Singkawang: A Thousand Faces of the Amoi City

So why is Singkawang called the "Amoi City"? by AI.

BORNEOTRAVEL - SINGKAWANG:  If you ever find yourself in West Kalimantan, whether for business or leisure, make sure to stop by Singkawang. Known as the "Amoi City" for its many charming Chinese girls, Singkawang isn’t just a feast for your taste buds—it’s a feast for the eyes.

"Amoi" is the term used by the Hakka people in Singkawang to address young girls. Nevertheless, they remain timeless, beautiful, and radiant.

Despite bathing and brushing their teeth in the canals and rivers that flow from the mountains, dividing the city of Singkawang, these Amoi girls maintain their beauty.

So why is Singkawang called the "Amoi City"?

Singkawang's moniker as the Amoi City is indeed fitting.

In this city surrounded by hills and the sea, 42% or even more of its population is of Chinese ethnicity. At every street corner, even at various turns and hillsides, you can witness sturdy temples facing the sky, painted in the deep red hues known as toapekong in the local Hakka language.

Geographically, Singkawang is located in the equatorial region with coordinates between 0°44'55.85" - 1°01'21.51"S and 108°051'47.6" - 109°010'19"W. The area covers 504 km², and the city is traversed by the Singkawang River.

In the local Hakka language, the river is called "keu." In the past, the flowing river served as a bathing and natural sanitation facility for the residents. Surprisingly, bathing in a river with less clear water does not dull the complexion of these Amoi girls. They remain fair, clean, and with a radiant golden hue, always beautiful.

Amoi Singkawang: truly a timeless beauty

Singkawang, known as the city of a thousand toapekong, stands as one of the cultural tourist destinations in West Kalimantan. Its name has been renowned abroad for centuries. Singkawang has attracted immigrants from China due to the natural riches it harbors.

The Hakka people refer to this city surrounded by mountains and rivers as "San Khew Jong," literally meaning a region with water flowing from the mountains to the sea. After living for generations in San Khew Jong (Singkawang in Hakka), many Hakka people have lost touch with their ancestral roots. However, the younger generation now considers Singkawang as their homeland, shaping the city into a Chinese Town with a local touch.

Apart from being called the Amoi City, Singkawang is also known as the "City of a Thousand Temples." For centuries, this Chinatown has been home to immigrants from Southern China, particularly from Yunnan Province, arriving by boats, braving the rough sea waves.

In the Hakka language, the river is called "keu." In the past, the river served as a bathing and natural sanitation place for every resident. Surprisingly, even though they bathed in a river with less clear water, the Amoi girls' skin did not become dull. They remained fair, clean, and with a radiant golden hue, always beautiful.

In ancient times, the Chinese ethnic group from Southern China migrated to West Kalimantan. The first landing and its story can be found in a seaside temple in Pemangkat, towards Sambas.

Initially, the largest settlement of the Chinese ethnic group in the archipelago was along the river mouths and coastal areas. These Chinese immigrants, mostly of Hakka descent, flourished in the Monterado area of the present-day Bengkayang Regency in 1772. They primarily worked in gold mining, establishing specialized settlements known as "Chinatown" or Pecinan.

Similar to the current COVID-19 pandemic, a calamity struck one day in the Chinese settlement—a disease outbreak. At that time, there were no vaccines or doctors to cure the illness. The Chinese residents sought traditional healers or shamans who used both traditional and mystical methods.

They then organized a disaster aversion ritual together with the local population. This ritual took place on the 15th day of the first month of the Chinese lunar calendar. Unexpectedly, their good intentions to ward off diseases were granted. Feeling the benefits of the ritual in preventing disease outbreaks, the residents eventually turned this disaster aversion ritual into an annual tradition that has persisted to this day. The ritual is combined with the Chinese New Year celebration, known as Cap Go Meh, where "Cap Go" means fifteen, and "Meh" means night—thus, Cap Go Meh is the night of the 15th.

Singkawang is strategically located

Singkawang is strategically located between various cities and regencies, including Sambas, Bengkayang, and Mempawah. This position makes Singkawang a favored city for stopovers and visits, both economically and for tourism.

The dominant vibrant red color adds to the uniqueness of Singkawang, making it a city renowned for its cultural and artistic strength.

-- Rangkaya Bada