This is the story of how a desolate tin mine became Sunway City, a billion-dollar township, and how Sunway Pyramid transformed from quirky concept mall to a cultural landmark loved by generations.
Today, it’s one of Malaysia’s most recognizable landmarks—a 23-meter lion head guarding a golden pyramid, surrounded by roller coasters, universities, and bustling malls. But few people remember what came before: a giant, abandoned mining hole in the middle of Selangor.
🏗️ Chapter 1: A Vision Born from Ruins
In the 1980s, the land where Sunway Pyramid now stands was nothing but a massive tin-mining wasteland—unusable, scarred, and forgotten. But for Tan Sri Jeffrey Cheah, founder of Sunway Group, it was a blank canvas.
Rather than write it off, he envisioned a thriving, sustainable city—a place where people could live, study, work, play, and shop, all within walking distance.
That vision laid the foundation for Sunway City, one of Malaysia’s most ambitious integrated township projects.
🌊 Chapter 2: Sunway Lagoon – The First Splash (1992)
Before the mall, there was the waterpark.
Sunway Lagoon opened in 1992 as Malaysia’s first major theme park. It featured water slides, a man-made surf beach, suspension bridges, and even bungee jumping.
For many Malaysians, it was their first experience with world-class theme park attractions. And it wasn’t just a thrill-seeker’s paradise—it was also an early step in drawing public attention to what was once a forgotten plot of land.
🛍️ Chapter 3: The Birth of Sunway Pyramid (1997)
In 1997, Sunway Pyramid opened its doors. But it wasn’t just another shopping center.
With Egyptian-inspired architecture, complete with hieroglyph-covered walls and a giant sphinx, it felt more like a movie set than a mall. Southeast Asia had never seen anything like it.
It quickly became the place for youth culture—bowling alleys, ice skating rinks, arcades, cinemas, and an explosion of local fashion and street snacks.
Sunway Pyramid was where weekends came alive.
🚝 Chapter 4: Malaysia’s First City Monorail – SunTrek 2000
Here’s a piece of trivia most people don’t know: Before KL Monorail existed, Sunway had its own.
In 2000, SunTrek 2000 launched as Malaysia’s first public monorail system. It was a 3-kilometer loop with stops at Sunway Pyramid, Sunway Lagoon, and Sunway College.
Though it shut down after a few years, the infrastructure laid the groundwork for Sunway BRT—Malaysia’s first elevated bus rapid transit line.
Parts of the monorail route have since been transformed into the Sunway Canopy Walk, a covered pedestrian bridge connecting Sunway University, Monash University, and the mall.
🌃 Chapter 5: The Golden Age of Nightlife (2000s)
Long before smartphones and Instagram stories, Sunway was the nightlife capital for an entire generation.
Clubs like CocoBanana, barCelona, and the iconic Euphoria by Ministry of Sound turned the area into a nightlife mecca. University students, young professionals, and weekend warriors all flocked to Sunway to party until the early morning hours.
It wasn’t just about dancing—it was a cultural moment.
“If you partied in Sunway during the 2000s, you probably have at least one wild story.”
🕹️ Chapter 6: Arcade Culture, Bowling Lanes & Asian Avenue
Beyond fashion and food, Sunway Pyramid built a full entertainment ecosystem.
- 🎳 Sunway Mega Lanes became one of the largest bowling alleys in the country.
- 🕹️ A massive arcade beside the cinema was every 90s kid’s paradise.
- 🛍️ Asian Avenue emerged as a Gen Z haven—packed with anime merch, Korean skincare, quirky snacks, and phone accessories.
Every corner of the mall was a snapshot of its time.
💬 What’s Your Sunway Memory?
Maybe it was your first date at the skating rink.
Maybe you queued up for anime figurines at Asian Avenue.
Or maybe you danced the night away at Euphoria.
Either way, Sunway Pyramid is more than a mall. It’s a Malaysian memory machine.
