Channel Road of Sibu

The Channel Road in Sibu has a Chinese name, Side of the Sea Road. It is not really at the side of the sea because Sibu is situated more than 35 miles inland on an island.

Channel Road is quite an appropriate name because the road is next to a channel, the Lembangan River.

It is the first road in the history of Sibu.

Channel Road 1926


It is today a lovely road, with two long rows of buildings. Looking towards the north, the old shop houses belonging to the first settlers, the Teo Chius, the Minnang People reflect their long history of more than 100 years.

On the bank of the river (now all hidden and filled up) is the largest market in South East Asia - the Sibu Central Market.




The Channel Road is usually alive in the morning with people who come to do their every day shopping for fresh food.



Trishaw drivers still make their mark on the roads and they offer good services to the old especially. Their presence makes a lot of differences. They reflect the culture and history of Sibu.