Taking the Chinese community in Johor Bahru as a case study, this article investigates how people created and spread the stories of the establishment of cities, with a focus on the narrators of the establishment stories and the reasons behind the narratives. Using primary resources of the publications from Tiong-Hua Association of Johor Bahru, and materials from the Johor Bahru Chinese Heritage Museum' s exhibitions, the Johor Bahru Old Chinese Temple and its annual Chingay parade, this article shows that the establishment narratives were generated and disseminated through both texts and rituals. The changes in politics, economy, and social structure in Johor Bahru since the 1970s have made an impact on shaping and disseminating its establishment story.
