A Visit to Macau, China

Unique to Asia and perhaps the world, this petite hot spot is big on attractions. Gone are the days of Macau being though of as the Las Vegas of Asia. Everything is Macau is now world-class, from the famed gaming to the hotels, dinning, shopping, and even golf. Culture abounds from Macau’s Portuguese and Chinese heritage and the fascinating imprints of each are evident at every vantage point.

Located 37 miles southwest of Hong Kong, the city consists of the Macau Peninsula itself and the islands of Taipa and Coloane. The Pearl River estuary on the east and the Xijiang West River on the west form the peninsula. It borders the Zhuhai Special Economic Zone in Mainland China of which I was able to view from my suite at the Sofitel. Originally just an island in the rivers, the connecting sandbar gradually turned into a narrow isthmus, thus changing Macau into a peninsula. Land reclamation in the 17th century transformed Macau and expanded its perimeter, a practice that still occurs today, and numerous steep hills still mark the original land mass. Alto de Coloane is the highest point in Macau, with an altitude of only 559.7 ft.

The first recorded inhabitants of the area were people seeking refuge in Macau from invading Mongols during the Southern Song Dynasty. Under the Ming Dynasty, fishermen migrated to Macau from Guangdong and Fujian provinces. Major settlement in Macau did not occur until the 1500s when Portuguese traders obtained the rights to anchor ships in Macau's harbors, although they were not allowed to stay onshore. In 1553 they obtained temporary permission to erect storage sheds onshore, and soon after they built rudimentary stone houses around the area now called Nam Van. In 1557, the Portuguese established a permanent settlement in Macau, paying an annual rent in silver to China. The Chinese and Portuguese started negotiations about Macau in June 1986. The two signed a Sino-Portuguese Joint Declaration the next year, making Macau a special administrative region (SAR) of China. The Chinese government assumed formal sovereignty over Macau on December 20, 1999 and with great foresight Macau arrives today has a jet-set city.

Macau has a host of world class hotels that cater to the jet-setter, such as Wynn, Four Seasons, Sofitel, MGM Grand, and the very impressive Venetian. Along with these world-class hotels and resorts, delectable dinning options featuring cuisine from all over the world can be found in Macau. Over the years Macau developed a unique cuisine that combined Portuguese, Chinese, Indian, and even Malayan cooking. Known as Macanese cuisine, it is served in restaurants all over the city but mostly along Rua Almirante Sérgio on the Praia Grande and on Taipa. I enjoyed a sensational meal at Antonio, which serves authentic Portuguese cuisine inspired by renowned chef Antonio Coelho, located in scenic Taipa village. Other great Portuguese/Macanese dining can be found at Restaurante Litoral located near the interesting Ahma Temple and Espaco Lisboa “Lisbon Space” on Coloane Island.

For your cultural whirlwind through the numerous museums in Macau I recommend Museum Pass, which gives you access within a period of 5 days to each of the following museums: Grand Prix Museum, Wine Museum, Maritime Museum, Lin Zexu Museum, Museum of Art, and Museum of Macau. If you have limited time for museum visits, make sure you check out the Macau Museum that was inaugurated on 18th of April, 1998, where the cultural traditions and historical heritage of Macau come to life in exhibits. The Macau Grand Prix Museum houses a selection of remarkable cars and motorbikes and each year in November a full scale Grand Prix takes place throughout Macau. Another must-visit museum is the Handover Give Museum, located on the site of the actual handover of Macau to Mainland China in December 1999 and now part of the Macau Cultural Center. The “gifts” from other nations to Macau are stunning masterpieces of riches and cultural traditions.

Macau is a wonderfully accessible city and there is much to discover besides history and culture. Shopping on Macau is amazing, from the luxury and designer shops at the Four Seasons and the Venetian to the street shops that line the area starting at the expansive Senado Square. On Avenida Almeida Ribeiro you will find narrow streets leading off the main square selling fabulous accessories and clothing. Also a must-visit is Avenida Horta e Costa, a long street full of shops that begins at the Red Market and extends as far as the Flora Gardens beneath Guia Hill. The avenue has several up-market shops specializing in clothing and shoes, electronic items and cameras, and more. But the best bargains are found on the side streets where antiques, handcrafted furniture, and handicrafts of excellent quality can be found. The historic "Three Lamps" (Rotunda Carlos da Maia) and surrounding streets are full of tiny shops selling many kinds of goods at bargain prices. If you consider shopping to be a sporting event, Macau is a marathon.

The city is always alive, both with tourists and residents of both Macau and nearby China who flock to the markets and shopping areas for necessities, bargains, and luxuries. Make sure you make time for one of Macau’s most famous tea-time snacks, the Portuguese Egg Tart. The world’s best can be found Lord Stow’s bakery on Coloane Island. Macau is a great jet-set city chocked full of things to do both during the day and into the evenings when the casinos and nightclubs come alive.

Cathay Pacific was my airline of choice because of its non-stop service from most of the world’s major cities to Hong Kong, and from there I took the TurboJet Ferry for the quick hour ride to Macau. For more information about the history, attractions, special events and accommodations visit the official website of The Macau Government Tourist Office.