Indonesia is the world's largest archipelago, stretching from the South China Sea to the Indian Ocean. It is also home to the world's largest Buddhist Temple, the Borobudur Temple in Central Java, built in the 8th century. Around this time, the monks from the Tang Dynasty era would stop over on their pilgrimage to India.
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Trading activities possibly started during the Ming Dynasty when the world's largest navy, commanded by Admiral Cheng Ho, came with his armada of ships, many carrying cargo to trade. Trickles of migration possibly started from there because Ong Sum Ping, a Chinese from Quanzhou was said to have become a leader on the island of Borneo. He was honored with a street named after him in Brunei.
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Migration picked up momentum when the British seized control of Hong Kong and made it their network of colonies, including Malaya, Singapore, and parts of Borneo Island.
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The Hokkien, an ethnic group from Fujian Province, were already there in large numbers before the Hinghwa arrived. 
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When the Hinghwa arrived there, they settled mainly in Jakarta, Surabaya, Makassar, and Medan, where they each have an association and their respective temples.

The first Hin Ann Hwee Koan in Jakarta was established in 1940. All activities ceased during the Japanese war from 1942 to 1945. In 1965, it was again closed due to political unrest. It reopened again in 2000 and was officially reopened in 2009.

Nevertheless, the enterprising and very hardworking Hinghwa eventually became very successful.
 
Many of them are featured in the World of Eminent Hinghwas section.
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