In the middle of the Far East, there is a tiny piece of Portugal called Macau. It is difficult to imagine that well-preserved colonial architecture and cobblestone alleys can be found just 60 kilometers from Hong Kong’s sprawling metropolis.
You can see remnants of the city’s illustrious past everywhere as you stroll through the busy streets up to the cathedral’s ruins. It comes as no surprise that Macau’s historic district has been listed as one of China’s most important World Heritage Sites.
A-Ma temple
The magnificent A-Ma Temple (Templo de A-Má), which was constructed on the Macau Peninsula in 1488 and dedicated to the goddess Matsu, served as the model for the Portuguese when they decided to rename the city a few decades later. One of the most significant religious sites in the city and a part of Macau’s UNESCO Historic Center, this Buddhist temple is well worth visiting.
You will never be happy if you continue to search for what happiness consists of. You will never live if you are looking for the meaning of life.
Fortaleza do Monte
Fortaleza do Monte, which was constructed in 1626, served as the center of Portugal’s military presence in this region of China for many years before becoming the governor’s house, a function it carried out until 1749.
The three-story Macau Museum, which is devoted to the archaeology and ethnography of Macau with a focus on how well the Chinese, Portuguese, and Macanese have come to work and live together, is now housed in this old citadel.
Coloane Island and Hac Sa beach
The island of Coloane, which is connected to the mainland by a bridge and causeway and is located south of the Macau Peninsula, past the island of Taipa, should be on your itinerary for Macau. Coloane is an island with pine forests, eucalyptus trees, tropical vegetation, farms, and a variety of stunning beaches with fine white sand. This information frequently comes as a pleasant surprise to visitors.
On the east side of the island, Hac Sa Beach is the most well-known of these beaches. The beach area has a recreation complex with facilities for swimming, tennis, mini-golf, and other enjoyable pastimes. Coloane Park is home to Chinese pavilions and tropical plants.
Macau Tower
One of the city’s most iconic buildings and a well-liked tourist destination, the Macau Tower is a huge component of the Macau Tower Convention and Entertainment Center. The tower’s entertaining features include an observation deck with breathtaking views of the city, as well as a number of dining establishments, cinemas, and retail options. The tower is 338 meters tall and was designed for telecommunications and television.The Macau Tower Skywalk offers stunning views of the observation level’s outer rim for thrill-seekers, or you can undertake the ‘s tallest bungee jump at the 233-meter point.
Guia Fortress
The Guia Fortress is a green haven in the heart of Macao, not far from the high-speed ferry dock. Access is possible via short cable car rides or hiking trails. A modest chapel with well-preserved murals from the 1600s, antique cannons, a 91-meter-high lighthouse, and breathtaking views of Macau can all be found at the summit.
Taipa Island
A fantastic day trip is to the island of Taipa, which is south of Macau and connected to it by a massive high-arched bridge. The town itself has a significant number of Chinese stores and Portuguese colonial structures, along with a well-known horse-racing track. It was formerly a Chinese customs post for ships entering Macau, and for decades it was the customary location of fireworks companies.
Kun Lam
The current Kun Iam Temple, which is devoted to the goddess, was constructed in 1627, while allusions to a temple on the property date back to the Yuan dynasty in the 13th and 14th centuries. Three Buddha statues stand in the entrance hall to symbolize the Past, Present, and Future. In another hall, there is a statue of the goddess of mercy who is surrounded along either side by nine Buddhas.
The ruins of St. Paul
St. Paul’s Cathedral, formerly regarded as the best Christian structure in the Far East, is now only known for its towering Renaissance façade, which can be found at the summit of a wide flight of granite stairs in Macau. A new church, built by Christians expelled from Japan in 1637 and modelled after the Gesù in Rome, was finished after the first one was destroyed by fire in 1601.
