear. Visitors can also try their hand at batik painting or tour the production area where dozens of batik designs are created every day.

River Cruises

Starting out from the Shahbandar Jetty near the Esplanade River, this 90-minute cruise first heads over to the Tanjung Lumpur fishing village which is located at the mouth of Kuantan River. The two-hour journey continues on towards the 340-hectare Mangrove Reserve Forest where you’ll be able to observe the diverse flora and fauna of the swamp.

Sungai Lembing Museum

Jokingly called the El Dorado of the East, Sungai Lembing was once a rich tin mining town. Set 42 kilometres from town the Sungai Lembing Museum – built by the Museums and Antiquities Department – was built to commemorate the town’s bygone glory days. Artefacts on display range from equipment used for tin mining as well as train tracks that were used to traverse the quarries.

Taman Gelora

Taman Gelora is a pretty sightseeing spot for a picnic or a quiet stroll. Situated by the shores of the beach and shaded by pine trees, the park has a few lakes as well as a network of trails for jogging and walking. A favourite local haunt, the park also features tennis and volleyball courts as well as a football pitch.

Wan Fo Tien Temple

Known as the Ten Thousand Buddhas Hall, this Buddhist temple is located on the outskirts of Kuantan Town. This eight million ringgit structure is administered by the Pahang Buddhist Association; set up in 1967, the main attraction here is the approximately six-metre high white jade Buddha statue.