Chances are that you have heard of Resorts World Genting in Malaysia. You might remember by its former name – Genting Highlands. In the case that you have not heard about this destination, it is time you do. It is the next best thing in Malaysia and if you are planning a trip soon, there are definitely some reasons to visit Resorts World Genting.

Before we tell you why go there, let us tell you a bit about the place. RWG is a massive resort situated 6000 ft up on the Titiwangsa Mountains, about 50 km Northeast of Kuala Lumpur. It was built in 1960 and has transformed a lot over the years. It started as a hotel and grew into a mega complex of several hotels, malls, entertainment centers and much more. Resorts World Genting has a bit of everything for everyone and here are our top 5 exciting things to do there.

Shop till you drop

The SkyAvenue mall is the latest addition to Resorts World Genting. This lifestyle destination has over than 50 retail outlets spread across levels 2 and 3. They have all types of brands so you are quite spoilt for choice. You will find designer brands, sportswear, jewelry, appliances and gadgets among many other shopping items. In the near future, many more shops and outlets are set to open.

It is a massive mall so expect to take a good few hours to explore all of it. Be sure to also check out the gigantic LED screens at the center of the mall. It is a marvel to watch.

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If that is not enough there is also an outlet mall, which has over 140 premium outlet stores. You can find everything between designer fashion and sportswear to jewelry and accessories to even housewares and home furnishings. To access the outlet, you can either take the resort-wide shuttle buses, drive or take the Awana Skyway.

Eat your heart out

At Resorts World Genting, other than shopping, there is another thing you can do a lot of and that is ‘Eating’. Throughout the SkyAvenue mall and different resort outlets you will find dozens of restaurants, cafes and food courts.

Burgers & Lobsters Malaysia

There is everything between International fine dining, chain restaurants and local favorites. Whatever you are in the mood for, it is most probably there. Burgers and lobsters? Check. Pizzas? Double check. Malaysian street food? Oh, triple check!

Resorts World Genting Malaysia Street Food

Check out our separate guide on what to eat at RWG.

Ride the Awana Skyway

The Awana Skyway is one of the most iconic attractions at Resorts World Genting. It’s not only a great way to visit different attractions at RWG but also gives you a gorgeous view of the mountain. To make your experience even better, make sure you get the glass-floor gandola cable car. You will then get a fully 360 degree view of your surroundings including a lush rain forest directly below.

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Sadly for us, we didn’t get to see much because of the misty fog. Everything was so gray around us with near zero visibility.

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Get a fix on culture, arts and heritage

Just because it is a resort doesn’t mean you cannot experience something more meaningful. Get a deep understanding of local culture, heritage and arts by visiting these attractions.

SeniKome Péng Hēng

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Easily accessible from SkyAvenue mall and located at level 3 of First World Plaza, is an arts and cultural center called SeniKome. The word directly translates to “Our Art” in the local dialect. The center was established to promote the culture and arts of the beautiful East Coast Malaysia through exhibits, artifacts, paintings, crafts, music, games and an edutainment center. It is not a very large museum but do take the time to learn about each exhibit.

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You can even play some local games making the visit very interactive and immersive.

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Do not hesitate to ask the staff as they would be more than happy to explain how to play. If you want a detailed insight into all the exhibits and culture, join one of the guided tours, which are held three times per day.

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Tickets are 10 RM for non-Malaysians and 8 RM for Malaysians. If you are a RWG Member, the tickets are 7 RM.

Chin Swee Caves Temple

If you want a cultural experience, the Chin Swee Caves Temple complex is a must visit. It is easily accessibly by car or you can take the Awana Skyway.

On the day we went, it was truly magical and out-of-this-world experience. We felt at peace with the cool misty weather, scenic views and serene ambiance. Perhaps it is because we come from a busy and chaotic city, that a place like this feels like a place in heaven.

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We were looking forward to going up the nine-story pagoda but since there was so much mist, we couldn’t do so. I’m sure the view from up there would have been breathtaking.

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The complex also has a large Buddha where you can also pray other than the main temple on the ground. Take the time to explore the area and definitely don’t miss the ‘stages of hell’ exhibit which starts next to the Buddha statue.

The stages of hell take you on a journey to illustrate Chinese traditions and beliefs of the afterlife.

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Each stage of hell depicts different sins and how one would be punished if found guilty of them. For the faint of heart, beware as the illustrations and exhibits are quite shocking. We on the other hand found it interesting – it wasn’t our first “hell museum” either.

Fashion Forest

A bit of heritage and art, the fashion forest is another attraction you should visit at Resorts World Genting. It is quite unique because it’s not just a forest to hike at and learn about flora and fauna but also a place where technology meets environment. The concept is simple – they want to build awareness of environmental issues through the use of social media and influencers. All around this 130 millions year  old rain forest you can find WiFi, bar codes and NFC technology that lets you learn and share things about different species.

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“When you take a picture of a tree, no one really cares. It’s just a tree. But when you take a photo with it, people take a second look. That’s what we are trying to do here. We want people to make this forest come alive and build awareness” explains Eddie Chan very enthusiastically.

 

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Unfortunately, because of the weather again we could not explore the forest fully. We didn’t see many animals either except for some bugs, ants and termites. Oh and beware of leeches. Some of our friends brought them back to the hotel and didn’t even know it!

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Fox World

Originally the Genting Outdoor Theme Park, it is currently being renovated to unveil the first ever 20th century FOX world theme park. The entire amusement park is going to have attractions and rides inspired from FOX movies, shows and characters. Some of the movie-theme rides and attractions we hear rumors about are:

  • Planet of the apes
  • Ice Age
  • Alien Vs. Predator
  • Night at the Museum
  • Epic
  • Rio

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This is probably one of, if not, the most exciting thing that is going to be at Resorts World Genting. It’s a definitely a reason we are going back next year once the park officially opens. It is going to be huge! The exact dates aren’t confirmed yet unfortunately but when we know, we will surely let you know too.

As you can see, Resorts World Genting is a great place to visit with all their attractions and exciting activities. There are also plenty of places to stay there befitting all kinds of budgets. For luxury, stay at the Crockfords or Maxims, for creative inspiration the newly renovated Hotel on the Park is a great choice and if you like easy access to the mall and casino, Resort Hotel and Genting Grand are the ones to pick.

 

Disclaimer: this post is part of a FAM trip sponsored by Resorts World. As always, all thoughts & opinions are our own and 100% honest.