Kuala Lumpur has been around for many generations now, having served as an administrative centre during colonial times and as the capital city post-independence.

There are still many buildings with historical value scattered throughout the city, many of which Malaysians drive past daily without a thought.

Here are just a handful hidden within the city. Who knows what stories their walls could tell?

1. Sin Sze Si Ya Temple

Did you know that one of the country’s oldest Taoist temples resides in Kuala Lumpur? Tucked away on Jalan Tun HS Lee, this 158-year-old structure occupies a quiet spot in the bustling city.

While it may not attract as many tourists as the Thean Hou Temple, Sin Sze Si Ya has an interesting story to tell.

Back in 1864, Kapitan Yap Ah Loy built the temple for the deities Sze Si Ya and Sin Si Ya, whose divine help he believed had aided him in the Selangor Civil War.

Shrines for these two deities can be found within the temple, as well as two procession sedan chairs constructed over a century ago.

While worshippers still stream in on a daily basis, the temple is busiest on auspicious days like Chinese New Year.

2. Vivekananda Ashrama

This heritage building was quite recently in the spotlight as it was the centre of a legal battle that threatened its continued existence.

First constructed in 1904, the Vivekananda Ashrama served as a community centre for the Tamils in the area.

At the front of the building is a bronze statue of Swami Vivekananda, the building’s namesake and patriotic saint in India.

For much of its early history, the building served as a meeting place and library for students and scholars wishing to study Vivekananda’s works.

To end any possibility of the building being demolished for development projects, the ashrama was declared a National Heritage Site in 2016.

3. Loke Mansion

The names of streets in Kuala Lumpur often have historical significance, and Jalan Loke Yew is one such example.

Loke Yew was a prominent tin tycoon back in the early days and his last residence happened to be a grand mansion known today as Loke Mansion.

Located on Jalan Medan Tuanku, the mansion was built in 1892 and consisted of two floors; it was also said to be among the first residences in Malaya to have electricity.

Construction of the mansion apparently took over 12 years and its design integrated influences from Chinese, Dutch and Moorish architecture.

After Loke Yew died in 1917, the mansion changed hands several times, acting as a Japanese barracks, a school and later, a police academy.

4. Sulaiman Building

Located on the ever-busy Jalan Sultan Hishamuddin, this building is close to two other famous heritage buildings – the KL Railway Station and the Malayan Railway Administration Building.

Built in 1926, the Sulaiman Building took four years to complete and its design included features from the influential art deco movement of the time.

The building was named after the fifth Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sulaiman, to honour his reign.

Today, the Sulaiman Building remains in use as it houses the Asian International Arbitration Centre. It has been awarded National Heritage status.

5. Oriental Building

At present, the tallest building in KL is none other than the Warisan Merdeka Tower, which stands at a whopping 678.9 metres.

Back when skyscrapers were still a figment of some architect’s imagination, the tallest building in KL actually stood on Jalan Tun Perak.

This was the Oriental Building, which still stands today with its imposing grey exterior greeting commuters who pass through that busy road.

Completed in 1931, it was a five-storey building which dominated the skyline back then and it served as a retail store.

Later in its history, the building would house Radio Malaya and the offices of the Oriental Life Assurance Company. However, it is currently vacant.

6. Anglo-Oriental Building

Not to be confused with the similarly-named and designed Oriental Building, the Anglo-Oriental Building on Jalan Tangsi has its own story.

The two buildings actually share the same architect, Arthur Oakley Coltman, and they were both built in the art deco style.

It was a modern office for its time, with a built-in parking lot, and it served as the office of the Anglo-Oriental Malaya Ltd, a mining company.

For a time, the building housed the Mahkota College but as of 2015, the building has been left vacant.