Located along Jalan Hang Kasturi – only a few minutes away from Petaling Street – is the renowned Central Market. Also known as Pasar Seni, this market is one of Kuala Lumpur’s most familiar landmarks as well as a popular tourist attraction. In the past it was a simple wet market yet today it is a permanent structure that houses all sorts of traders – you can find an assortment of merchandise here that ranges from handicrafts and souvenirs to authentic Malaysian batik prints.
This landmark is reminiscent of the SoHo flea market, housing a variety of shops that retail traditional goods such as batik, embroidery carvings, souvenirs, sculptures, clothes and other interesting items. Divided into different zones this multi-ethnic market displays goods based upon the features of different races. The purpose of this zoning practice is to let visitors get an insight into the cultural differences of the various races in Malaysia. There’s even a Malacca ‘Jonker Street’ – an area of the market which features double-storey and single-storey Baba-Nyonya style architecture.
The Batik Emporium houses well-known batik designer labels while the lower levels accommodate street vendors selling local fare. Artists painting renderings of the busy thoroughfare can be seen here.