Radiating with the natural beauty of its limestone caves and old-world architecture, Malaysia’s fifth-largest city is a beguiling, lush web of vibrant coffee shops (don’t miss Nam Heong White Coffee), local cuisine (the moonlight noodles at Tuck Kee!) and heritage buildings that is increasingly attracting a growing number of curious tourists. The city is a walkable feast, boasting the #6 ranking for Tree Cover and #23 for Air Quality, which both contribute to its #64 ranking in our overall Livability index. Expect Ipoh to ascend even further with increasing urban rejuvenation like the Ipoh Riverfront Development Project that is expanding the riverfront with parks, cycling paths and food hubs.
Ongoing investment in leading tourist attraction Lost World of Tambun, a jungle-ensconced theme park peppered with natural hot springs, continues to draw families from across Malaysia and Asia, contributing to Ipoh’s growing hospitality sector. Ipoh’s blooming economy is supported by its diversity, with key sectors such as agriculture and manufacturing rounding out tourism. The Kinta District Smart City Initiative, part of Malaysia’s broader Smart City plan, aims to further modernize Ipoh by 2030. The initiative focuses on integrating smart technology in transportation and green energy solutions, tapping into the city’s #15-ranked Labor Force Participation.