City guide
Everything you need to know about Macau
Macau’s popularity as a tourism destination is soaring for myriad reasons. Yes, it has spectacular casinos including the world’s two largest, a gaming industry seven times larger than in Las Vegas and reaps tourism’s ninth-highest revenue in the world.
But Macau’s eclectic Eurasian culture also draws visitors to what is now the planet’s most densely populated region. The coastal enclave on the edge of mainland China has a mere 30 square kilometre footprint – two-thirds of which has been reclaimed from the sea – yet comfortably supports 21,000 people per square kilometre.
The colonisation of the once tiny fishing village of Macau by by Portuguese traders in the 16th
century left such a unique legacy of Eurasian food, culture and history that visitors nowadays need not even set foot on a gaming floor to fill their time.
Much of this time should be spent eating: Macau’s cuisine is deemed so impressive that UNESCO placed it on the Creative Cities for Gastronomy list.
Air Niugini flies from Port Moresby to Hong Kong three times weekly. From Hong Kong, it’s easy to get across to Macau.
GETTING AROUND
Macau is 64 kilometres south-west across the water from Hong Kong Island, and the most common way to get there is by ferry).
After arriving at Hong Kong International Airport, head for the well-signposted Mainland/ Macau transfer area. Purchase ferry tickets from automated machines or the counter in transfer area E2 before checking-in luggage and taking either the automated people mover, bus or taxi to Hong Kong–Macau Ferry Terminal. The ferry ride to Macau takes about 70 minutes. As an alternative, visitors can also travel to Macau from Hong Kong (35 minutes) through the recently opened Hong Kong-Zhuhai–Macau Bridge, an attraction itself for being both the longest sea crossing and longest fixed link on earth.
The region comprises the city of Macau, built on a peninsula, and the two islands of Taipa and Coloane, all linked by two bridges and a causeway. The best way to travel is with the efficient
bus services and taxis. Every bus stop displays information on destinations and timetables, and payment is via the electronic MACAUpass card which can be purchased at convenience stores, some bakeries and vending machines. Cars can also be hired.
Walking is the next best way to enjoy Macau. Highly recommended is downloading the Step Out Macau mobile app, which contains eight suggested self-guided routes through the historic centre, major arts and culture spots, Taipa Village, Coloane and more. It is available in five languages including English, Chinese and Japanese. Taking guided tours is also highly recommended.
SIGHTS
The Historic Centre of Macau (macaotourism.gov.mo) made the World Heritage List in 2005. Top of its 20 major monuments are the ruins of St Paul’s, Senado Square, A-Ma Temple and the 20-metre high statue of goddess A-Ma. St Paul’s is a ‘western Baroque-mannerist facade’, all that’s left of a church razed by fire in 1835. A soaring structure covered in a bizarre array of motifs, it is one of Macau’s most-photographed places.
Extending toward St Paul’s is Macau’s main Senado Square, paved with wave-patterned stone mosaic created by experts from Portugal. Aside the square is the yellow and white St Dominic’s Church, an excellent example of baroque architecture built in the 17th century.
Nearby Camoes Garden is a lush, hilly park of winding paths and ponds, probably the best place to seek respite from the city. Enjoy the peaceful sight of locals taking tai chi classes under shady trees and try walking barefoot on a pebbled path laid to massage feet. The A-Ma Temple, Macau’s most significant, is located near the harbourfront.
Taipa (taipavillagemacau.com) along with Coloane is one of Macau’s most important historic districts. Wander through its narrow streets, revitalised with hip restaurants, edgy boutiques, contemporary art galleries and jewellery stores in historic homes and buildings.
Catapult into the future by touring Macau’s most modern casinos and hotels, built with some of the most advanced architectural concepts on earth. The foyer of the MGM Cotai (mgm.mo) is a destination in itself with a ceiling the size of a soccer field above the world’s largest area of permanent indoor LED screen displaying digital art. Enter the Wynn Palace (wynnpalace.com) by boarding a cable car that travels over a lake of dancing fountains and winds its way around gigantic statues of dragons before arriving at the door. The Parisian (parisianmacao.com) sports a halfsized replica of Paris’s Eiffel Tower, while Studio City (studiocity-macau.com) features the world’s first and Asia’s highest figure-8 Ferris wheel – suspended 130 metres above ground between the hotel’s twin towers.
MACAU SPECIAL
The House of Dancing Waters (thehouseofdancingwater.com) inside the City of Dreams resort is a stage show that cannot be missed, billed as the most extravagant in Asia and the only one of its type. The breathtaking show features a retractable stage above enough water to fill five Olympic swimming pools, and jaw-dropping athleticism.
For excitement-plus hit the annual Macau Grand Prix (www.macau. grandprix.gov.mo), this year on the weekend of November 16–17. It is the only street-circuit racing event for both cars and motorcycles and the climax of the Formula 3 calendar, with many winners going on to compete in Formula 1.
CUTURE VULTURE
The Macau Arts Festival (www. icm.gov.mo/fam) is a month-long extravaganza which this year runs from May 4 to June 2. Macau International Music Festival (www. icm.gov.mo/fimm) held from October 3 to November 4 features a major opera among many other performances, some of which are held in historic sites such as St Dominic’s Church, Dom Pedro V Theatre and Mount Fortress.
Macau Museum (macaumuseum. gov.mo) celebrated its 20th anniversary last year. It is housed within 17th-centurty Mount Fortress, built as the city’s military defence headquarters. The museum takes up two underground levels of the fortress and the top floor for its numerous objects depicting life in Macau from its genesis, its arts and traditions.
DOING BUSINESS
Macau’s economy has been transformed by investment in resorts, entertainment facilities and related facilities, and the International Monetary Fund forecasts Macau to have the highest levels of GDP per capita by 2020. The four-floor Macau Tower Convention and Entertainment Centre (macautower.com.mo) opened in 2001 is the focus for the majority of significant business conferences as well as those seeking a 360-degree panorama from its 338-metre high tower.
Most popular places to stay among business travellers are the Conrad Macau, the enormous Sheraton Grand Macau Hotel (marriott.com/ hotels/travel/mfmsi-sheraton-grand-macao-hotel-cotai-central) in Cotai Central and The Venetian Macau Resort Hotel (venetianmacao.com).
RETAIL THERAPY
Major department stores, the New Yaohan and Landmark, are located in the Outer Harbour area and good for finding brand fashions, high-quality children’s wear, bargain-priced electronics, cameras and duty-free cosmetics.
For famous boutiques like Escada, Cartier and Lanvin, head to Macau’s main shopping areas – Avenue Almaida Ribeiro, Avenue Infante D. Henrique and Rua do Campo. Authentic antiques and fine reproductions can be found in the side streets around Senado Square and the ruins of St Paul’s, where there are also street stalls selling knitwear and locally made clothing, and a great flea market.
PILLOW TALK
Mix old and new by staying amid tasteful 18th-century Victoriana at boutique hotel The Rocks (rockshotel.com.mo) at Fishermans Wharf before moving to one of Macau’s exceptionally modern casino resorts such as the MGM
Cotai (mgm.mo), the JW Marriott ( jwmarriott.com) or the Ritz-Carlton (ritzcarlton.com/macau).
The visually astonishing Morpheus at City of Dreams (cityofdreamsmacau.com) opened last year, featuring ultra-modern curved towers and voids.
Macanese food blends Chinese, Cantonese and Portuguese styles and is hailed as the earliest of fusion foods. For the genuine article, dine at The Flamingo Restaurant within the Art Hotel (regencyarthotel. com.mo/dining-regency _ restaurant). Must-visits are also Espaco Lisboa Restaurant in Coloane (espacolisboa.pt) and Restaurant O’Manel (omanelmacau. com/en), a humble eatery renowned for home-cooked Portuguese meals.
Sink your teeth into a Macanese tart – a little less sweet than their Portuguese counterparts and equally delicious – from the renowned Lord Stow’s Bakery (lordstow.com/macau-outlets).
Sample two-star Michelin dumplings and other Chinese delicacies at the elegant Jade Dragon in the City of Dreams (cityofdreamsmacau.com/en/dine/chinese/ jade-dragon).
WATERING HOLES
Lovers of gin must head straight for the Ritz-Carlton’s Bar and Lounge (ritzcarlton.com/en/ hotels/china/macau/dining/ the-ritz-carlton-bar-lounge) where waiters wheel around trolleys of spices and fruits to zest cocktails made from not only gin, but tonics sourced from around the globe.
The venue for both terrific views and a stylish night out is Sky 21, (skyconceptmacau.com/sky21) perched atop a skyscraper, while for music and a chic ambience the China Rouge Macau (galaxymacau.com/en/entertainment/ china-rouge) is the ticket.