Malaysian tourism officials describe Mount Kinabalu as one of the "safest and most conquerable" peaks in the world, which helps explain its enormous appeal.
The mountain is in the news after climbers became stranded there after an earthquake, but school groups and 80-year-olds are among the estimated tens of thousands who safely climb its summit each year.
It is a road well-travelled. Climbers must pay for a guide. A rest house more than 3,000 metres up serves porridge, coke and tom yam soup.
Apart from breathtaking views from one of South East Asia's highest mountains, visitors can enjoy the vast array of wildlife in the Mount Kinabalu National Park, including carnivorous plants.
But some say Kinabalu should be approached with caution.