Super cost-effective: Explore the Malaysian rainforest for just a few thousand yuan.

Sabah, Malaysia is a truly cost-effective travel destination. Round-trip airfare from Beijing to Kota Kinabalu is around CNY 1,100 (AirAsia, excluding baggage; book in advance as prices fluctuate). Round-trip airfare from Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan is a little over CNY 400 (FlyFirefly, including baggage). Here's a money-saving tip: I bought a large woven bag. I didn't check any baggage on AirAsia, and after landing, I put the clothes I was wearing into the woven bag so I could check it on FlyFirefly. I chose Sandakan because I read the novel Land Below the Wind. "Land Below the Wind" has always been a nickname for Sabah, a holiday destination in eastern Malaysia. But what's even more attractive here is the primeval rainforest. Hiking and boat expeditions offer opportunities to observe various birds and fascinating animals. 1. Sandakan City: It's small, with limited must-see spots. You can walk everywhere. Things are cheap here, and there's lots of delicious food. Don't miss the seaside night market. Those who have read the novel can visit Agnes Keith's House. In short: eat, stroll, repeat! The old town is also quite charming. 2. Accommodation: Sepilok B&B is the closest place to the Rainforest Discovery Centre (RDC). Many Chinese tourists choose to stay here, and so did we. It's very convenient, about 400 meters from the RDC on foot. Check-in is after 3pm. You can drop off your luggage first, buy night and next-day morning tickets to the RDC, and then go see the monkeys at the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre. 3. RDC: The night tour is MYR 50 per person, and the morning ticket is MYR 30. We joined a tour group at night but didn't see any animals, which was very disappointing. Some people even complained that they paid to hike. But I think since we're here, we might as well try our luck. We hiked again the next morning but didn't see many birds. Later, three foreigners pointed out a beautiful little bird to us. Despite this, hiking here is still the best option. Some sections of the trail are muddy, so wrap your shoes in plastic bags beforehand. 4. Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre: Feeding times are at 10am and 3pm, and the center closes at 4:30pm, so try to go during these times for the best experience. The Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary is quite far, so we didn't go. The Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre has a poor reputation, so we skipped that too. 5. Kinabatangan River Cruise: The biggest surprise of the trip! We saw all kinds of birds and monkeys, and even elephants. You can book a tour at the hotel reception. There are day trips, 2-day-1-night trips, and 3-day-2-night trips, with varying prices. We chose the day trip for MYR 300, but we regretted not booking the 3-day-2-night tour. You can sign up at the hotel reception, and a car will pick you up. It takes about two hours to get there. The prices for the other two tours vary depending on accommodation: MYR 350 and MYR 540 for the 2-day-1-night tour, and MYR 580 and MYR 750 for the 3-day-2-night tour. Sandakan has a lasting impact. My thoughts are still hazy after returning. As for Kota Kinabalu, it's perfect for a holiday. Find a good hotel and buy seafood at the Central Market. It's incredibly cheap. We bought four large crabs for only MYR 20. The small fish we bought for MYR 6 were super delicious when steamed. Processing costs around MYR 15 per dish, but prices vary. Two Chinese-owned stalls are the most popular, number 16 and number 29. I thought they were both quite good. The Floating Mosque and other attractions are pretty average. There's not much to see, so just eat and stroll. Take photos and check in at Gaya Street while you eat. The sunset is stunning, and the water villages are also worth a visit.