Ipoh, the capital of Perak in Malaysia, is known for many things. In history, it is known for tin mining and Chinese immigration. Today, visitors to the city are more likely to think about eating Ipoh Hohfan and buying its famed pomelos. Like other cities and towns in Malaysia, Ipoh is also known for its many temples. Most special are the many temples built in limestone caves at the outskirts of Ipoh. Whether one drives along the old trunk road or the present highway, one cannot fail to note some of these impressive cave temples ~ Tan Chee-Beng (Distinguished Professor)

南洋华踪: 马来西亚霹雳怡保岩洞庙宇史录与传说 or Trails of the Nanyang Chinese: History and Legends of the Cave Temple in Ipoh of Malaysia (Beijing: Chinese Social Science Publisher, 2017) introduces forty-nine Chinese cave temples in Ipoh, Malaysia. Basic information about these cave temples is provided, including names in different languages, years of establishment, the main deities worshiped, etc. Among them, seven cave temples are highlighted and described in detail, including the origins, developments, and evolution of the temples and the life histories of Taoist priests or Buddhist abbots of these temples. These seven temples are Perak Tong Temple, Sam Poh Tong Temple, Nam Thean Tong Temple, Tung Wah Tong Temple, Kwang Fook Ngam Temple, Nan Tou Ngam Temple and Loong Thow Ngam Temple.

This book brings together a wealth of field investigations, oral memories, inscriptions, official documents, photos, etc., and lays the foundation for in-depth and comprehensive research for all temples in the future. It indeed lifts the historical and cultural veil of these cave temples and presents the cultural landscape and religious demeanour of Ipoh, Perak to the world.

The editors of the book are Tan Ai Boay and Toh Teong Chuan. Both are teaching at Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, which is located in Perak, Malaysia.