Pulau Mantanai Besar are three isolated islands located northwest of Kota Belud, about an hour's drive from the state capital of Sabah, Kota Kinabalu.[Photo by Xu Lin/China Daily]

Malaysian state's beauty spots continue to attract Chinese despite air disasters.

For those who like the sun and sea and enjoy cultural heritage, Kota Kinabalu, the capital of the state of Sabah in Malaysia, is one of the better choices.

Although the country's tourism industry has been affected by the two tragedies of Malaysia Airlines this year, many Chinese are still visiting Sabah for its picturesque views, delicious seafood and hospitable people.

According to Tourism Malaysia, from January to July, tourist arrivals from the Chinese mainland totalled 997,370, a decline of 11.8 percent compared with the same period last year.

"Our tour was a perfect getaway from work. We enjoyed the beautiful sunshine and beaches, the fantastic scenic spots, and met with interesting local people and tourists. It's a memory that we will cherish forever," says Wu Yehua, 25, who visited Malaysia with seven colleagues during China's National Day holiday. She works in a foreign company in Shenzhen, Guangdong province.

The easiest way to start one's adventure in the city is to have a one- or two-day tour arranged by one of the local tourism agencies, who know best about the scenic spots and local culture, and will provide transportation and take care of the visitors.

You mustn't miss the UNESCO World Heritage Kinabalu Park, dominated by the 4,095-meter high Mount Kinabalu, where there is a wide range of habitats, such as rich tropical lowland and tropical mountain forests. It also has a variety of animals and plants.

It takes two days to climb the mountain, and most tourists would join a daily tour. You should have some medicine for carsickness for just in case, because the two and a half hour mountain road journey is windy.

If you're lucky, you can see Rafflesia keithii, which can grow up to 1 meter in diameter. It will only blossom after it has grown 18 months, but its flowering phase lasts only seven days.