Description
Introduction to Jonker Walk, Melaka
“Visit Melaka Means Visit Malaysia” is the slogan to describe the significance of this place as the birthplace of Malaysia began and a world heritage site with cultural richness. Filled with historical buildings, culture, and shopping activities, Jonker Walk is a great choice for you to discover the uniqueness of this attractive place. It is situated right in the heart of Melaka city, where you can easily get various local delicious foods as well as access to boutique hotels and guest houses.
Along Jonker Walk, you will able to see plenty of hundred-year buildings where some are currently preserved as local residences or have become retail shops while a few of them are the community’s clan and guild association houses. The local community mostly is Chinese, thus there is a number of temples around the old street and several traditional festive events, including Chinese New Year are lively and celebrated throughout the year. They are friendly and hospitable, and most of the locals involve in tourism-related activities to earn their living.
However, what makes Jonker Walk attractive and enjoyable is the weekly sightseeing bazaar that only operates every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evening from 6.00 p.m. to midnight. With the closure of the road and a lot of stalls selling all varieties along with the local foods and best-buy merchandise, you may walk between the rows of old buildings in the middle of the old street while tasting the snacks and enjoying shopping. Besides visiting the association houses and nearby museums, the cultural performance presented on the main stage of Jonker Walk is one of the activities that may enrich your experience in discovering the historical street.
Cultural information
In Jonker Walk, you will see the massive festive decoration and cultural events, especially during Lunar New Year. The local community will put up decorative lanterns along the street and display some large outdoor artworks, for example, the lunar zodiac mascot, giant lanterns and road marches. Besides that, there are the Lunar New Year’s Eve countdown and Chap Goh Mei gala (celebrated on the fifteenth day of Lunar New Year) being held in Jonker Walk every year all these events may emerge extremely lively phenomena with the presence of over five thousand crowds at the same time.
In addition, Baba Nyonya, a centuries-long history of transculturation and interracial marriage culture could be found around the area of Jonker Walk. Today, Melaka, especially Jonker Walk proudly continues to be known as the stronghold of Baba Nyonya heritage where the culture is well-preserved through not only museums or newly acquired cultural artifacts, but also the original language of Malay-Chinese patois, style and slang of talking, customs and traditions as well as most definitely, through everyday food - Nyonya cuisine.
Visitors nowadays can enjoy the authentic Nyonya cuisine at those must-visit restaurants in Jonker Walk, besides strolling the tourism spot by renting to wear the traditional hand-sewn blouse-dress combination Nyonya outfit at any selected shops in order to experience the living of Baba Nyonya community.
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