How a hydroelectric contractor transformed a Malaysian mountain peak into a massive integrated resort

Nature · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Perched 1,800 metres above sea level, Genting Highlands is a sprawling mountain resort born from a 1963 vision. What began as a quest for a cooler climate near Kuala Lumpur has evolved into a complex of casinos, theme parks, and the world's largest hotel by room count.

In 1963, contractor Lim Goh Tong was working on a hydroelectric project in the Cameron Highlands when he identified the potential for a mountain resort closer to the federal capital. After studying topographical maps, he selected Mount Ulu Kali, a peak in the Titiwangsa Mountains, as the ideal location. By 1965, he co-founded Genting Highlands Berhad with politician Mohamad Noah Omar, securing thousands of acres of land across the Pahang and Selangor state border. A 25.5-kilometre access road was completed by 1969, and the resort officially opened in 1971 after receiving an exclusive casino licence from the federal government.

The resort has undergone continuous expansion for decades. In 2015, the First World Hotel reached 7,351 rooms, earning a Guinness World Record for the largest hotel by room count. Today, the integrated complex, known as Resorts World Genting, operates over 10,000 rooms across seven hotels. The site is a logistical marvel, featuring two separate gondola systems—the Awana SkyWay and the heritage Genting SkyWay—to transport visitors from mid-hill transit hubs to the summit complex. The area also hosts the Chin Swee Caves Temple, a significant cultural site opened in 1994 that sits at an elevation of 1,514 metres.

Beyond its entertainment facilities, the region is a distinct ecological zone. The resort experiences a subtropical highland climate with temperatures rarely dropping below 10 °C or exceeding 25 °C. This unique environment supports endemic wildlife, such as the Genting Highlands reed snake, Macrocalamus gentingensis. Governance of the area is split between the Pahang and Selangor state governments, with the Pahang side formally gazetted as the Genting Autonomous Subdistrict in 2019. The resort continues to evolve, with recent additions like the Genting SkyWorlds outdoor theme park, which opened in 2022 following a licensing agreement with 20th Century Studios.

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