The walls are filled with turtle mosaics on one side, and metallic plate reproductions of the “Little Turtle Messenger” storybook, in English, Malay and Chinese, on the other. In addition, the entire walkway is paved with turtle mosaics.
There are landmarks marking both ends of the alley. One being a statue showing a turtle hatchling emerging from its egg shell and at the other end, a big mosaic showing two green turtles swimming at a seagrass bed.
In 2010, when the State Government of Terengganu completed the reclamation of the waterfront behind the row of houses in Chinatown, the aforementioned “gap” was opened and became one of the busiest connecting pedestrian alleys between the newly-formed road and carpark spaces of the waterfront and Chinatown.
Due to the many years of disuse, the alley was in a derelict condition and Dr. Chan Eng Heng, who had just recently retired then, was asked to provide ideas on how the alley could be beautified and given a facelift. Coming from a background in turtle conservation, she immediately suggested that it be turned into an alley to create awareness on turtles and be named “Turtle Alley.”
The proposed beautification plan was eventually fully endorsed by the Kampung China (Chinatown) Residents Committee. The State Executive Councillor at the time, Y.B. Dato’ Toh Chin Yaw, Mr. Lorenz Law, Mr. Sam Wee and many other residents have given the project complete support and are all duly acknowledged there.
Work on the project began in late 2010 and by July 2011, most of the turtle mosaics, and the metallic plates of “Little Turtle Messenger” had been installed in the alley. Although the alley is now functioning fully as a public thoroughfare, ideas are still being mulled upon to fill up the remaining spaces on the walls of the alley.