Sandakan, on the northeast coast of Sabah in Malaysian Borneo, is a city where history, wildlife, and culture come together. Once a major trading port known as “Little Hong Kong” for its bustling connections to the wider world, Sandakan has retained its multicultural character, with influences from Chinese, Malay, and Indigenous communities visible in its temples, markets, and cuisine. The waterfront, lined with seafood restaurants and lively markets, reflects the city’s enduring ties to the sea.

The city is also a gateway to some of Borneo’s most celebrated wildlife experiences. Just outside Sandakan lies the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, where orphaned and injured orangutans are cared for before returning to the wild. Nearby, the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre protects the world’s smallest bear, while the Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary gives visitors a chance to see these unique primates up close. For birdwatchers, the mangroves and rainforest reserves around Sandakan teem with species found nowhere else.

Sandakan’s history adds another dimension. The Sandakan Memorial Park commemorates the thousands of Allied prisoners of war who suffered during World War II, a sobering reminder of the city’s wartime past. At the same time, colonial-era buildings and Buddhist temples speak to its earlier role as a cosmopolitan trading hub.