Pekanbaru, Provincial capital in Riau, Indonesia
Pekanbaru sits along the banks of the Siak River and is the capital of Riau Province in eastern Sumatra. The city spreads along the river and serves as an economic center for the region.
Merchants from Minangkabau established a market here in 1784, which became the core of the later city. During World War II, forced laborers built a railway through the area under Japanese occupation.
The name joins pekan for market and baru for new, reflecting its origins as a trading post. Several communities live here side by side and maintain crafts like wood carving and basket weaving.
Sultan Syarif Kasim II International Airport connects the city with destinations in Indonesia and Malaysia. Roads run from here to Medan in the north, Jambi in the south, and Bukittinggi in the west.
Remains of a World War II railway track remind visitors of the forced labor under Japanese occupation. A memorial honors the workers who lost their lives during the construction of this line.
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