Ipoh, Capital city in Perak, Malaysia
Ipoh is the capital of the state of Perak in Malaysia, stretching along the Kinta River between limestone hills. The caves in the hills around the city house Buddhist temples and shrines with colored murals.
British miners founded the city in 1880 after rich tin deposits were discovered in the rivers. The tin mines brought Chinese and Malay workers here in the early 1900s, making the place one of the wealthiest in Southeast Asia.
Many locals still drink the famous white coffee, brewed with beans slowly roasted in palm oil margarine to create a mild taste. The British colonial architecture stands next to Chinese shophouses and shapes the cityscape today.
Travelers reach the city by highway from Kuala Lumpur in about two hours or by train from the main station. Sultan Azlan Shah Airport offers regional connections for those who want to arrive faster.
The city center still preserves over 300 buildings from the colonial era, built around 1910 during the tin boom. Some street corners display old signs with British names next to current Malay labels.
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