Cruises to Semarang (Java, Indonesia)

Semarang is a city on the north coast of the island of Java, Indonesia. It is the capital and largest city of the province of Central Java. It has an area of 3144.29 sq mi and a population of approximately 2 million people, making it Indonesia´s sixth most populous city and Indonesian fifth largest city after Jakarta, Surabaya, Bandung, and Medan. Greater Semarang (aka Kedungsapur) has a population of close to 6 million (see Greater Semarang section). A major port during the Dutch colonial era, and still an important regional center and port today, the city has a dominant Javanese population. Semarang is located on the northern coast of Java. The northern part of the city is built on the coastal plain while the southern parts, known as Candi Lama and Candi Baru, are on higher ground. Two Dutch-built aqueducts run through the city to control the yearly flood, one on the east side and one through the west side, essentially dividing the city into three major areas. As a result of its large ethnically Chinese population, the city boasts several Chinese temples. These include Sam Poo Kong (Gedung Batu), built in honour of the Chinese Great Admiral Zheng He who visited the area in 1405. A 35 ft tall bronze statue about Rp.1 billion with four languages (Indonesian language, English, Chinese and Japanese) of his brief history will be complemented the temple.