With year-long temperatures rarely straying too far from either side of 30 degrees (Celsius, not Fahrenheit) and the typical precipitation being rain and more rain, tropical KL doesn’t exactly scream winter when Christmas season comes around. However, that doesn’t mean that you can’t find some cool – pun intended – places around town that provide a welcoming frosty atmosphere.
Do note that the information provided below is for reference only. Current COVID-19 infection management efforts, including various SOPs and movement control orders, may affect aspects such as crowd-capacity measures, attraction activities or features, ticket prices, admission hours, and even the operation status of the following places. As these details may vary from time to time during this pandemic period, please check with the attraction for the latest opening hours, pricing information and other key updates that visitors should know if you plan on dropping by.
LET IT SNOW!
SnoWalk i-City (opening 19 Dec 2020)
Defying the hot and humid climate outside, there is an indoor space in Selangor with more than a smattering of snow and a chunk of ice – SnoWalk over at i-City Shah Alam. Sporting temperatures as low as -8 degrees Celsius, this attraction imparts the feeling of a wintery realm. It covers an area approximating a couple of football fields, brimming with things to see and do.
Catching the eye and camera flashes are ice sculptures that have been meticulously hewn by a team of sculptors from Harbin, China. Venture into the snowfall zone for a snow shower, and use the powdery stuff to build snowmen and engage in friendly snowball fights. Ice sliding is a popular SnoWalk activity too!
Where i-City Theme Park, Shah Alam, Selangor
Tel 03 5521 8800
i-city.my
SnowWorld Genting (temporarily closed)
Up at Resorts World Genting’s First World Plaza is a quaint recreation of a European winter village. It’s what you might expect to see when you peer into a snow globe, only this is a substantial setting that lets visitors explore its sub-zero environment.
SnowWorld is not a one-dimensional backdrop, for it is a play land for all that offers snowfall, igloos, and even a Cresta Run Toboggan slide. There are also 3D Tricks Art attractions that let you take some creative photos; become a knight on horseback, or be a centaur on ice, or throw yourself into other fantastical scenes!
Where Level 2, First World Plaza, Resorts World Genting, Pahang
Tel 03 6101 1118
rwgenting.com
CUT THE ICE!
Icescape IOI City Mall (opening 21 Dec 2020)
Ice skating is another prominent winter activity, and within IOI City Mall in Putrajaya is where one can glide on ice thanks to the generously proportioned Icescape. It measures 30-metre by 60-metre sides, and was the first Olympic-sized ice rink to be built in the country; the largest ice skating rink in Malaysia as recognised by the Malaysia Book of Records then.
Naturally, it has seen loads of skating competitions over the years. Those gliding on the ice are bathed in the sensation of skating in the open air thanks to a wall of glass that stretches several storeys high along a section of the rink.
Where IOI City Mall, Putrajaya
Tel 03 8328 8875
fb.com/icescapeicerink
Sunway Pyramid Ice
Tucked inside the second-largest mall in the country, Sunway Pyramid, this is the rink that comes to the mind of many locals when the topic of ice skating is mentioned. Sunway Pyramid Ice has a following due to its conspicuous location and its world-class ice skating experience. It has hosted many a tournament for ice sports in its time.
Measuring 39 metres by 22.5 metres, the rink is visible to shoppers and bystanders across five floors – almost like a tiered spectator stand! No matter your skating style or level, there is freedom for individual expression on the sprawling icy surface.
Where Sunway Pyramid Shopping Mall, Sunway City Selangor
Tel 03 7492 6800
sunwaypyramidice.com
Royale Ice Skating Rink (temporarily closed)
On the stretch of retail and leisure centres that call Mutiara Damansara home is Royale Chulan Damansara, a 5-star hotel which houses the Royale Ice Skating Rink. This venue offers a more intimate skating experience thanks to its relatively modest size, making it perfect for children, beginners and those intimidated by packs of skaters whooshing by.
Penguin aids, basically giant penguin figures that can be held on to, help new skaters build confidence. There is also the Penguin Café with a nice menu selection, as well as a playroom where kids can play while their parents carve the ice without worry.
Where Royale Chulan Damansara, Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Tel 012 296 0773
fb.com/RoyaleIceSkatingRink
MyNISS (currently closed)
The Malaysia National Ice Skating Stadium (MyNISS) at Empire City Damansara has built a reputation for being a great ice skating place in KL. It was notably the venue for the 2017 SEA Games winter sports events, which not only means it is an ice skating rink that meets international regulations, but a location with sporting history!
Hence, it’s a haven for an ice skater, no matter if they are an amateur or professional. At 1,800 square metres in size, the place is more than large enough to accommodate a healthy number of skaters at a go.
Where Empire City, Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Tel 017 350 6173
fb.com/MYNISS.EmpireCity
HIT THE SLOPES!
First Traxx
First Traxx is a place where snow sports fans can keep their skills polished between seasons, first-timers can learn the ropes on the slopes long before their overseas winter holiday, and the adventurous can enjoy skiing or snowboarding without breaking the bank!
Giant indoor Infinity Slopes (think massive treadmills angled to emulate a mountainside) serve as the training ground. Surfaced with moistened synthetic turf, the slope is a safe way to get the hang of things, under the eye of instructors who can halt proceedings if they sense a spill – impossible on real snow and a godsend to rusty or uninitiated folks.
Where UG-3A, Block D, Axis Business Park, Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Tel 03 7932 3303
firsttraxx.com