Wong Nai Siong Memorial Park and Heritage Walk

Sungai Merah is also where Wong Nai Siong Memorial Park is located. This park is to commemorate the contribution of Wong Nai Siong to the people of Sibu. A century ago, the Foochows begun arriving here with Chinese scholar Wong Nai Siong at the invitation of the White Rajah to cultivate food in Central Sarawak to feed the swelling local population.

The first batch of 72 Foochows arrived in Sibu in 1901 through the arrangement of Chinese scholar Wong Nai Siong. Although agricultural activities were unsuccessful in the initial years, the settlers perservered. They started to prosper when Rev James Hoover (there is another memorial park for Rev James Hoover in Sungai Merah), a Methodist missionary, brought in rubber seeds from Singapore

A Heritage Walk had been constructed along the river passing through Sungai Merah and Wong Nai Siong Memorial Park form part of the Heritage Walk. This is an overview of the Heritage Walk. The layout board is rather faded and should be replaced.

Behind the memorial park is a round square called the "Landing Point". I guess this is the spot where the Chinese immigrant first landed.

Across the road, there is a small arch, called "Sungai Merah Gateway". Sungai Merah means "Red River". According to the legend, the river (Seduan River) once flow across here used to be red in colour.


The most prominent structure at this heritage walk is the Lovers Bridge. Built across the river and connecting the two pathway along the heritage walk.

Since it is called Lovers Bridge, many couples will walk across the bridge at night and enjoying the surrounding view at night.

This is the view from the Lovers Bridge

In the early morning or evening, some folks will jog around the pathway. It's nice to walk around and chairs can be found along the pathway.

This is what they called Pirates Esplanande. It's just wooden plank and 2 masts behind the ship's structure.

This shed is called Peddlars Pavilion. I wonder why it is named such a way. There were youngster gambling there when I was there.

The Riversteps is the access point to a boat to navigate along the river. It is also nice just to sit on the steps and enjoy the river flow. It's usually high tide at night and it is easier to berth a "sampan" or speed boat here. Note some construction work at the background. Looks like more new shop houses will be built surrounding this heritage walk

The river beautification is an ongoing process as highlighted by this notice

For a heritage walk, I notice there is nothing much posted around here to highlight the history behind the place and etc. The Wong Nai Siong Memorial Park is mostly made up of Chinese wordings which some visitors might not understand.