Kuala Lumpur RexKL Travel Notes - New life for the city's old cinema

#5月好去地方2025 #Kuala Lumpur Walking into RexKL in the alleys of Petaling Street in Kuala Lumpur, it feels like falling from a modern and dynamic neighborhood into a time-travel movie. Originally opened in 1947, the Rex Cinema has experienced many fires and transformations: it was closed in 2002 and turned into a backpacker hostel until it was transformed into a creative cultural space in 2019  . The retro Art Deco facade is still preserved, while the interior is cleverly disassembled by the designer, injected with industrial style and natural light, and it is completely new I slowly explored from the ground floor: there is a lively food space on the G floor, with Italian pizza, burgers, ramen and coffee stalls lined up, and the atmosphere is young and casual . Approaching the corner of BilaBila Mart, the snack area that imitates the traditional grocery store is very suitable for buying a bag of Malay biscuits and eating while shopping. The middle floor (M floor) hides trendy brands and handmade sundries. The small shop exudes the aroma of Wabi-sabi style, which makes people want to stop and explore. The most amazing thing is the bookstore - BookXcess. The maze-like sea of ​​books is hidden in the stairs of the former cinema. More than 80,000 books are surrounded by layers of bookshelves. Go upstairs in the dim light, sometimes look down to read, sometimes look up at the high bookcases, and you can also encounter the small platform and photo spot cleverly created by the designer. Walking through the bookstore, you can also enter RexKL's art and cultural highlight: RexPerience (TWILIGHT) immersive digital art exhibition. Lights, images, and sound effects are intertwined, like entering another sensory world, feeling the dialogue between batik, geometry and body rhythm. As night falls, there is also a Rooftop Restobar "shhhbuuuleee" upstairs, where you can have a light meal while overlooking the old house style of Chinatown. Occasionally there are markets, street performances, open mics or skateboard jams on site. People often come here with friends to check in and party. The atmosphere is relaxed and not pretentious. The four-story space carries the memories of the old Rex and also injects the creativity and life of contemporary young people. From early morning to late night, RexKL is like the "city living room" of Kuala Lumpur, making people willing to slow down and feel the sparks of the intersection of history and modernity, ancient and trendy. Next time you go to Petaling Street, don't just visit the traditional market, remember to arrange RexKL so that your heart is embraced by the new vitality of the old city.