Welcome, Treasure Hunter!

You’ve just unlocked the official #FIND31KK Clue Guide.

Below are all 31 clues waiting to be discovered across Kota Kinabalu. Each clue will lead you to a unique location, while sharing a little story, history or fun fact about the city we call home.

This isn’t just about finding hidden explorers—it’s about slowing down, looking closer, supporting local businesses, and rediscovering Kota Kinabalu through fresh eyes.

Take your time. Be curious. Enjoy the journey.

📸 Found a clue?
Snap a photo and post it on your social media with: #Helolokal #FIND31KK #ClueXX (Replace XX with the clue number you’ve found.)

🏆 Found all 31?
Create one final post with all 31 clue photos and tag: #Helolokal #FIND31KK #GameOver

The Top 3 treasure hunters who complete the challenge in the shortest time will walk away with exciting prizes!

Most importantly, have fun, be respectful of public spaces, and remember…

Every clue has a story. Every street has one too.

Happy hunting! ❤️ Team Helolokal

THE CLUES & GUIDE

Clue #27 – Sabah Tourism Board

“Welcome to where every Sabah adventure begins!”

I’ve been greeting visitors all day. Before you rush off exploring Sabah, come and say hello!

Treasure Hint: Sabah Tourism LOVES you!

Did You Know?
This building was once the General Post Office of Jesselton, connecting Sabah with the rest of the world long before emails and smartphones existed. Gaya Street itself was once known as Bond Street, the commercial heart of old Jesselton.

Clue #11 – The Fountain

“People toss coins here. I collect smiles instead.”

Everyone looks into the fountain… but very few look around it.

Treasure Hint: Find the fountain surrounded by familiar banks.

Did You Know?
Gaya Street has been Kota Kinabalu’s main shopping street for over a century. Today it’s famous for the Sunday Gaya Street Market, attracting thousands of visitors every weekend.

Clue #21 – Hakka Bites

“The smell of good food keeps me company.”

I couldn’t resist hanging out near Hakka Bites. If you’re hungry, you’re probably getting warmer!

Treasure Hint: Look outside near the electrical pole.

Did You Know?
Many of the shophouses along Gaya Street were rebuilt after World War II, preserving the area as KK’s most vibrant heritage street.

Clue #6 – Gaya Street Arch

“Sundays are my favourite!”

Thousands of footsteps pass beneath me every weekend.

Today…I’m waiting for yours.

Treasure Hint: Find the “Jalan Gaya” sign beneath the famous arch.

Did You Know?
The Gaya Street Sunday Market has become one of Sabah’s most iconic weekend attractions, bringing together local food, crafts, music and culture every Sunday morning.

Clue #26 – Deasoka

“Too sunny today!”

Luckily, Deasoka gave me somewhere to take cover.

Treasure Hint: Look around the yellow shelter beside the electrical switch boxes.

Did You Know?
“Deasoka” has become a popular community space for markets, cultural performances and festivals, adding new life to the heritage district.

Clue #23 – Yellow Wall“Who said hiding means blending in?”

Sometimes standing out is the best disguise.

Treasure Hint: Find the bright yellow wall.

Did You Know?
Colourful murals and restored buildings have helped transform Gaya Street into one of Kota Kinabalu’s favourite places for photography.

Clue #20 – Dry Fountain

“The fountain may have stopped dancing…”

…but I’m still having fun here.

Treasure Hint: Search near the old fountain beside the monument arch.

Did You Know?
Before modern shopping malls, Gaya Street was where people gathered to shop, celebrate festivals and meet friends—a tradition that continues today.

Clue #9

“I’ve been keeping time for more than a century.”

Slow down. History rewards those who look carefully.

Treasure Hint: Follow the railing uphill and check the cement wall crevices.

Did You Know?
Built in 1905, the Atkinson Clock Tower is Kota Kinabalu’s oldest surviving building and one of the few structures to survive the bombing of Jesselton during World War II.

Clue #29

“Tick… Tock… I’m still here.”

Even after 120 years later, this old clock still watches over Kota Kinabalu.

Treasure Hint: Stay close to the rail and scan the cement wall.

Did You Know?
The tower was built in memory of Francis George Atkinson, Jesselton’s first District Officer, who died from malaria at just 28 years old.

Clue #3

“Need a breather?”

I’ve been resting here all day. Why not join me?

Treasure Hint: One of the two benches is keeping my secret.

Did You Know?
This hill was once one of the best vantage points overlooking old Jesselton Harbour before the city expanded through land reclamation.

Clue #17

“Thinking about your next tattoo?”

I’m patiently waiting outside before anyone gets inked.

Treasure Hint: Outside the tattoo studio’s waiting area.

Did You Know?
Lorong Dewan has evolved into one of Kota Kinabalu’s most creative lanes, home to independent cafés, artists and small local businesses.

Clue #13

“Special delivery!”

Letters once travelled the world. Today, your treasure hunt brings you here.

Treasure Hint: Find the little mailbox at SULAP.

Did You Know?
“SULAP” means a small hut or shelter in several Sabah indigenous languages—a fitting name for a space celebrating local creativity.

Clue #15

“Plants make wonderful neighbours.”

My sibling likes the mailbox. I prefer flowers.

Treasure Hint: Look around the flower pots at SULAP.

Did You Know?
Hidden courtyards and back lanes like Lorong Dewan are becoming some of KK’s favourite places for independent cafés and creative entrepreneurs.

Clue #14

“Blue has always been my favourite colour.”

There’s only one café dressed entirely in blue.

Wave at the window…

I’ll wave back.

Treasure Hint: Look at the café window.

Did You Know?
Many visitors never discover Lorong Dewan, even after visiting Gaya Street several times—making it one of Kota Kinabalu’s true hidden gems.

Clue #1

“Breaking News… you’re getting warmer!”

Everyone reads what’s in front.

I decided to hide behind the headlines instead.

Treasure Hint: Behind the old Daily Express building.

Did You Know?
“Kampung Air” literally means “Water Village.” Long before land reclamation reshaped Kota Kinabalu, this area was much closer to the sea and was one of the city’s earliest bustling commercial neighbourhoods.

Clue #25

“Need a little break?”

I found a quiet spot beside a tiny seat. It’s surprisingly peaceful here.

Treasure Hint: Look near the brown utility box with the small seat.

Did You Know?
City Park offers a peaceful green space in the heart of Kota Kinabalu—a reminder that even busy cities need places where people can pause and recharge.

Clue #5

“Everyone admires the monument…”

Meanwhile, I’m happily keeping the electrical box company.

Treasure Hint: Search around the electrical box near the monument.

Did You Know?
Many of KK’s public parks feature monuments celebrating Sabah’s history, community spirit and important milestones, turning everyday spaces into places of remembrance.

Clue #4

“Trees tell the best stories.”

I’ve been listening to them all day. Come and hear them too.

Treasure Hint: Look along the low cement wall beneath the trees.

Did You Know?
Urban parks like this help cool the city, provide shade, and create gathering places where families and friends come together.

Clue #2

“Every stitch tells a story.”

The talented tailors are busy…I’m quietly cheering them on.

Treasure Hint: Find the red wall near the seamstress.

Did You Know?
The Handicraft Market showcases Sabah’s rich cultural heritage through beadwork, woven baskets, textiles, wood carvings and handmade crafts created by artisans from across the state

Clue #7

“Found my sibling?”

Great! Now take a short walk…

Another red wall has another secret.

Treasure Hint: A few rows away from Clue #2.

Did You Know?
Every handmade craft is unique. No two woven baskets, beadwork designs or wood carvings are ever exactly the same.

Clue #19

“Bright ideas deserve bright hiding spots.”

Two lightboxes stand proudly here. But only one knows my secret.

Treasure Hint: Behind one of the two lightboxes.

Did You Know?
Before modern cafés lined the waterfront, this shoreline welcomed traders arriving by sea into Jesselton Harbour, making it the city’s original gateway.

Clue #16

“Everyone expects elephants in the jungle…”

Mine decided city life was more exciting.

Treasure Hint: Find the elephant.

Did You Know?
Kota Kinabalu’s waterfront is one of the best places to enjoy a sunset. On clear evenings, the sky often bursts into shades of orange, pink and purple, making it one of Sabah’s most photographed views.

Clue #8

“I never get tired of this view.”

People cross this bridge every day.

Very few notice me.

Treasure Hint: Cross the bridge near Etiqa.

Did You Know?
Asia City has grown into one of Kota Kinabalu’s vibrant commercial districts, blending offices, cafés, restaurants and local businesses into a lively urban neighbourhood.

Clue #30

“Switches. Stairs. Plants.”

Sounds ordinary?

That’s exactly why nobody notices me.

Treasure Hint: Look around the staircase beside a well known WELCOME-ing Seafood Restaurant with many electrical switches beside potted plants.

Did You Know?
One of the joys of exploring Kota Kinabalu is discovering hidden lanes and staircases that lead to cafés, murals and local businesses you might otherwise miss.

Clue #18

“Warning…”

The smell of fried chicken might distract you. We kid you not! But of course, you can take a break before your next hunt.

Stay focused!

Treasure Hint: Inside Borenos.

Did You Know?
One of the best ways to discover a city is through its local eateries. Every restaurant has its own story—and loyal customers who keep coming back.

Clue #10

“Take a deep breath.”

You’re standing where the city meets the sea.

Now…

Look a little lower.

Treasure Hint: Along the bridge wall beside the handrail.

Did You Know?
From Harbour Walk, you can often spot the islands of Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park, just a short boat ride away from the city.

Clue #12

“Streetlights have strong foundations.”

One of them is protecting my little secret.

Treasure Hint: Check the cement base of one of the bridge lights.

Did You Know?
Harbour Walk has become a favourite place for evening strolls, joggers and photographers capturing Kota Kinabalu’s world-famous sunsets.

Clue #22

“Every great adventure starts with a single step.”

Mine starts right here.

Treasure Hint: Near the stairs.

Did You Know?
The nearby heritage buildings are among the few reminders of old Jesselton that survived the devastation of World War II, connecting today’s city with its colonial past.

Clue #24

“Corners keep the best secrets.”

Don’t rush.

Good explorers always look twice.

Treasure Hint: Around one of the wall corners.

Did You Know?
History often survives in the smallest details—old bricks, stone walls and forgotten corners can tell stories that books sometimes cannot.

Clue #28

“Steel and stone have been my neighbours for years.”

If they could talk…

Imagine the stories they’d tell.

Treasure Hint: Look around the steel panel beside the wall.

Did You Know?
As Kota Kinabalu continues to grow, preserving heritage spaces helps future generations understand where the city came from and how it has evolved.

Clue #31

“Congratulations, Explorer!”

You made it.

I’ve been waiting for you where every great adventure should end—with a good cup of coffee and a story to tell.

Treasure Hint: Return back to where it begins, Sabah Tourism Board and visit Kopi Ping. Your final clue is waiting for you RIGHT IN FRONT, on the information box.

Did You Know?
You’ve just explored some of Kota Kinabalu’s most iconic places—from its oldest surviving landmark and heritage streets to creative back lanes, artisan markets and waterfront. We hope you didn’t just find 31 clues—we hope you discovered a city full of stories.

THE MAP