top ten things to savor in macau
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Here is a top ten list of things to enjoy inMacau, a Special Administrative Region of the
Peoples Republic of Chinaand formerPortuguese colony. This list is based on my visit
to Macau in April 2012. The activities and destinations listed should give you a taste of
what one of Asias most fascinating places has to offer.
1. Ruins of St. Paul Cathedralin the
Historic Centre of Macao(the Portuguese spellingof Macau), a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
TheHistoric Centre of MacaoonMacau Peninsulawith its mix of Portuguese and
Chinese influences was designated aWorld Heritage SitebyUNESCOin 2005. The
Centre stretches over several square kilometers in two zones: one between Barra Hill to
the west and Mount Hill in the center, and the other to the east encompassing theGuia
Fortress,Guia Chapel, and Guia Lighthouse. The first zone boasts 20 monuments of
special significance to the blending of eastern and western influences that harken back to
Macaus days as a Portuguese colony.Click herefor more information about the Centre.
TheRuins of St. Paul'sCathedral and College is arguably the citys most famous
landmark and a must-see attraction. Completed in 1602 by theJesuits, it was one of thelargest Catholic complexes in Asia but fell into decline afterPope Clement XIVdissolved
the Jesuits Order, the Society of Jesus, in 1773, and the Jesuits departed. It was destroyed
by a fire during a typhoon in 1835. The cathedrals faade crowning a long flight of stone
steps is the only visible remnant of the church. Its baroque features are reminiscent of the
Jesuit Reductionsin South America that were built at about the same time. Behind the
faade of St. Pauls is theMuseum of Sacred Art and Cryptwith relics and artifacts from
the former Jesuit complex.
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The shopping district in theHistoric Centre of Macao andSt. Dominic's Church:
3. Mount Fortress and the Macau Museum
Also located in theHistoric Centre of Macao, theMount Fortress(Fortaleza do Monte in
Portuguese) is a hilltop fortress built in 1626 by the Jesuits to defend themselves from
attack. The colonial government seized it after the Jesuits left Macau in the 1770s. It
served for many years as the residence of the governors of Macau and a military fort.
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Mount Fortress is a short escalator ride from the Ruins of St. Pauls and has a nice vista
overlooking the city worth the trip. You can almost hear echoes of the citys colonial past
near the cannons on the ramparts. The beautiful garden offers panoramic views of the oldcity.Click herefor more views of the citys skyline.
If you enjoy old military forts and have time, visitGuia Fortressa few kilometers to the
east.
TheMuseum of Macausits on
top of the mount.
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4. A-Ma Temple
TheA-Ma Temple, a Taoist temple built in 1488, is the oldest and most famous in
Macau. Its located at the base of Barra Hill at the western end of theHistoric Centre of
Macao. Time and weather did not permit us to visit the temple on our trip, but severalsources have indicated that it is one ofMacaus main attractions and worth a visit.
5. Visit the casinos, gamble and shop
As the only place in the Peoples Republic of China where gambling is permitted, Macao
is a popular destination for Chinese who enjoy gambling. As of 2012,gambling revenue
in Macauwas five times that of Las Vegas, although you wouldnt know at first glance.
Unlike the crowded Las Vegas Strip, Macaus casinos are scattered across the city. The
newer casinos are located on theCotai Stripin Cotai, a district betweenTaipaand
Coloaneislands built on reclaimed land. TheGalaxy,City of Dreams, andVenetianare
on the Cotai Strip. Others, including theGrand Lisboaand theSands, are located near theHistoric Centre of Macao. These casinos and hotels are filled with restaurants, shops, and
entertainment venues that appeal to gamblers and tourists alike. We stayed at the Galaxy
and were impressed by the amenities and beautiful peacock motif.
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6. Dine on Macanese and Portuguese cuisine
Macau offers a delicious fusion of Chinese and Portuguese cooking. The two have
blended into a local style known asMacanese cuisinewith an emphasis on baked goods
and grilled and roasted meats. Some popular Macanese dishes are Portuguese or African
chicken, codfish (bacalhau), gray chicken or rabbit (pato de cabidela), spicy chili
shrimps, minced beef or pork (minchi), stir-fried curry crab, steamed pork buns, and egg
tarts. Macau has many fine Macanese, Portuguese, and Chinese restaurants. Dine at one
recommended by a local or the concierge at your hotel. We dined atAntonio(259 rua dos
Negociantes Taipa), a Michelin 3-star Portuguese restaurant owned by renowned chef
Antonio Coelho widely known as one of the best purveyors of Portuguese cuisine in
Macau. The meal was delicious, and the ambiance was wonderful.
Other recommended restaurants in Macau areFernandos on Coloane island (9 Praiade
Hac), seafood restaurant O Manel (10 rua de Femao Mendes Pinto), and Macanese
restaurant O Porto Interior(259 rua do Almirante Sergio).
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7. Macau Tower:
The 338 meter (1,109 foot) tallMacau Toweroffers some
of the best views of Macau. Thrill seekers can walk on
Skywalk X, the outer rim of the tower with only a tether
and no handrail. Orbungee jumpoff the tower, the second
highest in the world after the Vegas' Stratosphere skyjump.
We didnt visit the tower because of bad weather, but I took
a photo of it.
8. Taipa Village:
Taipa Village is an old settlement onTaipa Islandnear the
Cotai Strip. Its worth a visit if youre staying on Taipa or Coloane islands. Get away for
a meal at one of the Portuguese or Macanese restaurants. Walk along Rua do Cunha or
one of the cobblestone side streets to buy pastries or souvenirs and visit the Taipa HouseMuseum and Church of Our Lady of Carmel. With all the modern casinos rising up
around it, this colonial-era town feels like a place frozen in time.
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Here are a couple of odd sights we encountered in Taipa Villagealley cats feasting on ameal outside a restaurant (we didnt eat there) and driedcaterpillar fungus(Cordyceps
sinensis)for Chinese herbal tea.
9. Macau Science Center, Cultural Center of Macau, and Macau Museum of Art:
TheMacau Science Centreis a contemporary waterfront structure designed by famous
architectIM Peithat opened in 2009. TheCultural Center of Macauand Museum of Art
are co-located in the same building across the street from the science center. The three
offer a variety of exhibits and performances that make for a nice alternative to the casinos
and historic parts of town. They are also visually attractive and offer a nice photo op.
10. The House of Dancing Water Show:
The House of Dancing Water, a Vegas-style stage production at theCity of Dreams, is a
wonderfully choreographed experience in an intimate aqua theater-in-the-round. The
uniquely Asian take on the aquatic theater concept combines theater, dance, gymnastic
artistry, high-performance diving, and state-of-the-art displays of water imagery.Click
hereto read my previous post about the show with more photos from the show.
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We simply enjoyed walking around the streets of Macau to see the city. Here are somephotos from the city center:
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There are many more things to savor in Macau. Its impossible to see it all without
visiting at least a few days. From theMacau Grand Prixheld each November to taking
the one hourHong Kong-Macau Ferry, a visit to Macau is filled with eclectic diversionsthat make it a fun destination in Asia. Hopefully your trip will be filled with sunshine.
M.G. Edwards is a writer of books and stories in the mystery, thriller and
science fiction-fantasy genres. He also writes travel adventures. He is
author ofKilimanjaro: One Mans Quest to Go Over the Hill, a non-
fiction account of his attempt to summit Mount Kilimanjaro, Africas
highest mountain. His short story collectionReal Dreams: Thirty Years of
Short Storiesin available as an e-book and in print onAmazon.com. He
lives in Bangkok, Thailand with his wife Jing and son Alex.
For more books or stories by M.G. Edwards, visit his web site atwww.mgedwards.com
or his blog,World Adventurers. Contact him [email protected], onFacebook, on
Google+, or@m_g_edwardson Twitter.
2012 Brilliance Press. All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or
transmitted without the written consent of the author.
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