While being the second largest town in the Malaysian state of Sabah, Sandakan is still a sight to behold, with its natural serenity and calmness that comes with the nearby Malaysian sea. The city is the probable house of flocks of millionaires, owing to the flourishing business within the city. Being one place of utmost historical importance, Sandakan is a place where one would like to stay and feel its history and the tales of the past that still lingers in its air. Apart from its history, the geographical location of the town is also quite intriguing. As it faces the Sulu Sea on its eastern border, the rumbles of the sea waves can be heard which generates a calm effect on the busy life of the city. Moreover, the presence of the sea has influenced the climate of the town also, making it a region of the tropical atmosphere.
The city life of Sandakan buzzes with the frantic voices of the traders who form the major economic block of the city. The town has been named as ‘MINI HONG KING’ owing to the surreal nature of the livelihood of the civilians and also the growing number of booming businesses in the town. Amongst all the businesses, that Sandakan is a house to, the timber export and import business is the one, which is the most profitable one, and perhaps that is the sole reason, why the economy of the town is rising sharply. It is also known as the ‘port town’ since the ports of the town are quite busy and exports most of the essentials like coffee, timber, tobacco, oil and many others.
The roots of city’s history are embedded deep within the pages of the 1870s where Sandakan was used to be the capital of the British North Borneo. It was during the years of 1884 to 1946, that Sandakan reached its glorious age and traders from all across the world visited the town for trading business. The influx of people gradually increased the town's economy, which however was hampered during the Second World War. After the war, the town was again rebuilt on the same land with many zealous civilians who aimed to reclaim the age-old glory of the town.
The city is full of tourist’s spot, some having its tales hailing from the rich history of the town. One such place is the Puu Jih Shi temple, a Chinese architecture standing proudly on a hill and facing the Sandakan Bay. Other spots are Agnes Keith House, SepilokOrangotan century and also the Gomatong caves, house to thousands of swifts.