Kampung Cina literally means Chinese Village; it is also called Tn̂g-lâng-pho (唐人坡) or KT's Chinatown by local people.

It is one of Southeast Asia's early Chinese settlements and contains stately ancestral homes, temples, townhouses, and business establishments.

When Alexander Hamilton and Captain Joseph Jackson visited Kuala Terengganu in 1719–20 and 1764 respectively, the presence of Chinese settlers was noted down in their records.

The Chinese are numerous, and live principally in strong brick-built houses, which now exhibit every appearance of an old and long established colony.

[6]Various Chinese records and annals – dated as far back as the 10th century (Song dynasty) have referred to the ports of Terengganu.

Javanese records of the Kingdom of Majapahit in the 14th century also placed Kuala Terengganu on their list of trading centres.

It is believed that Admiral Cheng Ho of China – the goodwill ambassador of the Ming dynasty – led a huge fleet of about 200 vessels with approximately 28,000 marine officers and crew to the shores of Kuala Terengganu in the year of 1414 AD.

[citation needed] This is based on evidence from a map of places visited by Cheng Ho, during his fourth trip to the west.

[citation needed] Right after the visit of Cheng Ho, Chinese farmers from the coast of China, especially the people from Zhangzhou District of Hokkien Province, sailed to Terengganu and first settled at Bukit Datu (Big City), and along the riverbank of Nerus River.

These settlers were engaged in trades through concessions from the state rulers, and among their businesses included the sale and bartering of crafts such as textiles, metalwork, and woodwork from the nearby Malay communities, and commercial trades, imports, and exports of goods (such as silks, gambir, camphor, pepper, and gold) from local or foreign places.

Those who fall in love with this enchanted land simply stay on while the rest, sail on to fulfill their own destiny, in places like Perak and Kuala Lumpur for tin mining.

[citation needed] Chinatown was opened about 300 years ago by the traders from Southern China and was the first area for business and trading in Kuala Terengganu, although in its current form, the oldest building (many of which are shophouses) dates back from the late 1800s.

The early Chinese residents chose to build the shophouses near the bank of Terengganu River since the location provides a place for junks and ships to harbour.

[9] Like a typical Chinatown in other Malaysian states, the buildings incorporate various styles such as traditional Southern Chinese designs,[2] Neoclassical, or Art Deco.

Mek and Awang community is centred in two main places, Chinatown, and Kampung Tiruk, a village about 14 km from Kuala Terengganu.

Local Chinese or Peranakan dishes that can be found here include ayam pachok, akok, rojak ceranang, roti paung dan pulut lepa.

In the year 2004, the government declared that Kampung Cina's various historical structures and area were to be gazetted as a heritage site of Terengganu.

This alley showcases an old, colonial-era telephone booth and a classic cast iron post box (still in use) painted in bright red.