Turtle Alley
Turtle Alley is a themed lane, decorated with turtle mosaics on the walls and on the ground, in Chinatown (Kampung China), Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia. It is located on the left of the Dragon Arch and connects the main street of Chinatown to the riverfront.
Turtle Alley used to be merely a gap between two pre-war houses. A beautification project in 2010 has turned this narrow walkway into the first alley in Malaysia which is decorated with lots of turtle mosaics on both the wall and on the ground.
The walls of Turtle Alley are filled with turtle mosaics on one side, and the other side is filled with mounted metallic plate reproductions of the “Little Turtle Messenger” storybook, which is told in three languages; English, Malay and Chinese.
Besides, the entire walkway is also paved with turtle mosaics.
There are landmarks marking both ends of the alley. One being a statue showing a turtle hatchling emerging from its eggshell.
The other end (Pulau Warisan end) is a big wall mosaic measuring 8 x 6 feet, showing two green turtles swimming in a seagrass bed. Right next to this is another mosaic wall showing the words “I Love Penyu (Turtle),” where three people can stand behind the wall for photos.
The History of Turtle Alley
Turtle Alley used to be a gap between two pre-war houses that had remained closed to public access for many decades.
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.