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Wandering through Chinatown in Malacca

遇见马六甲唐人街

Malaysia’s Jonker Walk Mel- street celebrates the rich cultures of the crew and the local people’s
aka, known as Chinatown in Ma- of various countries and embodies lives. Lin finds the display of var-
lacca, is a must-visit destination the enduring friendship between ious tools for rice milling, fishing,
that was once the site of Zheng China and Malaysia, which has rice threshing, and weaving par-
He’s goods yard for storing sup- flourished for 600 years. ticularly fascinating. These arti-
plies. This vibrant area features a On the former site of Zheng facts highlight the subtle influence
variety of Chinese and Malaysian He’s goods yard, the Zheng He of the fleet on the production and
restaurants, coffee shops, handi- Culture Center was established lifestyle in Malacca. “Zheng He’s
craft stores, and the Hokkien Huay with funding from Malaysian and impact on Malacca extended be-
Kuan. Amidst the bustling atmos- Singaporean overseas Chinese. yond the goods he brought, such
phere, Buddhist temples, Hindu This center is the largest Zheng as porcelain, tea, and medicine; it
temples, mosques, and Christian He-themed museum outside of also included the introduction of
churches coexist, showcasing a China. The museum’s manager, advanced production techniques
thriving tapestry of cultures and Lin Shifa, is a passionate history and the principles of equality and
religions living in harmony. enthusiast. A native of Malacca, friendship,” Lin reflected while
Older residents of the area of- Lin became captivated by the sto- standing in the exhibition hall.
ten joke that every weekend, 100 ries of Zheng He that he encoun- Since December 1, 2023, Chi-
new faces appear on Jonker Walk tered in his textbooks during his na has implemented a unilateral
Melaka, as traders and tourists school days. His fascination began visa-free entry policy for Malay-
from around the world flock to with the formidable Zheng He sia. In response, Malaysia has
the street. The culinary offerings fleet, leading him to explore the announced similar visa-free meas- opportunities in the sector with his need to find ways to differentiate
here are diverse, featuring a va- structure of the ships, their func- ures for Chinese citizens. As a partners. They are promoting per- and enhance our services. We fre-
riety of Chinese dishes alongside tions, the lifestyle aboard, and the result, for over eight months, free sonalized car rentals, customized quently receive requests for study
Portuguese grilled fish, Malay management of the fleet through and semi-free travelers from Chi- tours, and tourist assistance ser- tours, factory visits, and explor-
coconut milk rice, and the popular extensive reading and engaging na have become a new highlight vices through platforms like Little atory trips. In Malacca alone, we
Chinese brand Mixue Ice Cream with numerous individuals. in Malacca. Red Book (Xiaohongshu) and arrange coaches for tourists multi-
& Tea, which has made its mark The museum features model Xiao Wu, a Malaysian Chinese TikTok (Douyin). “It’s not enough ple times a month,” Xiao Wu said,
in Southeast Asia. Stretching for ships that are specially customized who transitioned from the media to simply know the customs and smiling despite his busy schedule.
a few hundred meters, this lively from China, with vivid portrayals industry to tourism, is exploring attractions of Malaysia; we also

Fulfilling the love for Musang King durians

遇见“猫山王之恋”

Malaysia is acknowledged Agricultural Land Development oping eco-tourism around its duri-
as one of the original home Sdn Bhd. “I grew up in a durian an plantations. This initiative aims
of durians, boasting the garden. For me, taking care of du- to help more tourists discover,
world’s richest variety rian trees is like nurturing my own understand, and taste the authentic
of this tropical fruit and children,” he said. He expresses Musang King durians. In recent
a long history of culti- great excitement every year dur- years, the immense potential of
vation. Over 600 years ing the harvest season in June the Chinese market, along with
ago, when Zheng He and July, as he feels not only the consumers’ passion for durians,
ventured westward, rewards of his labor but also the has given Angie a strong sense of
he encountered this continuation of the self-improve- confidence.
fruit characterized by ment spirit of overseas Chinese. There are countless stories
its “spiky skin and Lim, who manages agriculture about Zheng He in both China
sweet, delicious at OVD, is intimately familiar and Malaysia. Recently, 3,900
taste.” His ad- with the local durian cultivation in durian seedlings of Malaysian
jutant referred to Raub. He explains that Malaysia varieties were introduced for
it as “du-er-yan.” is home to hundreds of durian trial planting at the durian estate
Subsequently, the varieties, each boasting its own in Zheha Village, Mengding
Malaysian Chinese distinctive taste and flavor. “As Town, Gengma Dai and Wa
named it “liu-lian,” tourism between China and Ma- Autonomous County, Lincang
which translates to laysia continues to grow, many City, Yunnan Province. These
“linger on with no Chinese visitors come to Raub to include 700 Musang King durian
thought of leaving.” experience the natural beauty of seedlings. The planting of these
In Raub, the pri- the tropics while indulging their durian seedlings in Yunnan con-
mary production area love for durians,” he said with a tinues the legacy of “du-er-yan”
for Musang King durians, smile. from Zheng He’s era and serves as
our reporters spoke with According to Angie, an ex- a testament to the modern “love of
Liew Chun Sing, a ecutive at OVD, the company is Musang King durian” shared by
third-generation Chinese currently focused on cultivating the Chinese and Malaysian peo-
durian expert from OVD Musang King durians and devel- ples.