Kuala Lumpur, Federal administrative division in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Kuala Lumpur is a federal administrative territory in Malaysia covering a dense urban center with tower blocks, older colonial buildings and sprawling residential neighborhoods spread across multiple districts. The streets are organized by different systems, some following a grid pattern while others wind along the topography of hills and rivers.
The settlement began as a tin mining camp in the 19th century, where traders and workers gathered at the confluence of two rivers. After the country's independence, it was separated from the surrounding province in 1974 to serve as a directly administered federal capital.
In the public parks and markets across the city, daily life blends Malay, Chinese and Indian communities, each maintaining their own festivals, food stalls and neighborhood routines. The multilingual street signs and the mixed prayer times in different districts show how these groups coexist and preserve their customs.
The city is divided into eleven districts, each with different characters ranging from older quarters with lower buildings to newer business areas with high rises. Visitors often notice that temperatures and air quality can shift depending on the time of day and proximity to green spaces.
The territory covers a relatively small area of less than 250 square kilometers yet contains a sizeable portion of the nation's economic activity. The mayor is appointed by the prime minister rather than elected by residents, which sets it apart in governance from other Malaysian cities.
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