Miri City

An oil-rich boomtown at the northern end of Sarawak, Miri is a major transport hub for those heading to/from Brunei, the Kelabit Highlands and three of Sarawak's national parks: Mulu, Niah Caves and Lambir Hills.

The town itself is a somewhat poorly laid-out jumble of big hotels, shops, restaurants and a surprising number of bars. While it's not the most prepossessing town in Borneo, it's not a bad place to lay over for a day or two en route to or from the jungle.

Miri is an industrial town whose appeal for tourists lies in its proximity to some of Sarawak's most beautiful national parks. The famous Mulu National Park is just a 40 minute plane flight away from Miri. You can reach Lambir Hills National Park, which is ranked as one of the world's most bio-diverse sites within half an hour, and even the Niah Caves are only 2 hours away.

Miri itself also has a few sights to offer. The Tua Pek Kong Temple in the old part of town is worth a visit. Right next to the temple you will find the fish and produce markets which open daily.

Miri is a city in northern Sarawak, Malaysia, on the island of Borneo. It is the second largest city in Sarawak, with a population of about 300,000, and the government administrative centre of Miri District in Miri Division.

Miri is the birthplace of Malaysia's petroleum industry, which remains the major industry of the city. The first oil well (the Grand Old Lady) was drilled by Shell in 1910, and is now a state monument and one of Miri's tourist attractions. Shell also built Malaysia's first oil refinery in Lutong, a suburb of Miri, in 1914. Recently, vast oil reserves were discovered just offshore northeast of the city. Miri has grown phenomenally since oil was first discovered in the early 1900s, burgeoning into the business, commercial and educational centre it is today.

The city's other major industries include processed timber, oil palm production, and tourism. The world famous Gunung Mulu National Park with its Sarawak Chamber, a half an hour flight from the city, is one of the favourite eco-tourism destinations. Miri is also the main tourist gateway for Loagan Bunut National Park, Lambir National Park, and the Niah Caves. Miri has lately become known for its exotic coral reefs.