One of the places that become the special characteristic of Semarang city was Simpang Lima. This place was constitute of town square that placed in the middle of intersection on the west side of Pandanaran Street, A.Yani street on the east side, Gajah Mada and Pahlawan streets, and on the east coast there is KH. Ahmad Dahlan street. Beside the center of the city, Simpang Lima also a shopping center because Semarang was transform a center of Dept Store and Accomodations Center. Simpang Lima is a place for formal ceremonial and also place to held a show or exhibition, recreation, evem as Tiban�s market on special days. Any kinds of foods, light foods and heavy foods are sold with traditional ways, use a side walk and around town square. Meanwhile, souvenirs, schools equipment till house equipment, sleepers till hair merchandise also there.
Located in Tugu Muda complex, long ago was big building with art deco style by Hollander as trains station (trem), or known as Nederland's Indische Spoorweg Maschaappij (NIS). It's created by Holland architect Prof.Jacob F.Klinkhamer and B.J.Queendag on history records was build on 1903, then legitimate on July 1st of 1907. Semarang citizen known this building has a thousand doors or more, that's in Javanese, means Lawang Sewu. Lawang means door and sewu means thousand. On the expansion after independence it's used as Djawatan Kereta Api Indonesia (DKARI) or known as PT. Kereta Api Indonesia. Also for military importance, that is a KODAM IV Diponegoro office (the main center now is in Watu Gong), and last been used as Center Java District Communication Departement, on present this building are ins on 102 old fashioned building or historical in Semarang that used as a tour object with historical relic facilities the old fashioned and antique architecture building in Semarang, there's a basement and information tower, where often used as an exhibition in certain events.
Semarang was strategically place on north side coastal area of Java Island. Either as a trader city or main town government of Holland colonial since Holland colonized. Hollander relic was old buildings on every comers of the city that still exist until now. Some of was used as Hotels, house and company office area. Around Johar there are a several old buildings so it's called as an old town area. Beside that there's Blenduk church, Tawang train station, Gedangan church, Nilmij, Sri Gunting park, Marba Marabunta and De Spiegel. The old town been revitalized and become cultural area. Old buildings were protecting. In order to make this area far from flood and over flow, flood controller. In this area tourist could see the relic of the old Trade center. It's located in Letjend Soeprapto street less than 3 Km from east side, and daily open for publics.
The society that wants to buy a foods and gift from Semarang specialyty they can visit a long Pandanaran Street. For tourist that visit Semarang not complete if not visit Pandanaran Shopping center to buy a food gift. Available here are Bandeng Duri Lunak, Wingkobabat, Lumpia, Otak-otak, Moci, souvenir are hygienic, good quality and with price tag on it.