Macau, known as the Las Vegas of Asia attracts a large number of tourists every year. Being a small peninsula in mainland China, and situated right across Pearl River Delta from Hong Kong, Macau was a Portuguese overseas territory until 1999. This is the reason why you can see a mix of Portuguese and Chinese influence in their culture, architecture, food and style of living. The following is a list of places and attractions that you can enjoy at Macau.

The Mandarin's House

Mandarin's House is believed to be the ancestral home of Zheng Guanying, the advocate of representative and participatory political system in the 1870s. Why this is worth visiting is because, at the time it was built, a house of such proportions was pretty rare. The architectural style of the house is also exceptional, with 4000 square meters and 60 rooms.  The house was built by Zheng Guanying’s father and later expanded by his brothers. The house is open from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm; entrance is free.

Ruins of St. Paul's

The façade, known as Ruins of St. Paul’s was initially known as Church of Mater Dei and was built during the 1602 to 1640 period. Just adjacent to this facade, you have the St. Paul’s College, also in ruins. Though it was the former site of St. Paul Church, this was once considered the greatest church in Macau. It was burned down in 1853. It is indeed saddening to see that only the facade remains now, because the Church had an interesting Jesuit history once. Even now you can still see statues of the Virgin and Saints, images of the Devil, symbols of the Garden of Eden, symbols denoting crucifixion, Japanese chrysanthemum, a Portuguese sailing ship and plenty of Chinese inscriptions. Though the facade looks like it is ready to topple, it is held strong by steel. While visiting the facade, don’t forget to pose for photographs and visit the museum as well. The visit to the museum is free and is open between 9 am and 6 pm everyday. 

A-Ma Cultural Village

Another thing that you can visit while at Macau is the world’s tallest statue dedicated to the goddess, A-Ma or the Tin Hau. Right next to this statue, you have an entire village that you would enjoy visiting. The development of this village was initiated in 2001, when the Chung Yeung festival was going, and right after the A-MA Cultural and Tourism Festival. Now this entire village is a beautiful spectacle that attracts devotees and tourists alike. To reach the village, you have to go up 6 rows of stairs carved with beautiful patterns of the double lion, roaring tiger, the double phoenix and the five cranes. These patterns are all auspicious symbols of Chinese people. 

A lot await the visitor when he visits the village. Apart from a vegetarian restaurant and snack bars, he has access to a beautiful and well-maintained park, the new Alto de Coloane picnic area, Coloane Hiking trail, recreational fishing zone and the Arboretum. The Arboretum is home to more than a 100 species of birds.  The view of the statue of the goddess is also the most revered among devotees here. It is believed that there are more than 200 million devotees.

Senado Square

Senado Square, also known as Senate Square is a public place, and a paved town square that has been elevated to the status of a World Heritage Site. It is located right in the center of Macau Peninsula and has been a very important and populated area for more than a hundred years. The area got its name during the Ming Dynasty, 1368-1644.

Initially, there was a statue of a soldier named Mesquita. He was blamed for the death of many Chinese soldiers during the war with Qing Dynasty that ruled between 1644-1911. This statue was later destroyed, and a fountain came in its name. The fountain is known simply as The Fountain. The square is the popular spot for cultural festivals held in Macua every year.

The Museum of Macau

The biggest museum in Macau, ‘The Museum of Macau’ is located in the famous Monte Fortress. The museum in the heart of Macau is also the place where the Portuguese set their foot first in China. The museum is a pretty recent addition because its construction was started in 1996 and completed in 1998. Of course, there are several other museums in Macau, but this one is really important as it talks about religious harmony. The three floors of the museum are devoted to each period of civilization, and a separate floor dedicated to art and culture, hence, it would be very interesting to walk down and observe the prosperity of Macau during the Neolithic period, the colorful traditions and culture, traditional handicraft works and many more.

Kun Iam Temple

There are three main temples in Macau, one of them is A-Ma Temple (already mentioned), the other is Lin Fung Temple and the next one is Kun Iam Temple. The most noted feature of Kun Iam Temple is that it has three main shrines/halls placed one in front of the other. One consists of the Hall of Sakyamuni, the other is known as the Buddha of Longevity Hall and the other is Kun Iam Hall. The most important hall is of course, Kun Iam Hall. The statue of Kun Iam is portrayed in lovely silk and adorned with crown, and flanked by 18 Buddhas. It is believed that the Kin Iam Temple was built in Ming Dynasty. Even so, the similarities borne by the temple to other Chinese temples is simply remarkable. There is a beautiful bronze bell, believed to be more than 300 in the Hall of Sakyamuni. 

Grand Prix Museum 

The Grand Prix Museum was built in 1933 to commemorate the 40th anniversary of Grand Prix Racing in Macau. Formula One racing enthusiasts flock to the museum to enjoy several eye-catching cars, the noted among them is the racing car that was once driven by Aryton Senna, one of the most popular car racers of his time, and who met his end in the San Marino GP in 1994. The red and white racing car, his helmet and riding apparel are also on display. 

Macau Wine Museum

Macau Wine Museum is another favorite, but recent addition in Macau. It was inaugurated on December 25th 1995 and has a collection of more than 115 brands of wine, including 359 “collection wines” and 756 commercial wines. The earliest produced wine at the museum is Martle, produced in 1815.  If you love wine, you will have absolute fun here, tasting your favorite wine. Don’t forget to visit the stunning exhibit of porcelain bricks exclusive only to this museum. These bricks belong to the 18th century and feature colored paintings. 

Venetian Macau

All casino lovers would have heard of the Venetian Macau. It is the largest entertainment destination in Asia and features a rare combination of attractions, amenities and activities. There are more than 350 international shops, street performers, lovely authentic Venetian gondola and more. This is something not to be missed.

Macau Fisherman's Wharf

Located in the outer harbor, the Fisherman's Wharf is not entirely a theme park, but something more than that because you have shopping, dining, entertainment and exhibition facilities, some people make use of the accommodation facilities as well. 

Of course, these are not only places you can enjoy at Macau. Get in touch with us at Booking Squad to plan a memorable trip to Mainland China and Macau. We can chart an itinerary according to your time and budget, and ensure you have a memorable vacation.