Malaysia's Hidden Gem｜A Simple Version of the Amazon Rainforest.

✨I flew to Sandakan without any plans. After getting off the plane, my first impression of this small city was not very good. The streets were old, there were no convenient shopping malls like in big cities, and I felt uncomfortable walking down the small streets in a vest. The coffee and desserts in the lunch shop reminded me of the old-fashioned taste of my hometown in the 2000s. ✨I found a hotel to stay in and wandered around the local market. This small city, which can almost be walked through on foot, has no high-rise buildings, no subway, and few taxis. I spent a day settling down, looking at the map and walking along the historic sites, and I felt its unique charm. ✨The buildings along the way are colorful, like a small Hong Kong in the 2000s. There are many old-fashioned retro Santana and pickup trucks, and the rusty cars are still running. There are many small fruit and milk tea stalls on both sides of the road, and the locals are also very keen on visiting the market. It takes only 5 minutes to walk from the square to the seaside, and you can sit on the bench with the locals to watch the sunset and enjoy the breeze. The pace of life is slow, and you can forget the time in peace and comfort. ✨On the fourth day in Sandakan, I hardly saw any Chinese people. The passers-by would kindly ask us where we were from, and when they heard "China", they would greet us with a smile. Maybe we were one of the few Chinese tourists, and they were all enthusiastic about taking photos with us. 🗺️When you come to Sandakan, you must experience the Sandakan Heritage Trail. Starting from the Masjid Jamek Sandakan next to the Sandakan Hotel, follow the map and the footprints on the ground to walk through the buildings with a history of over 100 years. 🌈Climb the long painted 100-step staircase to see the house where AGNES KEITH, the author of "Land Below the Wind", lived; 🍷Have a glass of juice at the English Tea House and Restaurant and look out at the sea; 🕍Admire one of the oldest churches in Borneo and the Guanyin Temple hidden on the hillside... 📸There are corresponding plaques explaining each historical site, and I like this kind of check-in mode, which is clear, easy to understand, and interesting (all the cultural and tourism departments should learn from it! ⭐Check-in recommendations: [One] Agnes Keith House Visit the writer's former residence, whose works have made Sabah famous around the world. The two-story villa, greenery, and house are beautiful, and there is an afternoon tea restaurant in the yard. [Two] 100 Steps Graffiti Stairs, which can lead to the mountain. [Three] Sandakan Habour Square Stroll slowly through the cross street, see the colorful retro buildings, and enjoy the humanistic atmosphere of the street scene. Across the street is the pier where you can see the sea. [Four] Rotary Observation Pavilion Walk 100 meters from the former residence to overlook the entire Sandakan coastline.