Sungai Lembing Tin Mines

Welcome to Sungai Lembing Tin Mines, the largest, longest and deepest tin mine in the world!

The total tunnel length is about 322 km with a depth of about 700 m.

Historical Timeline:

1888 - Tin ores were discovered

1891 - Pahang Consolidated Company Limited got the lease for the area.

1905 - Mining activities started for 80 years until the mine closed due to tin mining prices collapsed in the world market.

In the 1950s there were at least 15,000 people in the mines.

This mine has 23 more levels underground but closed to the public. 

A short tram ride into the mine. The rest you gotta walk!

Let's go!

Walking into the tunnel. It is kinda dark. Lamps here and there. There was water dripping from the ceiling. If you are a claustrophobic, this is NOT a place for you to visit. For me, I was just as curious as I could be. Peeking into holes. Eerie but cool.

It felt like there was air-condition in the tunnels. Nope. This mine is located beneath a tropical forest. Hence, the cool climate in the tunnels.

In 1987, shortly after the mines were shut down, it was believed that 20 unpaid miners illegally mined tin ores and made a total haul of around RM 1 Million.

Air shaft

The ceiling

Sungai Lembing is a sleepy town about 40 minutes drive from Kuantan. It was once the richest town in the state of Pahang, known as El Dorado of the East. It contributed to 70% of tin exports from Pahang. Today, it is a quiet little town. Old folks still run many yummy kopitiams today and food is good in Sungai Lembing. I bet if you chat with any one of them, they will gladly tell you about the glory days of Sungai Lembing.