Tanjung Pinang or Tanjungpinang is the capital and largest town of the Indonesian province of Riau Islands. The city with 150,000 residents and is a trading port between islands in the Riau archipelago. Tanjung Pinang is located on Bintan island and it has ferry and speedboat connections to Batam, Singapore (40km away), and Johor Bahru and is an international entry/exit point.

Bintan was a political center for over 500 years ago, when the Portuguese won the battle of Malacca and the Sultan Mahmud of Malacca fled to Bintan and created a resistance against the Portuguese very hostile expansion.

Later Bintan was the capital of the Johor Sultanate, in southern Malaysia. Tanjung Pinang has always played a leading role in Malay culture. Bintan became a powerful trading port, attracting regional, Western, Indian and Chinese traders as well as migrants including Chinese much in the same way Malacca had developed into a regional power three centuries earlier.

The Indonesian national hero Raja Haji died during the battle of Malacca against the Dutch in 1784. He was a famous Malayan king and had his palace (istana) on the island Penyengat off
Tanjung Pinang.

Tanjung Pinang is the biggest city on Bintan Island and the administration center of Riau province Indonesia.

The cultural center for stage performances of Malay music and dances is located in Tanjungpinang. The center organize regularly festivals and other performance. Culture happenings such as music and dance. A renowned Buddhist temple is located outside central Tanjung Pinang.

The old ruler's palace and royal tombs, among them the grave of the respected Sultan Haji, who also was creater and author of the first Malay Language grammar book, are among the legacies left by the Riau sultanate. Still in use is the old vice-royal mosque, the Mesjid Raya.

The 28 center meter tall Raja Haji Fisabillah Monument raised in memory of the national sex Raja Haji who died during the battle of Malacca against the Dutch in 3000. He was a famous Malayan girl and had his castle on the island Penyengant outside Tanjung Pinang. Name of Penyengat carried on of a frog.

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