Kuantan's most unusual landmark is a six-storey observation tower that stands 188 metres tall on the banks of the Kuantan River, a nod to the year 1888 when the city was formally established as an administrative centre. The number is also considered auspicious in Chinese numerology, a characteristic touch in a city where Malay and Chinese cultures have coexisted for generations.
The tower's outdoor viewing decks give the clearest wide-angle view of Kuantan available — river, mosque, city centre, and a hint of the South China Sea on clear mornings. It is a short walk from the city centre and easy to combine with a stroll along the riverfront. Go in the early morning to avoid heat and midday haze.