Chinatown sits about 300 metres south-east of Merdeka Square, centred on Jalan Petaling — a car-free market street that's at its best after dark, when stalls, food vendors, and bright lights take over. You'll find old shophouses selling Chinese herbs, jewellery, and baskets alongside fortune tellers, flower sellers, and sign painters spreading their wares across the pavements.
Come hungry. The hawker stalls around Jalan Petaling and Jalan Hang Lekir serve some of KL's best street food: hokkien mee, roast duck, and freshly made popiah. The Sri Mahamariamman Temple and the ornate Chan See Shu Yuen clan house are both within easy walking distance.