While most go to Cherating to enjoy a beach holiday, there are also many other things to do during your Cherating vacation. Cherating itself is a beach town, but in the other nearby towns, there is plenty to do and see that are not water-related. If you’re a history buff and love going to spots with a significance, then the Sungai Lembing Mines is a must-visit.
History of the Sungai Lembing Mines
Sungai Lembing town is located almost 50km away from Kuantan, the capital city of Pahang state (where Cherating is also located). The town used to be a bustling one in the early to mid-1900s, and was dubbed the “El Dorado of the East”. While the area was always a well-known producer of underground tin since the mid-1800s, production really ramped up in after 1888 when the Pahang Corporation established the underground mines. Chinese migrants were brought in and trained to mine for tin, and at that point of time, there wasn’t even any electricity.
In 1906, the Pahang Consolidated Company Limited (PCCL) took over management of the mines, and that’s when things really got serious. PCCL developed the mines into a massive network of underground tunnels, churning out tin at rates higher than ever before. Because the Sungai Lembing tin mines were doing exceptionally well, the nearby town also flourished, with PCCL providing it with water, electricity, and schools. The tin mining activities continued for 80 years after PCCL took over, before finally coming to a complete halt in 1986 after tin prices collapsed a year prior. Over the next decade, the town became more of a ghost town, though in recent years it has been revived as a tourist attraction, making it onto many Cherating visitors’ things-to-do list.
What You Can Expect During the Sungai Lembing Mines Excursion from Club Med Cherating Beach
From Club Med Cherating Beach, the journey to the Sungai Lembing Mines takes about an hour. The mines may not look like much from the outside, but there’s plenty to explore. Get on a short tram ride into the tunnels, and there, you get to take your time to read and digest the infographics on the tunnel walls that explain the rich history of how the tin mines functioned in its heyday. There are also models for you to view to understand how extensive the tunnel networks were underground, and you can see for yourself some of the chambers where tin was mined in.
After exploring the mines for a while, this Club Med Cherating Beach excursion continues with a trip to the nearby Sungai Lembing town, where you can take pictures of the former cowboy town that now seem suspended in time. Visit the markets to shop for some local delights, and don’t forget to buy yourself some baked goods like buns, cakes, coconut biscuits and more, all made in wood-fired ovens at the local bakeries.
Enjoy Other Cultural Excursions When You Stay at Club Med Cherating Beach!
There are many other things to do in Cherating, and with our Club Med Cherating excursions, you can be sure to cover the main ones. We offer excursions to Kuantan, to the mangrove river, the Blue Lagoon, and more, so you can catch a glimpse of authentic life in this locality. Of course, there are also a variety of excursions to enjoy Cherating’s natural offerings as well. So, give yourself the gift of a wonderful vacation by booking yourself a stay at Club Med Cherating Beach!
