Kuala Lumpur is at once a seeming contradiction between old and new, and a glorious microcosm of modern Malaysia. The nation’s capital, Kuala Lumpur, or “KL” as it is commonly known, is dotted with British colonial buildings that pay homage to its past. But this bustling Asian metropolis also serves as home to the majestic Petronas Twin Towers – among the world’s tallest buildings.

Settled in 1857 by an expedition of 87 Chinese miners in search of valuable tin, Kuala Lumpur remains to this day the financial focal point of Malaysia. Now home to nearly one and a half million people, the city still beckons to those who seek commercial and cultural treasures.