Sibu is a waterfront town nestled between the longest river in Malaysia, Sungai Rajang, and the Igan River. It has been referred to as the window to Central Sarawak. Its strategic location made it a vital trading center and timber, rubber, and paper transportation hub. 

Nowadays, around 200,000 people reside in Sibu; it has a majority Chinese population, mainly from Fuzhou of southern China, alongside Malays, Melanaus, the indigenous Sarawakians, and Ibans, who are the indigenous people of Borneo. It is the third largest town in East Malaysia, after Kuching and Miri.