Carpenter Street is a famous tourist attraction just opposite our Kuching's Waterfront. It is also one of the oldest streets in Kuching. The main entrance is marked with a Chinese-inspired archway called the Harmony Arch, which leads to its many fascinating shops and temples. The Harmony Arch at Carpenter Street was launched on the 7th of March 2007. The arch signifies the many cultures in Kuching that lives together in harmony. It is famous for its carpentry works, food and for being our Kuching's own Chinatown.
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Harmony Arch |
Carpenter Street is famous for its carpentry works as in the past, many carpenters set up shops there by the streets. It is also how the street got its name. Today, Carpenter Street is known for its food especially its 'Kueh Chap'! :D 'Kueh Chap' is a delicacy in Kuching. It has a variety of the insides of pork like the pork intestines, pork stomach, its heart and many other parts. :D Yum!
Carpenter Street is not really for shopping but just for sightseeing. It doesn't have souvenir shops like Main Bazaar but it is famous for its people, food and buildings. You could see people from different races walking around and buying things from bicycles to furniture. As it is now the 21st Century, the buildings are "catching up" by them being refurbished to suit our modern times. Don't get me wrong, its not all glass and too modern looking. They still has cracked walls and peeled paint. :D
Other than that, Carpenter Street has two famous temples, the Hokkien Temple at the far east of Carpenter Street, the Hong San Si Temple, and the Teochew Temple at the western end, the Hiang Thian Siang Ti Temple. They are famous for their many beautiful and magnificent carvings all along the pillars and some of the walls of the temples.
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During the Chinese festive seasons, Carpenter Street is the place to be. It would be crowded with people as there would be many festive entertainment there. Old and young would gather every Chinese festive season to see what's installed for them as every year the entertainment organized would be different. It would be the most crowded and fun during the first day of the lunar new year. Other Chinese festive seasons would be during the 'Hungry Ghost' Festival and also the 'Mooncake' Festival. There would be shows, the Chinese opera and food stalls all along the streets.
As I was looking for more information on the web, I stumbled upon this website, http://www.etawau.com/HTML/Kuching/Carpenter_Street.htm. It had an article in it and this is what it said. "According to history, Chinese immigrants traveled along Sarawak River through Santubong and landed at the Old Bazaar area in the early part of 18th Century. In those days, sailing by wooden junks seemed to be the only mode of transportation. These Chinese immigrants were mainly labourers, carpenters, cooks, blacksmiths, farmers and merchants from the coastal areas of China such as Fujian and Guangdong provinces. With their settlement, Kuching entered a new phase in history.
According to the elders of the Teochew clan, one origin of the name "Kuching" referred to an "old well" situated at the Upper China Street in Old Bazaar area. "Old Well" is pronounced as "Kuching" in Teochew dialect. The Old Bazaar, including the Main Bazaar, on the bank of the Sarawak River was the earliest trading post or market. Barter trade flourished between the Chinese at the Old Bazaar and the Malays who lived on the opposite bank as well as the coastal areas. The Malays brought their products such as "gula apong", "atap"- leaves for roofing, sago flour, bamboo mats, rattan furniture and "bako" limber from the mangrove swamp to the Old Bazaar for trade. Through these mutually beneficial trading and cultural exchanges, a long history of multicultural cordia relationship was established and nurtured among the Malays and Chinese. ....."
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Entrance of Carpenter Street |
(Some information taken from http://www.etawau.com/HTML/Kuching/Carpenter_Street.htm, http://lifemixx.com/kuching-tour-chinatown-at-carpenter-street-attap-street.html and http://ccwen08.blogspot.com/2009/07/delicous-kueh-chap-carpenter-street.html)
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