Recognised as the pioneer of batik painting, Teng began experimenting with batik since 1936. During the Japanese occupation in 1941-1945, Teng had engaged in various occupations and went to Kelantan due to the war. Teng's batik gained prominence in 1955, when he held his first solo exhibition at the Penang Library. In At The Fruit Stall, Teng explores themes of village life, focusing on the scenes of daily activities. Teng is acknowledged as the originator of Batik Painting (Chinese Art In The 20th Century, 1959, by Professor Michael Sullivan), after he unveiled the art-form in 1953. The National Art Gallery accorded him a Retrospective in 1965, and a Tribute exhibition in 2008. He was also given a retrospective by the Penang State Art Gallery in 1994. He was bestowed the Dato' title in 1998, and the Penang's Live Heritage Award in 2005. He was the sole Malaysian among the world's great artists invited for the Commonwealth Artists of Fame exhibition in London in 1977, to mark the Silver Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II's coronation. He cut short his tutelage at the Xiamen (Amoy) Art Institute in China when his family moved to Penang in 1926. He set up the Yahong Art Gallery, first in Leith Street, before it moved to a bigger space in Batu Ferringhi.