Asia’s first Durian Experience Centre opens in KL, featuring museum, theatre, food, workshops
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
At the KLDEX museum, visitors can experience a recreated durian orchard that illustrates local ecosystems and cultivation methods.
PHOTO: THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
KUALA LUMPUR – Durian fever reached new heights with the official launch of the Kuala Lumpur Durian Experience Centre (KLDEX) on July 4, held alongside the Malaysia Durian Festival 2026 over the weekend.
Asia’s first integrated durian experience centre, located in Jalan Ampang, is developed by MyBolehBoleh with the support of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture Malaysia.
It is set to elevate Malaysia’s iconic durian industry while strengthening the country’s position as a premier culinary and tourism destination.
Spanning 1,900 sq m, KLDEX features a durian museum, immersive theatre, food and beverage outlets, interactive workshops and cultural storytelling.
Durian tasting sessions, which require pre-registration, are included in the programme.
The centre offers a journey into the world of durian, exploring its history, cultivation, scientific advancements and innovations. The museum is open daily from 10.30am to 10.30pm, with tickets costing between RM31 (S$9.80) and RM49.
Visitors can journey through historical archives and interactive exhibits before heading to the centre’s theatre, which stages four performances daily.
The original production follows the story of two rival durian traders whose spirited competition eventually gives way to friendship. It weaves together rap, humour and references to Malaysia’s many prized durian varieties in a lively celebration of the fruit’s heritage and culture.
KLDEX, co-founded by Ang Kean Wee and Edison Ang Wei Phang and curated by Enzo Sim, has been designed as a family-friendly destination celebrating Malaysia’s iconic “king of fruits”.
KLDEX, spanning 1,900 sq m, features a durian museum, immersive theatre, food and beverage outlets, interactive workshops and cultural storytelling.
PHOTO: THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
As an educational hub, the museum features a diverse collection of manuscripts documenting observations by mediaeval European and Chinese seafarers, a replica of a working durian plantation, and a range of interactive exhibits.
Together, they tell the lesser-known stories behind Malaysia’s iconic durian varieties and trace the evolution of the country’s durian plantation industry, now a significant contributor to Malaysia’s agricultural exports.
“The curation of Malaysia’s durian heritage presents challenges, as much of it is rooted in oral history and limited documentation, requiring careful cross-verification of sources,” said Sim, chief museum curator, at the opening of KLDEX.
“However, early accounts – such as Admiral Zheng He’s encounter with durian during his 15th-century visit to Melaka, as well as records from European explorers in the Malay Archipelago – are well documented in historical archives and manuscripts.”
At KLDEX, visitors can learn about the history of durian, from early encounters by travellers and merchants to its integration into Malaysian life.
PHOTO: THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
Beyond its historical narratives, the museum features a “durian orchard experience” zone that introduces orchard ecosystems and local cultivation methods, highlighting the network of farmers, exporters and tourism stakeholders who have contributed to the fruit’s global reach.
“For the stories of key varieties that brought Malaysia international acclaim, namely Black Thorn and Musang King, I travelled to Penang and Kelantan to interview farmers and descendants involved in registering these varieties with the Department of Agriculture,” added Sim.
Paintings, sculptures and lifelike market stalls further illustrate the emotional connection Malaysians have with durian.
The centre stages four performances daily at its theatre, presenting an original production about two rival durian traders whose competition ultimately gives way to friendship.
PHOTO: THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
Ang said that these installations, together with guided tasting sessions, allow visitors to learn about different varieties, aromas and textures.
He added: “Our vision is to safeguard Malaysia’s durian cultural heritage and systematically document the stories behind varieties such as D24, Musang King and Black Thorn. While Malaysian durians are renowned worldwide, their histories are seldom fully told.”
In a year when Kuala Lumpur’s cultural scene is set to develop further with the opening of Galeri PETRONAS at Ombak KLCC, the Merdeka Textile Museum at Merdeka 118, and Muara Arts in Medan Pasar, the arrival of a durian museum feels less like an oddity and more like a fruit that was always bound to fall into place.
In a city increasingly serious about culture, even durian has found its exhibition moment. THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
