Semarang

"Samarang" redirects here. For the 1933 American action film, see Samarang (film).

Semarang (Javanese: ꦏꦸꦛꦯꦼꦩꦫꦁ) is the capital and largest city of Central Java province in Indonesia. It was a major port during the Dutch colonial era, and is still an important regional center and port today. The city has been named as the cleanest tourist destination in Southeast Asia by the ASEAN Clean Tourist City Standard (ACTCS) for 2020–2022.^[6]

Semarang
City
City of Semarang Kota Semarang
Other transcription(s)
• Javanese	ꦏꦸꦛꦯꦼꦩꦫꦁ
Semarang city skyline Blenduk Church Sam Poo Kong Vihara Buddhagaya Watugong Lawang Sewu Aerial view of the Great Mosque of Central Java
Flag Coat of arms
Nickname(s):  Venetië van Java, Lumpia City
Motto(s):  Kota ATLAS acronym of Aman, Tertib, Lancar, Asri, Sehat (Secure, Orderly, Swift, Beautiful, Healthy)
Location within Central Java
Semarang Location in Java and Indonesia Show map of Java Semarang Semarang (Indonesia) Show map of Indonesia
Coordinates: 06°59′24″S 110°25′21″E
Country	Indonesia
Region	Java
Province	Central Java
Government
• Mayor	Hevearita Gunaryanti Rahayu (PDI-P)
• Vice Mayor	Vacant
Area
• City	373.78 km2 (144.32 sq mi)
• Metro	5,453.99 km2 (2,105.80 sq mi)
Population  (mid 2023 estimate[1])[2]
• City	1,694,740
• Density	4,500/km2 (12,000/sq mi)
• Metro	6,760,538
• Metro density	1,200/km2 (3,200/sq mi)
	[3]
Demonym	Semarangan
Demographics
• Ethnic groups	Javanese 94.24% Chinese 3.48% Others 2.28%
• Religion (2024)	Islam 87.59% Christianity 11.73% - Protestant 6.8% - Roman Catholic 4.93% Buddhism 0.58% Hinduism 0.067% Confucianism and others 0.025%[4]
Time zone	UTC+7 (IWST)
Area code	(+62) 24
Vehicle registration	H
Nominal GDP[5]	2023
- Total	Rp 248.902 trillion (5th) US$ 16.330 billion US$ 52.298 billion (PPP)
- Per capita	Rp 146,868 thousand (11th) US$ 9,635 US$ 30,859 (PPP)
- Metro	Rp 449.096 trillion US$ 29.464 billion Int$ 94.362 billion (PPP)
- Growth	6.0%
HDI (2023)	0.844 (8th) – very high
Website	semarangkota.go.id

It has an area of 373.78 km² (144.32 sq mi) and had a population of 1,555,984 at the 2010 census^[7] and 1,653,524 at the 2020 census,^[8] making it Indonesia's ninth most populous city^[9] after Jakarta, Surabaya, Bekasi, Bandung, Medan, Depok, Tangerang and Palembang; the official population estimate as at mid-2023 was 1,694,740, comprising 838,440 males and 856,310 females.^[1] The built-up urban area had 3,183,516 inhabitants at the 2010 census spread over two cities and 26 districts.^[10] The Semarang metropolitan area (a.k.a. Kedungsepur) has a population of over 6 million in 2020 (see Greater Semarang section). The population of the city is predominantly Javanese with significant Chinese presence.

History

Historical affiliations

Demak Sultanate (1547–1554)
Kingdom of Pajang (1568–1587)
 Mataram Sultanate (1587–1705)
 Dutch East India Company (1705–1799)
 Dutch East Indies (1800–1942)
 Empire of Japan (1942–1945)
 Dutch East Indies (1945–1949)
United States of Indonesia (1949–1950)
 Indonesia (1950–present)

The history of Semarang goes back to the 9th century, when it was known as Bergota. At the end of the 15th century, appointed by the demak sultanate an islamic scholar named Ki Ageng Pandan Arang [id] founded a village and an Islamic school in this fishing village. On 2 May 1547, Sultan Hadiwijaya of Pajang declared Pandan Arang as the first bupati (mayor) of Semarang, thus creating Semarang administratively and politically.

In 1678, Sunan Amangkurat II promised to give control of Semarang to the Dutch East India Company (VOC) as a part of a debt payment.^[11][12] In 1682, the Semarang state was founded by the Dutch colonial power. On 5 October 1705 after years of occupations, Semarang officially became a VOC city when Susuhunan Pakubuwono I made a deal to give extensive trade rights to the VOC in exchange of wiping out Mataram's debt. The VOC, and later, the Dutch East Indies government, established tobacco plantations in the region and built roads and railroads, making Semarang an important colonial trading centre. ^{[citation needed]}

The historic presence of a large Indo (Eurasian) community in the area of Semarang is also reflected by the fact a creole mix language called Javindo existed there.^[13]

Classical Indische Town (1678–1870)

The early VOC settlement of Semarang with its prominent pentagonal fortress.

Semarang was handed by the Sultan of Mataram to the Dutch East Indies in 1678.^[11] The city was pictured as a small settlement with a pious Muslim area called Kauman, a Chinese quarter, and a Dutch fortress. The fortress has a pentagonal form with only one gate in the south and five monitoring towers to protect the Dutch settlement from rebellion actions, segregating the spaces between Dutch settlement and other areas.^[14] In fact, the city of Semarang was only referred to the Dutch quarter while the other ethnic settlement were considered as villages outside the city boundary. The city, known as de Europeesche Buurt, was built in classical European style with church located in the centre, wide boulevards, streets and villas.^[15] According to Purwanto (2005),^[16] the urban and architectural form of this settlement is very similar to the design principles applied in many Dutch cities.

Due to the long and costly Java War, there was not much funding from the Dutch East Indies government, and this affected Semarang's development. Most land in the area was used for rice cultivation and the only small improvement was the development of a surrounding fortress. Although less developed, Semarang is a fairly well organized city, in which urban activities were concentrated along the river and the settlement is linked to a market where different ethnic groups met to trade. The existence of the market, in the later years, become a primary element and a generator of urban economic growth.^[17]

After the departure of Herman Willem Daendels, Napoleonic governor of Java, the Dutch reorganized Java into Residencies, and Semarang became the seat of the new Semarang Residency in 1817. An important influence on urban growth was the Great Mail Road project in the 1847, which connected all the cities in the northern coast of Central and East Java and positioned Semarang as the trade centre of agricultural production.^[18] The project was soon followed by the development of the Staatsspoorwegen Railway and the connecting roads into the inner city of Semarang at the end of the 19th century.^[17] Colombijn (2002)^[18] marked the development as the shift of urban functions, from the former river orientation to all services facing the roads.

Modern city (1870–1922)

Coat of Arms of Semarang during Dutch colonial era, granted in 1827.

The Dutch East Indies' mail and railway projects improved communication and transportation, bringing an economic boom to the city in the 1870s. Hospitals, churches, hotels, and mansions were built along the new main roads of Mataram Street, Bojongscheweg, and Pontjolscheweg.^[15] The Javanese quarters of town known as kampongs grew increasingly densely populated, reaching as many as 1000 inhabitants per hectare and degrading living conditions.^[19] Mortality remained high into the early 20th century, with newcomers, overcrowding, and poor hygiene triggering cholera and tuberculous outbreaks.^[20] Dysentery, typhoid, and malaria were also rife.^[21] The city doctor Willem T. de Vogel advocated strenuously for reducing overcrowding and improving living conditions by extending Semarang into the less malarial hill country to its south;^[22] his fellow councilman Hendrik Tillema had campaigned on a platform of combatting malaria and joined De Vogel's scheme, broadening it into a "village improvement" (Dutch: kampongverbetering) movement.^[19] Purchasing land in the heights with their own money, the two men and some friends passed it on to the city with an initial zoning plan by KPC de Bazel in 1907 but could never convince a majority of the council to support its development.^[21][22] Changing tack, Tillema then worked to improve the existing kampongs in the city's malarial districts by improving drainage and providing more sanitary public toilets and public housing.^[19]

A decade later, the town approved Thomas Karsten's revised plan for the area, using it to build larger villas for the Dutch and wealthy Chinese and Javanese rather than allowing its use by the poor.^[21][22][23] This area became known as Candi Baru (Dutch: Nieuw Tjandi) and forms the core of the present-day Candisari District. Although it remained highly stratified by class,^[15] Candi Baru had less ethnic segregation than the older area of town and incorporated public squares, athletic facilities, and places for public bathing and washing that could be used communally.^[24] With most work remaining in the lower city and transportation slow or expensive, few of the lower classes were interested in moving to the district^[22] but it set a pattern that was followed with three more successful housing plans between 1916 and 1919. The population grew by 55%, adding 45,000 Javanese, 8500 Chinese, and 7000 Europeans. Karsten's approach to town planning emphasized its aesthetic, practical, and social requirements articulated in economic terms rather than purely racial ones.^[24]

Driven by economic growth and spatial city planning, the city had doubled in size and expanded to the south by the 1920s, creating a nucleus of a metropolis where multi-ethnic groups lived and traded in the city. The villages in the suburbs such as Jomblang and Jatingaleh steadily became the satellite towns of Semarang, more populated with a bigger market area. Before the invasion of Japan in 1942, Semarang had already become the capital of Central Java province, as the result of trade and industrial success and spatial planning.^[15]

• 
  NIS company head office (Gedung Lawang Sewu), Semarang, Dutch East Indies.
• 
  A Chinese house in Semarang at the turn of the 20th century.
• 
  Aerial picture of Old Semarang area in the 1920s.
• 
  Old 0-6-0 locomotive next to the Lawang Sewu building.

Japanese occupation and early independence

The Japanese military occupied the city, along with the rest of Java, in 1942, during the Pacific War of World War II. During that time, Semarang was headed by a military governor called a Shiko, and two vice governors known as Fuku Shiko. One of the vice governors was appointed from Japan, and the other was "chosen" from the local population. ^{[citation needed]}

After Indonesian independence in 1945, Semarang became the capital of Central Java on 18 August 1945,^[25] headed by Mr. Moch.Ichsan.^[26]

Military history

It also became the site of a battle (Five days battle, Pertempuran lima hari) between the new Indonesian military and Japanese soldiers in October 1945.^[27] Shortly after that, what had been the Indonesia-conducted Ambarawa, Magelang, and Ungaran offensives reached Semarang city on 15 December 1945, causing an 87-day battle that swept away the British and Dutch military completely.

Administration

Semarang city administration is headed by mayor, with a legislative assembly. Both mayor and the 50 members of legislative assembly are elected by direct vote. The government of Semarang City had implemented the smart city concept since 2013.^[28][29]

Juridically, Semarang City is a municipality (second level area) consisting of 16 districts (kecamatan), which are again divided into 177 urban villages (kelurahan). The districts are tabulated below with their areas and their populations at the 2010 census^[7] and 2020 census,^[8] together with the official estimates as at mid 2023.^[1] The table also includes the number and names of the urban administrative villages in each district.

Kode Wilayah	District (kecamatan)	Area in km2	Pop'n census 2010	Pop'n census 2020	Pop'n estimate mid 2023	No. of villages	Administrative villages (kelurahan)
33.74.14	Mijen (Javanese: ꦩꦶꦗꦺꦤ꧀, romanized: Mijèn)	56.52	55,708	80,906	89,950	14	Cangkiran, Bubakan, Jatibarang, Jatisari, Karangmalang, Kedungpane, Mijen, Ngadirgo, Pesantren, Polaman, Purwosari, Tambangan, Wonolopo, Wonoplumbon,
33.74.12	Gunungpati (Javanese: ꦒꦸꦤꦸꦁ​ꦥꦛꦶ, romanized: Gunungpathi)	58.27	88,444	98,023	100,750	16	Cepoko, Gunungpati, Jatirejo, Kalisegoro, Kandri, Mangunsari, Ngijo, Nongkosawit, Pakintelan, Patemon, Plalangan, Pongangan, Sadeng, Sekaran, Sukorejo, Sumurejo
33.74.11	Banyumanik (Javanese: ꦧꦚꦸꦩꦤꦶꦏ꧀, romanized: Banyumanik)	29.74	136,368	142,076	143,430	11	Pudakpayung, Gedawang, Jabungan, Padangsari, Banyumanik, Srondol Wetan, Pedalangan, Sumurboto, Srondol Kulon, Tinjomoyo, Ngesrep
33.74.09	Gajah Mungkur (Javanese: ꦒꦗꦃꦩꦸꦁ​ꦏꦸꦂ, romanized: Gajah Mungkur)	9.34	59,911	56,232	56,350	8	Bendanduwur, Bendanngisor, Bendungan, Gajahmungkur, Karangrejo, Lempongsari, Petompon, Sampangan
33.74.07	Semarang Selatan (South Semarang) (Javanese: ꦱꦼꦩꦫꦁ​​ꦏꦶꦢꦸꦭ꧀, romanized: Sěmarang Kidul	5.95	69,617	62,030	62,180	10	Barusari, Bulustalan, Lamper Kidul, Lamper Lor, Lamper Tengah, Mugassari, Peterongan, Pleburan, Randusari, Wonodri
33.74.08	Candisari (Javanese: ꦕꦤ꧀ꦝꦶꦱꦫꦶ, romanized: Candhisari)	6.40	75,879	75,456	75,610	7	Candi, Jatingaleh, Jomblang, Kaliwiru, Karanganyargunung, Tegalsari, Wonotingal
33.74.10	Tembalang (Javanese: ꦠꦼꦩ꧀ꦧꦭꦁ, romanized: Tĕmbalang)	39.47	159,849	189,680	198,860	12	Bulusan, Jangli, Kedungmundu, Kramas, Mangunharjo, Meteseh, Rowosari, Sambiroto, Sendangguwo, Sendangmulyo, Tandang, Tembalang
33.74.06	Pedurungan (Javanese: ꦥꦼꦢꦸꦫꦸꦔꦤ꧀, romanized: Pědurungan)	21.11	180,468	193,151	196,530	12	Gemah, Kalicari, Muktiharjo Kidul, Palebon, Pedurungan Kidul, Pedurungan Lor, Pedurungan Tengah, Penggaron Kidul, Plamongan Sari, Tlogomulyo, Tlogosari Kulon, Tlogosari Wetan,
33.74.05	Genuk (Javanese: ꦒꦼꦤꦸꦏ꧀, romanized: Genuk)	25.98	92,314	123,310	132,470	13	Bangetayu Kulon, Bangetayu Wetan, Banjardowo, Gebangsari, Genuksari, Karangroto, Kudu, Muktiharjo Lor, Penggaron Lor, Sembungharjo, Terboyo Kulon, Terboyo Wetan, Trimulyo
33.74.04	Gayamsari (Javanese: ꦒꦪꦩ꧀ꦱꦫꦶ, romanized: Gayamsari)	6.22	71,767	70,261	70,410	7	Gayamsari, Kaligawe, Pandean Lamper, Sambirejo, Sawah Besar, Siwalan, Tambakrejo
33.74.03	Semarang Timur (East Semarang) (Javanese: ꦱꦼꦩꦫꦁ​​ꦮꦺꦠꦤ꧀, romanized: Sěmarang Wétan)	5.42	74,782	66,302	66,480	10	Bugangan, Karangtempel, Karangturi, Kebonagung, Kemijen, Mlatibaru, Mlatiharjo, Rejomulyo, Rejosari, Sarirejo, Bandarharjo
33.74.02	Semarang Utara (North Semarang) (Javanese: ꦱꦼꦩꦫꦁ​​ꦭꦺꦴꦂ, romanized: Sěmarang Lor)	11.39	117,836	117,605	117,890	9	Bulu Lor, Dadapsari, Kuningan, Panggung Kidul, Panggung Lor, Plombokan, Purwosari, Tanjungmas
33.74.01	Semarang Tengah (Central Semarang) (Javanese: ꦱꦼꦩꦫꦁ​​ꦩꦢꦾ, romanized: Sěmarang Madyå)	5.17	60,312	55,064	55,210	15	Bangunharjo, Brumbungan, Gabahan, Jagalan, Karangkidul, Kauman, Kembangsari, Kranggan, Miroto, Pandansari, Pekunden, Pendrikan Kidul, Pendrikan Lor, Purwodinatan, Sekayu
33.74.13	Semarang Barat (West Semarang) (Javanese: ꦱꦼꦩꦫꦁ​​ꦏꦸꦭꦺꦴꦤ꧀, romanized: Sěmarang Kulon)	21.68	154,878	148,879	149,330	16	Bojongsalaman, Bongsari, Cabean, Gisikdrono, Kalibanteng Kidul, Kalibanteng Kulon, Karangayu, Kembangarum, Krapyak, Krobokan, Manyaran, Ngemplaksimongan, Salamanmloyo, Tambakharjo, Tawangmas, Tawangsari
33.74.16	Tugu (Javanese: ꦠꦸꦒꦸ, romanized: Tugu)	28.13	29,436	32,822	33,800	7	Jerakan, Karanganyar, Mangkang Kulon, Mangkang Wetan, Mangunharjo, Randu Garut, Tugurejo
33.74.15	Ngaliyan (Javanese: ꦔꦭꦶꦪꦤ꧀, romanized: Ngaliyan)	42.99	128,415	141,727	145,500	10	Bambankerep, Beringin, Gondoriyo, Kalipancur, Ngaliyan, Podorejo, Purwoyoso, Tambak Aji, Wonosari

Geography

Semarang is located on the northern coast of Java. The city of Semarang is one of the most important cities located on the north coast of Java and is the main hub connecting Jakarta and Surabaya, and cities in the southern interior of Java Surakarta and Yogyakarta. Semarang City has a height ranging from 2 m (6.6 ft) below sea level up to 340 m (1,120 ft) above sea level with a slope of 0%–45%. Semarang City is a city that has a unique topographic condition in the form of a narrow lowland area and hilly areas extending from the west side to the east side of Semarang City. The city is located about 558 km (347 miles) east of Jakarta and 312 km (194 miles) west of Surabaya.

Lowland areas in Semarang City are very narrow. The lowland area in western Semarang only has a width of 4 km (2.5 miles) from the coastline, while in the eastern Semarang, the low-lying area has a width of 11 km (6.8 miles) from the coastline. This lowland area is a flood plain from the large rivers that flow in Semarang City, such as Kali Garang (West Flood Canal), Pengkol River, and Bringin River. This low-lying area stretches on the northern side of Semarang and covers almost 40% of the total area of Semarang. This lowland area is known as the lower town (Semarang Ngisor), as well as the center of the city's economic activity. Under these conditions, the lower city area is often hit by annual flooding and its peak during the rainy season. In a number of regions, especially North Semarang, floods are sometimes also caused by overflowing sea tides (tidal floods). The hilly area in Semarang stretches on the south side. These hills are part of a series of northern Java mountain ranges that stretch from Banten to East Java. The hilly area in the city of Semarang is known as the upper city (Semarang Dhuwur). This hilly region is also the upstream area of the big rivers that flow in the city of Semarang. The upper city area is also near Mount Ungaran.

Climate

Semarang features a tropical monsoon climate (Köppen: Am). The city features distinctly wetter and drier months, with June through August being the driest months. However, the average monthly rainfall does not fall below 60 mm (2.4 in), hence the tropical rainforest categorization. Semarang on average sees approximately 2,800 mm (110 in) of rain annually. Average temperatures in the city are relatively consistent, hovering around 28 °C (82 °F). Diurnal temperature variation slightly increases in the dry season.

Climate data for Semarang
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °C (°F)	39 (102)	37 (98)	37 (98)	37 (99)	38 (101)	38 (100)	41 (106)	38 (100)	37 (99)	38 (100)	38 (100)	39 (102)	41 (106)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	29 (85)	29 (85)	30 (86)	31 (88)	32 (89)	32 (89)	32 (89)	32 (89)	32 (90)	32 (90)	31 (88)	30 (86)	31 (88)
Daily mean °C (°F)	27 (81)	27 (81)	28 (82)	29 (84)	29 (84)	28 (83)	28 (83)	28 (83)	29 (84)	29 (84)	28 (83)	28 (82)	28 (83)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	25 (77)	25 (77)	25 (77)	26 (78)	26 (78)	25 (77)	24 (76)	24 (76)	25 (77)	26 (78)	26 (78)	25 (77)	25 (77)
Record low °C (°F)	19 (66)	22 (72)	22 (72)	22 (72)	21 (70)	20 (68)	18 (64)	18 (65)	18 (64)	20 (68)	22 (72)	22 (72)	18 (64)
Average rainfall mm (inches)	430 (16.9)	360 (14.2)	320 (12.6)	230 (9.1)	160 (6.3)	80 (3.1)	80 (3.1)	60 (2.4)	100 (3.9)	160 (6.3)	220 (8.7)	330 (13.0)	2,780 (109.4)
Average rainy days	19	17	17	13	10	8	4	4	4	8	14	17	135
Average relative humidity (%)	82	82	80	79	75	72	68	67	66	69	76	81	75
Average dew point °C (°F)	23 (74)	23 (74)	24 (75)	23 (74)	23 (74)	22 (72)	22 (71)	21 (70)	22 (71)	22 (72)	23 (74)	23 (74)	23 (73)
Mean daily sunshine hours	5	6	6	8	8	8	10	10	10	9	8	6	8
Mean daily daylight hours	12.5	12.3	12.1	12	11.8	11.7	11.8	11.9	12.1	12.3	12.4	12.5	12.1
Average ultraviolet index	12	12	12	12	11	10	10	12	12	12	12	12	12
Source 1: Weatherbase[30]
Source 2: Weather Atlas[31] and Time and Date[32] (humidity only)

Semarang River and flood control

Like Singapore River, Semarang is constructing Semarang River at Banjir Kanal Barat (Garang River) near Karangayu Bridge. In the middle of July 2011, gardens in river banks and some traditional boats are available to use. The project will be finished in 2013 with river gardens, trotoars, garden lighting, water activities, art sites, sport sites and balconies and stairs for sightseeing.^[33] In August 2011, a 421 m (1,380 ft) tunnel dodger at Kreo river has been finished and Jatibarang Dam construction can begin, with completion targeted for July 2013. The dam is planned to release 230 m³/s (8,100 cu ft/s) of flood water and will generate 1.5 MW of electricity, provide a drinking water resource and a boost to tourism.^[34]

Demographics

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±%
1950	371,000	—
1955	424,374	+14.4%
1960	485,444	+14.4%
1965	552,128	+13.7%
1970	626,703	+13.5%
1975	782,967	+24.9%
1980	1,009,460	+28.9%
1985	1,125,836	+11.5%
1990	1,242,737	+10.4%
1995	1,333,157	+7.3%
2000	1,427,341	+7.1%
2005	1,438,733	+0.8%
2010	1,555,984	+8.1%
2015	1,698,777	+9.2%
2020	1,653,524	−2.7%
2022	1,659,975	+0.4%
source:[35][36]

The largest ethnic group in Semarang is the Javanese, followed by minorities of Chinese, Arabs, Indian, and others (including local ethnicities such as Sundanese, Batak, Madura, Malay, Balinese etc.). The dominant religion is Islam with a significant Christian minority.

Religion in Semarang 2023

  Islam (87.55%)

  Protestantism (6.81%)

  Roman Catholicism (4.94%)

  Buddhism (0.58%)

  Hinduism (0.07%)

  Confucianism and others (0.025%)

Semarang has a large Chinese community. As in other regions of Java, especially in Central Java, they have mingled closely with the local population and use Javanese in communication for hundreds of years. About 3.5% of the city's population is ethnic Chinese, many residing in a Chinatown in the vicinity of Gang Pinggir. The Chinatown is called "Kampong Pecinan Semawis" and expresses many aspects of traditional Chinese culture including foods, rituals, and houses of worship.

See also: Javanese people

Ethnic Groups in Semarang^[37]

  Javanese (94.24%)

  Chinese (3.48%)

  Others (2.28%)

Economy

As the capital city of Central Java, and fifth largest city of Indonesia, the economy of Semarang is quite large. Semarang has transformed and changed dynamically towards a better direction. In a period of less than 10 years, Semarang Metropolitan continues to build a vital financial contribution to Indonesia due to the growing trade and industry and services. As a consequence, people's purchasing power increased, capital inflows, consumer confidence, and doing business indexes were relatively conducive to the development of several CBDs such as Simpang Lima City Center (SLCC), Pemuda Central Business District (PCBD), and Gajahmada Golden Triangle (GGT). Major Indonesian and international financial and banking sectors alikes such as Bank Mandiri, BCA, BNI, BRI, Panin Bank, HSBC, Bank Permata, Standard Chartered, RaboBank, Citibank, DBS, UOB, OCBC NISP, KEB Hana Bank, CIMB Niaga, and Maybank have regional offices in Semarang.

The western part of the city has many industrial parks and factories. Like other metropolitan cities within Indonesia, due to a developing economy and increasing income, Semarang has many shopping malls.

Transportation

Road

Semarang is on the Indonesian National Route 1 road, which connects it to Merak and Ketapang (Banyuwangi). Indonesian National Route 14 toward Bawen starts here. Semarang has a toll road, the Semarang Toll Road.^[38] The city is connected to Solo by Semarang–Solo Toll Road.^[39]

Semarang's largest bus terminals are Mangkang and Terboyo.^[40] The primary means of public transportation is by minibus, called "bis". Ojek (motorcycle taxis), Angkot (share-taxi) micro-buses, taxi-cabs plays vital role in public transportation of the city. Go-Jek and Grab have online taxi and Ojek services.

Semarang is served by bus rapid transit called Trans Semarang, which operates in six routes.^[41] Perum DAMRI also serves in six designated routes in the city.

Rail

Semarang Old Town seen from Semarang Tawang railway station.

Semarang was connected to Surakarta (Solo) by a rail line in 1870.^[42] At present there are two large train stations in Semarang: Semarang Poncol and Semarang Tawang. Semarang is connected to Bandung, Jakarta, and Surabaya by inter-city train services. Kedungsepur commuter rail connects Semarang Poncol Station eastward to Ngrombo Station in Grobogan Regency.

Air

Ahmad Yani International Airport.

Semarang's Ahmad Yani International Airport is served by a number of operators including AirAsia, Citilink, Batik Air, Garuda Indonesia, and Lion Air which provide services to Jakarta, Bali, Kuala Lumpur, and Singapore.^[43] In 2018, the airport terminal was relocated to a new and much larger site; the old terminal continues to be used for government and military flights.^[44]

Sea

See also: Port of Tanjung Emas

The main seaport is the Tanjung Mas seaport.

Landmarks and places of interest

Further information: Dutch architecture in Semarang

Blenduk Church, the oldest church in Central Java.

Sam Poo Kong, the oldest Chinese temple in the city.

• Semarang old town (Kota Lama), which is sometimes referred to by locals as "Little Netherlands." It was established in the 18th century when Indonesia was a Dutch colony. There are more than 50 well-maintained colonial buildings in Kota Lama, displaying 18th, 19th, and 20th century European-influenced architecture.^[45]
• China Town: Chinatown in Semarang has a night market known as 'Pasar Semawis', which is known for its cuisine and Chinese new year celebration.^[46]
• Tugu Muda (Youth Monument) is a monument built to commemorate the services of the heroes who have fallen in the Battle of Five Days in Semarang. The height of Tugu Muda is 53 meters. Tugu Muda is located in front of Lawang Sewu at Pemuda street. It depicts the Tugu Muda fighting spirit and patriotism of Semarang residents, especially the youth who are persistent, self-sacrificing in high spirits maintaining the independence of Indonesia.^[47]
• Lawang Sewu (Javanese for "A Thousand Doors") was built as the headquarters of the Dutch East Indies Railway Company. The colonial era building is reputedly a haunted house.^{[citation needed]}
• Blenduk Church (Nederlandsch Indische Kerk) was built in 1753, the church is one of the oldest building in Kota Lama.
• The Sam Poo Kong temple is the oldest Chinese temple in the city.^[48] Tay Kak Sie Temple was established in 1746, it is dedicated to Guanyin Bodhisattva and various Taoist Deities.
• Central Java Grand Mosque: This mosque has a Muslim museum, located at Jl. Gajah Raya. The architecture of the mosque is inspired by the mosques in Mecca and Medina.^[49]
• Vihara Buddhagaya Watugong: The 45 m (148 ft) Buddhist temple has been named by MURI as the highest pagoda in Indonesia. It's located at Jl. Perintis Kemerdekaan Watugong, about 45 minutes drive from the center.
• Pancasila Square: Located within the heart of Simpang Lima City Center (SLCC) CBD; is an infamous public arena at the town center. It has tourist pedicabs, cars, bicycles, chairs, pedestrian track, public toilet, roller skates, traditional games, grass field and others.

Culture

Semarang (?) batik made prior to 1867, in the workshop owned by batik pioneer Carolina Josephina von Franquemont (1817–1867). Photo courtesy of the Queen Sirikit Museum of Textiles, Bangkok

Education

Diponegoro University.

There are 593 elementary schools, 220 junior high schools, 106 senior high schools, and 88 vocational high schools, both public and private in Semarang.^[50]

There are 20 universities in Semarang, 12 of them private and 8 public. The most renowned universities of Semarang are Diponegoro University and Soegijapranata University.

• Diponegoro University (UNDIP): It is one of national or state-owned universities in Semarang, founded in 1957. The university has 11 faculties and 2 schools: Faculty of Economics and Business, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Faculty of Humanities, Faculty of Law, Faculty of Medicine, Faculty of Engineering, Faculty of Fishery and Marine Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Faculty of Public Health, Faculty of Animal Agriculture, Faculty of Psychology, Vocational School, and Postgraduate School. The university also offers a postgraduate program. Diponegoro University is one of the best universities in Indonesia.^[51]
• Semarang State University in Indonesian Universitas Negeri Semarang (UNNES): It is one of national or state-owned universities in Semarang, founded in 1965. The university has 8 faculties and Postgraduate School: Faculty of Science Education, Faculty of Engineering, Faculty of Language and Art, Faculty of Sport Science, Faculty of Social Science, Faculty of Economics, Faculty of Law, and Faculty of mathematics and science. Semarang State University is one of the best university in Indonesia.
• Soegijapranata Catholic University (UNIKA): It is one of the private universities in Semarang, founded in 1982. There are 8 faculties in UNIKA: Faculty of Architecture and Design, Faculty of Law and Communication, Faculty of Engineering, Faculty of Language and Arts, Faculty of Economics and Business, Faculty of Agricultural and Technology, Faculty of Psychology, and Faculty of Computer Science.
• Muhammadiyah University of Semarang (UNIMUS): It is one of the private universities in Semarang, founded in 1996. On 4 August 1999 the Minister of Education and Culture of the Republic of Indonesia issued an Operational Permit for the University of Muhammadiyah Semarang with number: 139/D/O/1999. 14 study programs that obtained operational permits at the beginning of the opening in 1999 including: Public Health Study Program (Bachelor's degree), Statistics Study Program (Bachelor's degree), Mechanical Engineering Study Program (Bachelor and Diploma degree), Electrical Engineering Study Program (Bachelor and Diploma degree), Food Technology Study Program (Bachelor's degree), Agricultural Technology Study Program (Bachelor's degree), Management Study Program (Bachelor's degree), Company Administration Study Program (Diploma degree), Accounting Study Program (Diploma degree), English Language Study Program (Bachelor's degree), English Language Study Program (Diploma degree) and Japanese Language Study Program (Diploma degree).
• In Semarang, there is also a public university providing education through distance learning or distance education at Universitas Terbuka (Indonesia Open University).^[52]

Sports

There are several sport centres in Semarang. Jatidiri sport centre or Jatidiri Stadium is one of the biggest sport centres in Semarang, located in Karangrejo, Gajahmungkur. The centre comprises a soccer field, in line skate track, tennis filed, climbing wall, swimming pool, and many others. The capacity of the centre is about 21,000 people.^[53]

Knight Stadium is a futsal and basketball centre in Semarang, located in Grand Marina complex. There is a café and fitness centre in Knight Stadium.^[54]

Cuisine

Lumpia Semarang.

Semarang is widely known for its bandeng presto (pressure-cooked milkfish), Lumpia, Wingko, Tahu Gimbal, and Ganjel Rel. Semarang has also been called 'The city of Jamu' because it is an important centre for the production of jamu which are a range of Indonesian herbal medicines that are popular across Indonesia^[55] Semawis Market, also known as Pecinan Semarang (Semarang's Chinatown), hosts a plethora of street food vendors, offering a wide varieties of dishes.^[56]

Festivals

Dugderan [id] is an annual festival in Semarang desecrated to welcome the Ramadan month (a fasting month for Moslems). The word "dug" describes the sound of bedug (traditional Indonesian musical instrument). The word "der" describes the sound of fireworks.

The icon of the festival is a special puppet dragon-like animal called Warak Ngendog. The word "warak" stands for "holy" and the word "ngendog" expresses a reward for Muslims. Warak Ngendog's feet are chained, representing people's desire that should be postponed during this holy month. As Dugderan is a festival unique for Semarang, it represents an important attraction for both local people and visitors.^[57]

Media

Suara Merdeka is the major local newspaper in Semarang, as well as Central Java. Other major newspapers include Tribun Jateng and Wawasan.

Awards

Semarang has received the Adipura Award 6 times in a row since 2012. The Adipura Award is given for achievement in cleanliness and greenery at parks, streets, markets, shop buildings, premises, schools, even cleanliness of water ways and rivers.^[58] Semarang City received the title of Best Smart Living and Best Smart Economy City in the Indonesia Smart Nation Award 2018.^[59]

Greater Semarang

Greater Semarang (known as Kedungsepur) was initially defined by the government as Semarang city, Semarang Regency, Salatiga city, Kendal Regency, and Demak Regency.^[60] It was later extended to include the western part (12 districts only) of Grobogan Regency. Despite the definition, rural and urban cores remain distinct and have not amalgamated into a continuous urban sprawl as is the case in Greater Jakarta.

Delineation of Semarang metropolitan area^[61]

Administrative division	Area in km2	Pop'n 2010 census[62]	Pop'n 2020 census[63]	No. of districts	No. of villages
City of Semarang	373.78	1,555,984	1,653,524	16	177
City of Salatiga	57.36	170,332	192,322	4	23
Demak Regency	900.12	1,055,579	1,203,956	14	249
Grobogan Regency (part)[64]	1,396.32	797,160	888,581	12	191
Kendal Regency	1,118.13	900,313	1,018,505	20	286
Semarang Regency	950.21	930,727	1,053,094	19	235
Total Kedungsepur	4,795.92	5,410,095	6,009,982	85	1,161

Sources: BPS Jateng^[65]

Notable people from Semarang

• Agung Laksono, politician and former chairman of the House of Representatives.
• Jihane Almira Chedid, beauty queen.
• Anindya Kusuma Putri, Puteri Indonesia 2015 and Top 15 of Miss Universe 2015.
• Anne Avantie, fashion designer.
• Aries Susanti Rahayu, speed climbing world champion.
• Be Biauw Tjoan, Majoor-titulair der Chinezen, magnate, revenue farmer and bureaucrat
• Conrad Emil Lambert Helfrich, Dutch admiral.
• Daniel Sahuleka, Dutch musician.
• F. H. van Naerssen, Dutch professor of Indonesian and Malay and expert on Javanese epigraphy
• Fuad Hassan, politician, former Minister of Education and Culture.
• Hubertus van Mook, Dutch politician.
• Jaya Suprana, musician, writer, TV talkshow host, founder of MURI
• Lee Chin Koon, the father of Lee Kuan Yew, the founding father of modern day Singapore.
• Liem Bwan Tjie, architect.
• Max van Egmond, bass and baritone singer of Baroque and Renaissance music.
• Oei Hui-lan, First Lady of the Republic of China, international socialite and fashion icon.
• Oei Tiong Ham, Majoor-titulair der Chinezen, Chinese Indonesian tycoon.
• P. F. Dahler, politician, member of Investigating Committee for Preparatory Work for Independence (BPUPK).
• Purnomo Yusgiantoro, politician and former Minister of Defence.
• Raden Saleh, painter.
• Rob Nieuwenhuys, literary historian and author.
• Sri Oetari Ratna Dewi, politician
• Stella Cornelia, singer and actress, ex-member of JKT48
• Sutiyoso, chief of Indonesian Intelligence Bureau (BIN).
• Tukul Arwana, comedian and television personality.
• Willem Einthoven, medical doctor, invented electrocardiography (ECG), Nobel Prize winner.

• Robert Lansdorp, Dutch-American professional tennis coach

Sister cities

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Indonesia

Semarang is twinned with:

• Brisbane, Australia^[66]
• Da Nang, Vietnam^[67][68]
• Sungai Petani, Malaysia

See also

• Semarang metropolitan area

Notes and references

Notes

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• Graaf, H. J. de (Hermanus Johannes), 1899-(?), "Chinese Muslims in Java in the 15th and 16th centuries : the Malay Annals of Semarang and Cerbon" / translated and provided with comments by H.J. de Graaf and Th.G.Th. Pigeaud; edited by M.C. Ricklefs. Publisher: [Melbourne] : Monash University, 1984. Description: xiii, 221 p. : folded map ; 21 cm. ISBN 0-86746-419-4 : Series: Monash papers on Southeast Asia ; no. 12

External links

• Indonesia portal

• Official website (in Indonesian)
• Pasang Wifi Murah di Semarang ya EZnet Semarang
• Semarang travel guide from Wikivoyage