Log in Sign up
Back to Discover
🗺️

Johor Bahru

geography Maturity 11-13

Johor Bahru is a big city.

Johor Bahru, Malaysia - 49676323172.jpg
Johor Bahru, Malaysia - 49676323172.jpg
It is in Malaysia. It sits near Singapore. Many people live there. It has very fast internet.
The Astaka 2022.jpg
The Astaka 2022.jpg
Do you want to visit?

36 words

Johor Bahru is a big city in Malaysia.

Johor Bahru, Malaysia - 49676323172.jpg
Johor Bahru, Malaysia - 49676323172.jpg
It sits near the land of Singapore. Many people live there.
The Astaka 2022.jpg
The Astaka 2022.jpg

A long time ago, it was a small fishing village. Now, it is a very busy place. It has many tall buildings.

The city has very fast internet. It also has a big port for ships.

The Astaka 2022.jpg
The Astaka 2022.jpg

Many people cross the land border to visit. This makes it a very busy spot. It is a great place to see.

Johor Bahru is a special part of Malaysia.

96 words

Johor Bahru is a large city in Malaysia.

Johor Bahru, Malaysia - 49676323172.jpg
Johor Bahru, Malaysia - 49676323172.jpg
It sits at the southern end of the Malay Peninsula. The city is right next to Singapore.
Singapore causeway blown up.jpg
Singapore causeway blown up.jpg
Many people cross the land border every day. The Johor-Singapore Causeway is the busiest land crossing in the world.

Long ago, the area was a small fishing village. It was once called Tanjung Puteri. Later, a leader named Temenggong Daeng Ibrahim renamed it. The name Johor Bahru means "New Johor" in the Malay language.

Temenggong Daeng Ibrahim.jpg
Temenggong Daeng Ibrahim.jpg

The city has changed a lot over time. In the 1940s, Japanese forces occupied the town. After the war, it became a center for Malay politics. Today, it is a very busy business hub. It has very fast internet speeds.

The Astaka 2022.jpg
The Astaka 2022.jpg
It also has a very large port called Tanjung Pelepas. The city has many tall buildings. One building, The Astaka, is the tallest home in Southeast Asia.
The Astaka 2022.jpg
The Astaka 2022.jpg
It is a growing and lively place to visit.

173 words

Johor Bahru is the capital city of the Malaysian state of Johor.

Johor Bahru, Malaysia - 49676323172.jpg
Johor Bahru, Malaysia - 49676323172.jpg
It sits at the southern end of the Malay Peninsula. The city borders the country of Singapore.
Singapore causeway blown up.jpg
Singapore causeway blown up.jpg
It is a very important place for business and money in Malaysia. The World Bank says it is the second best city in the country for business.
Johor Bahru City Council Tower.jpg
Johor Bahru City Council Tower.jpg
It also has the fastest internet speeds of any Malaysian city. Many people visit this city from all over the world.
Persada johor international convention centre.jpg
Persada johor international convention centre.jpg

The city is a busy hub for travel and trade. It has the busiest land border crossing in the world. This crossing is called the Johor-Singapore Causeway.

Singapore causeway blown up.jpg
Singapore causeway blown up.jpg
People can also travel by train using the KTM Intercity. There is even a future link called the RTS Link being planned.
JB Sentral 5.jpg
JB Sentral 5.jpg
For sea travel, the city is near the Tanjung Pelepas port. This port is the 15th busiest port in the whole world.
Johor Bahru, Malaysia - 49676323172.jpg
Johor Bahru, Malaysia - 49676323172.jpg
The city is also served by the Senai International Airport.

Long ago, this place was a small Malay fishing village. It was originally known as Tanjung Puteri.

Temenggong Daeng Ibrahim.jpg
Temenggong Daeng Ibrahim.jpg
In 1858, a leader named Temenggong Daeng Ibrahim renamed it Iskandar Puteri. He encouraged people to move there to farm the land. Chinese settlers planted black pepper and gambier.
Johor Bahru town in the 1920s.jpg
Johor Bahru town in the 1920s.jpg
Javanese settlers built canals and planted coconuts. After the Temenggong died, Sultan Abu Bakar renamed the area Johor Bahru. The name means "New Johor" in the Malay language.
Temenggong Daeng Ibrahim.jpg
Temenggong Daeng Ibrahim.jpg

The city has seen many big changes through history. During the Pacific War, Japanese forces occupied the town.

Japanese troops final stages to conquest Singapore, Johore Bahru (AWM 127900).JPG
Japanese troops final stages to conquest Singapore, Johore Bahru (AWM 127900).JPG
They used the Bukit Serene Palace as a main base. After the war ended, the city became a center for Malay politics.
SultanPalastJB.jpg
SultanPalastJB.jpg
In 1994, Johor Bahru was officially granted city status.
Johor Bahru City Council Tower.jpg
Johor Bahru City Council Tower.jpg
Since then, it has grown very quickly with new buildings and roads. It is now part of the Iskandar Malaysia project.

Today, Johor Bahru is a place of very tall buildings.

The Astaka 2022.jpg
The Astaka 2022.jpg
One famous building is called The Astaka. It is the tallest residential building in Southeast Asia.
The Astaka 2022.jpg
The Astaka 2022.jpg
The city also has many places for fun and learning. You can visit the Johor Zoo or the state library.
Johor Public Library Corporation (2020).jpg
Johor Public Library Corporation (2020).jpg
People also go to large malls like KSL City. It is a lively city that connects many different people and cultures.

443 words

Johor Bahru is the capital city of the Malaysian state of Johor.

Johor Bahru, Malaysia - 49676323172.jpg
Johor Bahru, Malaysia - 49676323172.jpg
It sits at the southern end of the Malay Peninsula. This location places it directly next to the city-state of Singapore. The city is a major financial and business center for Malaysia. According to the World Bank, it is the second best-performing city in the nation. This ranking is based on economic competitiveness and prosperity. It also features the fastest urbanisation growth in the country.
Johor Bahru City Council Tower.jpg
Johor Bahru City Council Tower.jpg

The city serves as a massive hub for transportation and trade. It contains the world's busiest land border crossing. This crossing is the Johor-Singapore Causeway.

Singapore causeway blown up.jpg
Singapore causeway blown up.jpg
Travelers also use the KTM Intercity train system. A future project called the RTS Link will also connect the two regions. For sea travel, the city is near the Tanjung Pelepas port. This port is the 15th busiest port in the world. Air travel is handled by the Senai International Airport.

Johor Bahru has a complex history of changing names. Originally, the area was a Malay fishing village called Tanjung Puteri. In 1858, Temenggong Daeng Ibrahim renamed the area Iskandar Puteri.

Temenggong Daeng Ibrahim.jpg
Temenggong Daeng Ibrahim.jpg
He acquired the territory from Sultan Ali through a treaty. This treaty was signed on 10 March 1855. After the Temenggong died, Sultan Abu Bakar renamed the town Johor Bahru. The name means "New Johor" in the Malay language.
Johor Bahru town in the 1920s.jpg
Johor Bahru town in the 1920s.jpg

Development began through migration and agricultural work. The Temenggong encouraged Chinese and Javanese people to settle there. Chinese settlers planted black pepper and gambier crops. Javanese settlers dug parit, which are canals, to drain the land. They also built roads and planted coconuts. A Chinese businessman named Wong Ah Fook arrived during this era. He later became a close patron to the Sultan. He helped build the State Mosque and the Royal Palace.

SultanPalastJB.jpg
SultanPalastJB.jpg

The city faced significant challenges during the Pacific War. Japanese forces invaded the town on 31 January 1942.

Japanese troops final stages to conquest Singapore, Johore Bahru (AWM 127900).JPG
Japanese troops final stages to conquest Singapore, Johore Bahru (AWM 127900).JPG
The British and Allied forces had to retreat toward Singapore. During this retreat, the British blew up the causeway.
Singapore causeway blown up.jpg
Singapore causeway blown up.jpg
The Japanese used the Bukit Serene Palace as their main base. After the war ended, the city became a center for Malay nationalism. In 1946, the United Malay National Organisation (UMNO) was formed at the Istana Besar.

Johor Bahru has experienced rapid growth in recent decades. It was officially granted city status on 1 January 1994.

Johor Bahru City Council Tower.jpg
Johor Bahru City Council Tower.jpg
The city is now part of the Iskandar Malaysia project. This is the largest special economic zone in the nation. This project helps drive investment and urban development. The city also features a central business district near Wong Ah Fook Street. This area has expanded since the mid-1990s.

Modern Johor Bahru is known for its impressive skyline. The city contains many high-rise buildings and apartments. One notable example is The Astaka.

The Astaka 2022.jpg
The Astaka 2022.jpg
It is the tallest residential building in Southeast Asia. It is also one of the tallest twin towers in the world. The city's infrastructure includes large shopping malls like KSL City. It also offers public services like the Sultanah Aminah Hospital.
Sultanah Aminah Hospital.JPG
Sultanah Aminah Hospital.JPG

The city connects to many different economic and social systems. It has the second most efficient governance in Malaysia for property registration. It also has very fast internet speeds. In 2024, Mercer ranked it as having high living quality. It is the third highest in Southeast Asia. This follows Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. The city remains a vital link between Malaysia and the rest of the region.

620 words
🖼️ Images & Media (27)
File:Temenggong Daeng Ibrahim.jpg
Temenggong Daeng Ibrahim.jpg
File:Johor Bahru town in the 1920s.jpg
Johor Bahru town in the 1920s.jpg
File:Japanese troops final stages to conquest Singapore, Johore Bahru (AWM 127900).JPG
Japanese troops final stages to conquest...
File:Singapore causeway blown up.jpg
Singapore causeway blown up.jpg
File:The Astaka 2022.jpg
The Astaka 2022.jpg
File:Johor Bahru City Council Tower.jpg
Johor Bahru City Council Tower.jpg
File:Johor Bahru High Court.jpg
Johor Bahru High Court.jpg
File:Tropical rainforest, Johor Bahru.jpg
Tropical rainforest, Johor Bahru.jpg
File:Johor Bahru, Malaysia - 49676323172.jpg
Johor Bahru, Malaysia - 49676323172.jpg
File:Persada johor international convention centre.jpg
Persada johor international convention centre.jpg
File:JB Sentral 5.jpg
JB Sentral 5.jpg
File:Larkin Public Market and Bazaar (231104).jpg
Larkin Public Market and Bazaar (231104).jpg

+ 15 more

Up Next
🗺️
Johor
Geography
More to explore

🔬 Go deeper

More advanced topics to explore

🪜 Step back

Simpler topics to build understanding

What is Nepedia?

A free, ad-free encyclopedia for children. Every article is written at five reading levels, so the same page works for a five-year-old and a fifteen-year-old — use the level switcher above to see this one change. No account needed to read.