On our first day, the half-day city tour begins with a short drive that brought us to Sultan Abdul Samad Building, located in front of Dataran Merdeka Square. A stately, historic building rich in character, it was built in 1897 to house several important government departments during the British administration. The structure takes its name from Sultan Abdul Samad, the reigning sultan of Selangor at the time when construction began. This Moorish-inspired building, topped by a shiny copper dome and a 40m high clock tower, is a major landmark in the city.

It serves as the backdrop for important events such as the National Day Parade on August 31 and the ushering in of the New Year. This heritage building now occupied by the Supreme Court and Textile Museum.