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Feature: A Journey of Nature Discovery on Mount Kinabalu
The whistling wind in fresh and cool air on Mount Kinabalu may make travelers hard to believe it is a hiking in a forest near the equator.
In early September, sun beach is undoubtedly an ideal resort for summer holidays in Sabah, east Malaysia. With a temperature of around 23 degrees Celsius, the tropical rain forest, however, offers another shelter from the hot spell, and moreover, makes travelers to enjoy the tour of eco-treasures.
Rising majestically at 4,095 meters, Mount Kinabalu has a mystique so inspiring and magical as well. With its granite peak often shrouded in mists and clouds, it never fails to lure travelers all the way to the top.
Mount Kinabalu, the highest mountain in southeast Asia, has one of the richest and most flora species in the world and has become a new attraction, said Desmund Chong, a tour guide leading a Hong Kong team to the mount.
On Mount Kinabalu, Travelers are able to experience various temperature zones, ranging from the lowland tropical rain forest zone through the montane oak, rhododendron and conifer forests to alpine meadow plants and stunted bushes of the summit zone.
Located at 1,558 meters above the sea level, the Kinabalu Park covers 754 square kilometers of the most complex ecological system compacted in one small area.
Kota Kinabalu, the state capital of Sabah, was specially named in reverence to Mount Kinabalu. It takes less than 2 hours' drive from Kota Kinabalu to arrive at the park.
Chong said that in fact, much of the world-renowned eco- treasures of Sabah can be found at the Kinabalu Park, the first World Heritage Site in Malaysia.
There are over 1,200 species of wild orchids and 40 varieties of oak, not to mention countless blooms, mosses and ferns. The park is also a sanctuary for mammals, birds and reptiles.
He said the park is a favorite gateway whether for day trips or week-long stays to explore the rare and endless eco-treasures found within.
During a hiking, it is easy to find trees of over 70 years old and rarely seen plants, he said.
If lucky enough, travelers may even catch sight of a Rafflesia, the world's largest flower, he said, pointing to a model of Rafflesia set by the walking trail.
There is no particular flowering season for Rafflesia, and the flowers can appear at any time during the year, he added.
Located 39 kilometers northward is the park's station at Poring Hot Springs, which offers travelers a hot sulfur bath to disperse the fatigue of climbing.
From the Hot Springs, there are various trails leading through rich lowland forest, mountain streams and waterfalls towards the bat caves.
Making ways gingerly along the swaying tree top canopy walkway, travelers will be awarded with new insights of the tropical forest and eye-to-eye view of its tree top denizens. Looking down, there is probably an iridescent cloud, a host of butterflies hovering below.
Eco-tourism has become a new travel trend in the last decade and Malaysia's natural attractions have been carefully developed.
Sabah emerges as a major tourism attraction due to its abundant tropical eco-treasures and the diversified ethnic culture, said Chong Kah Kiat, chief minister and minister of tourism, science and technology of Sabah.
He believes that with the changes of tourists' taste, Sabah is sure to the most popular site for nature tourism in Asia.
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