Hong Kong and Macau_ City Guide (Lonely Planet, 14th Edition) - Andrew Stone [250]
MACAU FISHERMAN’S WHARF Map
Doca dos Pescadores; www.fishermanswharf.com.mo
Bordering the east of NAPE is Macau Fisherman’s Wharf, a tacky ‘theme park’ built on reclaimed land. It combines attractions, hotels, shops and restaurants, and is divided into three sections. Tang Dynasty focuses on Chinese history and culture; East Meets West is a 30m-high working volcano, an Africa Fort funfair for kids, and the Greek Square leisure and performance park; and Legend Wharf features landmarks from around the world. The new phase of the park, which includes a couple of luxurious resorts, is still under construction.
HANDOVER OF MACAU GIFTS MUSEUM Map
Museu das Ofertas sobre a Transferência de Soberania de Macau; 8791 9800; Avenida Xian Xing Hai; admission free; 10am-7pm Tue-Sun
Next to the Macau Cultural Centre is this major attraction to visitors from the mainland. It displays (kitschy) art pieces and handicrafts presented by China’s various provinces to Macau to mark the return of Chinese sovereignty in 1999.
Southwest Corner
The southwestern tip of the Macau Peninsula has a number of important historical sights, as it was the first area of the territory to be settled.
A-MA TEMPLE Map
Templo de A-Ma; Rua de São Tiago da Barra; 7am-6pm; 1, 1A, 5
North of Barra Hill is a temple dedicated to the goddess A-Ma and Macau’s namesake – called Ma Kok Miu in Cantonese. She is better known as Tin Hau (see the boxed text). This is the oldest temple in Macau and was probably standing when the Portuguese arrived, although the present one may only date back to the 17th century. At the entrance is a large boulder with a coloured relief of a lorcha (a traditional sailing vessel of the South China Sea). During the A-Ma Festival ( Click here) sometime between late April and early May, it is crowded with pilgrims. If you can only visit one temple in Macau, make it this one.
AVENIDA DA REPúBLICA Map
Avenida da República along the northwest shore of Sai Van Lake is the oldest Portuguese section of Macau. Here are several grand colonial villas not open to the public. The former Bela Vista Hotel, one of the most-storied hotels in Asia, is now the residence of the Portuguese consul general. Nearby is the ornate Santa Sancha Palace (Palacete de Santa Sancha; Estrada de Santa Sancha), once the residence of Macau’s Portuguese governors and now used to accommodate state guests.
PENHA HILL Map
Colina da Penha
Towering above the colonial villas along Avenida da República is Penha Hill, the most tranquil and least visited area of the peninsula. From here you’ll get excellent views of the central area of Macau. Atop the hill is the Bishop’s Palace (built in 1837) and the Chapel of Our Lady of Penha (Capela de Nost-ra Señora da Penha; 9am-5.30pm), once a place of pilgrimage for sailors.
MARITIME MUSEUM Map
Museu Marítimo; 2859 5481; 1 Largo do Pagode da Barra; adult/child 10-17/senior over 65 Mon & Wed-Sat MOP$10/5/free, Sun MOP$5/3/free; 10am-5.30pm Wed-Mon
Opposite the A-Ma Temple, the Maritime Museum has interesting boats and artefacts from Macau’s seafaring past, a mock-up of a Hakka fishing village and displays of the long, narrow boats that are raced during the Dragon Boat Festival ( Click here) in June.
MACAU TOWER Map
Torre de Macau; 2893 3339; www.macautower.com.mo; Largo da Torre de Macau; 10am-9pm Mon-Fri, 9am-9pm Sat & Sun; 9A, 32, AP1
Macau Tower, at 338m, is the 10th-tallest freestanding structure in the world; it stands on the narrow isthmus of land southeast of Avenida da República. The squat building at its base is the Macau Convention & Entertainment Centre.
The tower houses observation decks (adult/child 3-12 & senior over 85 MOP$90/45) on the 58th and 61st floors, and restaurants and bars such as the revolving 360° Café ( 11.30am-3pm, 3.30-4.15pm & 6-11pm) on the 60th floor, and the 180° Lounge (minimum charge MOP$60; noon-1am) one