In the pursuit of visiting as many places in Malaysia as possible, our most recent trip brought us to the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia. Yes, we stayed in the Kuantan/Sungai Lembing area for five nights, exploring while enjoying the famous local food.
This article focuses on the things to do in Kuantan and briefly mentions those in Sungai Lembing, as we will write a separate article to provide in-depth details about Sungai Lembing. We will also publish another article specifically about the food we tried in Kuantan.
Our trip began with a drive from Kuala Lumpur via the East Coast Expressway, one of Malaysia’s best highways. Traffic was light since we traveled off-season. Since we started after lunch, we arrived in Sungai Lembing close to 4 p.m. We planned to stay there first, as it lay along the route from Kuala Lumpur before continuing to Kuantan.
We checked into Time Capsule Retreat, then visited the Sungai Lembing Museum and the nearby colorful hanging bridge. The next morning, we set off early to hike to the famous Rainbow Waterfall and stopped to watch the sunrise at Sunrise Hill along the way. In the afternoon, we explored Gua Charas, a limestone cave that houses Buddhist and Hindu temples. We also stopped by Sungai Pandan Waterfall, where locals were swimming, sliding down the natural waterslides, picnicking, or simply lying on the rocks, letting the rushing cascade wash away their tiredness and worries.
Heads up! We’ll soon publish our Sungai Lembing adventures, sharing an in-depth look at everything we did there.
So, our visit to Kuantan officially began once we arrived that afternoon. After checking into E-Red Hotel Kuantan, we explored the Kuantan city and hunted for delicious food. Since we dedicated a good chunk of our time to savoring local flavors, I’ve compiled all the eateries separately in another article for our full gastronomic journey.
For now, let's dive into the places we visited in Kuantan.
1. Kuantan Esplanade
The first place we dropped by is the Kuantan River Esplanade. The locals also call it Taman Esplanade Kuantan or Kuantan Waterfront. It is located along the riverbank of the Kuantan River, and it's just a short walk from where we had our afternoon tea—Kula Cakes at Jalan Besar.
Over here, the atmosphere is truly relaxing. It is now close to sunset, and the sky shifts in color. Today, the weather is sunny and bright. The waterfront offers a scenic view of the Kuantan River, with boats steadily moving up and down the waterway.
A walking and cycling path runs along the river, with a well-maintained promenade for those who enjoy a leisure stroll, jogging, or cycling. There is also a family-friendly playground nearby. Stores are selling various street foods, souvenirs, and handmade local crafts.
The majestic Kuantan 188 Tower stood beside us—the city’s most iconic landmark. We made sure to visit because, let’s be honest, skipping it would’ve meant we never truly experienced Kuantan.
2. Kuantan Art Street
Just a minute’s walk across the main road from the Esplanade is the Kuantan Art Street (Lorong Seni Kuantan). It is a back lane with many murals painted on the back wall of the shophouse, which stretches from one end to the other behind Jalan Besar.
This back lane is nicely paved with tiles and painted in vibrant colors. It also serves as a venue for a night market. When I was there, the market hadn’t been set up yet, as it was still early, but some vendors had already started to bring in their carts and prepare for business.
Many murals along this stretch run from one end of the lane to the other. Compared to other towns in Malaysia, most murals are relatively clean and bright, but some already need repair or upkeep. The best murals that I have seen so far (now is 2025) are those in Melaka,
3. Pantai Batu Hitam
After visiting Art Street, we drove to Pantai Batu Hitam (Black Stone Beach), about 10 kilometers from the town center.
Though we thought it would be an isolated, secluded beach, we were surprised to find so many people there. The vibe was incredibly vibrant when we arrived! This place was lively and full of local people, with families and children playing on the beach and swimming in the sea.
There is ample parking along the beach. Many stalls were selling food, giving the whole place a festive, carnival-like atmosphere. There was even a small train ride available for children to go around the beach.
The sea was relatively calm, and the beach was flat. I noticed the sand wasn’t the usual bright yellow but had a slightly darker tone. A few clusters of black rocks were at the far left end, so I walked over and looked closer.
So there it was, where the black rocks! The name of this beach comes from the unique black basalt rocks scattered along the shore. They’re pretty distinctive and have been believed to be of volcanic origin for millions of years. As not many people were near the rocks, we sat down there and watched as the sunlight slowly faded into a deepening blue sky.
We left, enjoyed our dinner, and returned to the hotel as the sun went down.
4. Penyu Gergasi Pantai Pelindung
On the second day evening, we drove to Pantai Pelindung in search of the giant turtle mural.
The weather was pleasant when we arrived. The evening grew calm and breezy as the sun began dipping behind the mountains. Like at Pantai Batu Hitam, many locals were relaxing and enjoying the rhythmic waves and sea breeze. Though I couldn't spot any murals in the area, the natural scenery was beautiful enough on its own.
A helpful local told us that we needed to walk about one kilometer to the right if facing the sea along the beach to reach the giant turtle mural. So, we set the GPS and looked for a way to drive as close as possible to that location.
We parked our car at the nearest spot (near Sutravilla Apartment) and started walking along a trail next to the beach. After about five to six minutes, the path brought us back onto the beach again, and the turtle mural was just about 50 meters ahead of us.
The turtle mural was a project by the Tourism Board of the state of Pahang. There were quite some visitors who came specifically to see this massive rock that resembled a turtle. While admiring it, we also tried to climb over behind the turtle to see if there was anything else, but we soon realized that it was actually the end of the beach. There were too many rocks to climb further.
We lingered for about ten minutes, soaking in the stunning mural, the salty sea breeze, and the peaceful atmosphere. It absolutely lives up to its reputation. The mural is captivating and requires imagination for its artistic transformation. This spot is truly a hidden gem. Tucked away from the beach's main areas, you wouldn't accidentally discover it unless you had spare time in Kuantan. But trust me, it's worth making a trip. The place is nothing short of spectacular.
Below is the exact location of where we park our car in the Penyu Gergasi:
5. Tanjung Lumpur
Tanjung Lumpur in Kuantan is a charming traditional fishing village located at the mouth of the Kuantan River. We arrived in the morning to explore the area, as it is well known for its many seafood restaurants offering ikan bakar (Malay-style grilled fish) and ikan celup tepung. While we were there, we saw plenty of fishing boats docked, although, during our visit, no fish were being unloaded from the boats.
Nevertheless, it is a scenic and atmospheric place. There are traditional Malay houses built on stilts, wooden jetties extending into the river, and even chickens roaming freely around the area, giving it a nostalgic, old-school village vibe.
6. #ThatTembelingTree
I want to take you to a hidden attraction in Kuantan at Pantai Teluk Sisek. We stopped our car at the beach and went looking for #ThatTembelingTree.
If you're not familiar with what I’m referring to, there is a similar famous tree in Wanaka, New Zealand, known as #ThatWanakaTree, which became an Instagram phenomenon. That iconic tree appears to float in the lake, just a short distance from the shore of the lake. I was there two years ago, and here is the photo.
The tembeling tree I saw today is strikingly similar and even more than I expected. Why? Just as we were about to leave and return to our car, I looked back and, to my surprise, saw a rainbow appearing on the distant horizon. So, I quickly moved to get the right angle and captured this magical moment with the tree and the rainbow in one frame.
To find it, simply type ThatTembelingTree into Google or Instagram.
7. Lao Zi Temple
Lao Zi Temple sits approximately 12 kilometers outside Kuantan town. What drew us to visit was the temple's remarkable 800-meter-long dragon sculpture that leads to the main entrance. This spectacular architectural wonder has earned it the nickname "Dragon Temple." More than just seeing it, we wanted the unique experience of walking through the dragon's body to reach the temple.
We arrived around 2 pm, and there were virtually no visitors. Despite that, we chose to enter the temple through the tail of the golden dragon path, which eventually leads to the dragon’s mouth, which is the entrance to the temple proper.
Numerous colorful illustrations and stories related to Taoist deities are inside the dragon's body. This is known as the Golden Dragon Walk, which stretches 823 meters and has been recognized by the Malaysian Book of Records as the country’s longest dragon statue.
Once we emerged from the dragon’s mouth, we paid the entrance fee to the person in charge. The entrance fee is RM5 per adult, but an alternative shortcut via a staircase costs only RM3. The caretaker instructed us to touch the dragon pearl placed at the dragon's mouth. According to her, doing so upon arrival would bring us good fortune.
Upon entering, we turned left into a spacious courtyard filled with colorful sculptures of Taoist deities. There are also writings and drawings depicting Taoist and Chinese folklore stories.
One of the most prominent features here is a seven-meter-tall statue of Laozi. There are also sculptures representing the 12 Chinese zodiac animals, the statue of Hua Tuo, the famous ancient Chinese doctor, and other deities and mythological figures.
To the right, there's a large traditional bronze bell. Its patinated surface is etched with ancient characters. Following instructions, we struck it three times - the deep, resonant tones vibrating through the courtyard as we sent our hopes for good fortune into the universe.
We later entered the main shrine, where the person in charge explained that the temple had been around for over 40 years. The massive dragon was added about 20 years ago as part of an effort to upgrade and beautify the temple. Most of the resources for developing and maintaining the temple have come from contributions by devotees of Lao Zi in the surrounding community.
8. Bukit Pelindung
Though hiking rarely makes the list of top Kuantan activities, as an enthusiastic hiker, I try to explore at least one trail wherever I travel. This brought us to Bukit Pelindung on a crisp morning.
We arrived at the trailhead to find it lively with fellow early-morning hikers—ample roadside parking spaces made getting here very convenient.
The well-maintained trail combines paved access roads with gentle inclines, though several jungle trails are prohibited from entering. Clear markers guide us along the main route, and thoughtful amenities like shaded gazebos, outdoor exercise equipment, and resting benches are available at regular intervals.
Covering three to four kilometers roundtrip, the hike ascends to a summit that appears to be a power station tower. While not a wilderness challenge, the panoramic views and fresh air make every step worthwhile.
Hiking has become our travel ritual, a perfect way to burn off calories before our relentless quest for unique local flavors at every destination.
We created a video during our hike at Bunkit Pelindung. Click here to watch the hiking trip on YouTube.
9. Pantai Cempedak
Our final stop brought us to Teluk Cempedak Beach, the perfect ending to our journey. As we spent our last night at the Hyatt Kuantan, we couldn't have asked for a better location as the hotel sits right along this stunning beachfront, with the waves just steps from our room.
The beach faces east, offering an unobstructed view of the horizon, making it an ideal place to watch the sunrise. We attempted, but there were some clouds in the morning, so the sunrise wasn’t apparent.
The beach is a lively community hub where locals gather for jogging, exercising, relaxing, and even joining group dance sessions in the morning.
We walked on the beach in the late afternoon, and it was bustling with activities. We also explore one of the British bunkers among those scattered along Kuantan's beaches, including Teluk Cempedak Beach, Balok, and Cherating. These bunkers are remnants from World War II, built around the 1940s as part of a defensive effort to protect the coastline from possible Japanese invasion.
In the afternoon, the beach becomes lively, with stalls selling various types of food and people strolling along the beachfront. Some scenic rock formations are at the far left end of the beach. There’s a walkway leading further left, but unfortunately, it was closed during our visit due to maintenance work.
What other things to do in Kuantan?
You might wonder if we only visited these eight spots during our five-night stay in Kuantan and Sungai Lembing. Honestly, we weren't chasing a tight schedule. In fact, instead of covering all the tourist spots, we deliberately avoided a fixed itinerary. This was a self-drive leisure holiday where we simply followed our curiosity, exploring what interested us and sampling every local dish that caught our eye.
We dedicated about a day and a half to Sungai Lembing's adventures, including a morning back from Kuantan to witness daybreak from Bukit Panorama's breathtaking vantage point. The remainder of our trip was our culinary exploration as we sampled Kuantan restaurants, cafes, and street food. Every moment was well spent!
So stay tuned for our upcoming stories: "The Ultimate Guide to Sungai Lembing's Must-do Activities" and "Our Unforgettable Gastronomic Journey through Kuantan."
🎞️ Watch our video shot at Kuantan
Please watch the video we shot at Kuantan by clicking the image below.
