Jessica Banks shares her top 5 attractons to see when in Macau.
Tourism has boomed in Macau in recent years, and for good reason. Lying 65km to the west of Hong Kong, it’s a city of duality. Macau is known as the gambling powerhouse of East Asia but the city has plenty more to offer than just casinos and gambling hotspots. Mediterranean style comes in the form of fortresses, churches and culinary traditions, thanks to its former Portugese colonial masters. On the flip side, the customs, alleys, temples and shrines are of Chinese heritage. It’s a place that’s well worth a visit, so take a look of my top five things to do in the city.
- Senado Square
Situated in front of the Leal Senado Building, Senado Square is one of the four most important squares in Macau. After being repaved in the 1990s with a gorgeous wave-patterned mosaic of coloured stones, it’s been a real destination. Here you can enjoy shopping centres, traditional Chinese restaurants, boutiques and famous bars. And if you visit the free square during the Chinese Spring Festival or at Christmas, you’ll get to revel in fantastic fireworks. - The Casinos
Macau is known as the ‘Vegas of the East’ and is the only place in China where gambling is legal. Across Cotai and the Macau Peninsula, you’ll discover a plethora of casinos: 33 to be precise. The biggest is the The Venetian Macao, which is also the biggest in the world. It’s a dazzling display of excitement and an excellent opportunity to splash your cash. Thankfully, there’s a free shuttle service around all of the casinos, so transport won’t cost you a penny. - Ruins Of St. Paul
The Ruins of St. Paul are situated across from the Macau Museum, and are the facade of what was originally the Church of Mater Dei, built in the years from 1602 to 1640, as well as St Paul’s College, which stood adjacent. Both were destroyed by a fire in 1835, but it’s still a beautiful site and one of Macau’s best known free landmarks. UNESCO made it a World Heritage Site in 2005. - A-Ma Temple
This temple is dedicated to the seafarers’ goddess and dates back to the early 16th century. Macau’s name is actually derived from A-Ma-Gau or Place of A-Ma. A-Ma was a poor girl looking for passage to Canton. Wealthy junk owners refused her, but a lowly fisherman took her on board. Legend says that a storm destroyed everyone except the girl. On arrival in the city, she vanished and reappeared as a goddess on the spot where the fishermen built her beautiful temple. - Fisherman’s Wharf
A 111,500m² park, Fisherman’s Wharf is the first ever cultural, themed and creative attraction in the tourism industry of Macau. Located in the outer harbour, you can also enjoy dining, shopping and more in this favoured hotspot.
This is just a taste of what you can get up to in in Macau but there is a lot more to discover. Which is your top unmissable place to see when visiting the city?
