Ilha de Coloane Things to Do

The heart of Coloane Village is the central square where the bus stop is located as well as several restaurants and the popular Lord Stow's Bakery is. The village itself stretches north to the old ferry pier, and south along the waterfront promenade to the Tam Kung temple. Halfway along the waterfront is the Chapel of St.Francis Xavier and the Portuguese-style square, with busy cafes under the shelter of arcades.

To get there : board bus no. 15, 21A, 25, 26 and 26A

Built in 1928, this chapel follows the baroque style of Macau's major churches. It has a cream and white facade with oval windows and a bell tower. It stands behind the monument commemorating the local victory over pirates in 1910.

The chapel contains some of the most sacred relics of Christian Asia. In a silver reliquary is a bone from the arm of St. Francis Xavier, who followed his missionary successes in Japan by coming to the China coast, where he died in 1552 on Sanchuan Island, 50 miles from Macau. The relic was destined for Japan but religious persecution there persuaded the church to keep it in Macau's St. Paul's. It was moved first to St. Joseph's and in 1978 to the chapel.

Persecution of Christians in Japan led to 26 foreign and Japanese Catholic priests being crucified in Nagasaki in 1597 and many hundreds of Christian Japanese being killed during the 1637 Shimabara Rebellion. The bones of the Martyrs and some of the rebels were brought to Macau and kept in St. Paul's. After fire destroyed the church, the bones were gathered and taken to the Cathedral. They were moved to St. Francis Xavier Chapel in 1974. Other bones stored in the chapel are relics of martyrs from 17th century Vietnam.

A few years ago, the relic was taken to St. Joseph's Seminary and the Sacred Art Museum, but many people still come to this Chapel, especially Japanese Christians.

This temple, with a fine toll roof decorated with porcelain figures, is dedicated to Tam Kung, a Taoist god of seafarers. Beside his image, the temple contains a four feet long model of a dragon boat made from a whalebone, with a crew of wooden men in red robes and yellow hats.

There is also a dramatic mural of a tiger with club, big-eyed and orange striped, against a background of rocks and twisted pines.

There are two temples dedicated to Tin Hau in Coloane village. The larger, on Largo Tin Hau Miu has, at its entrance, a traditional fire engine, which had to be wheeled by hand. A short distance away, off Travessa da República, is a smaller temple, with some brilliant gilded carvings over the entrance and a moongate facing the sea.

Beyond Cheoc Van is Hác-Sá Beach, where the long beach, with its unique black-tinged sand ("hac sa" means "black sand") invites walking by the sea. Along the beach are a youth hostel, the Youth Centre for Water Sports, and a sports complex with an Olympic-size swimming pool, children's pool, tennis courts, and a sports field. There are also playgrounds, picnic and camping areas, and a variety of snack stands, cafes, and restaurants.

Both Cheoc Van Beach and Hác-Sá Beach are popular with swimmers and sunbathers. The water is clean although it often appears brown because of silt from the Pearl River. Cheoc Van Beach occupies a sheltered cove on the west side of Coloane Island. At one end is a sandy swimming beach with changing facilities and a snack bar, and at the other is a free-form swimming pool. The Nautical Club, a marina where members keep various types of recreational watercraft, is near the beach. There is also a youth hostel, a pousada (inn), and two restaurants with terraces overlooking the water.

This park, high on Coloane Peak (170m), is reached by the Estrada do Alto de Coloane which begins just south of Seac Pai Van Park. The road leads first to the parking area for the newly-developed Recreational Fishing Zone, the Arboretum (which features more than 100 species of local and exotic trees), and the main access to the Coloane Hiking Trail. It continues on to the top of the Peak where there is another car park, the new Alto de Coloane picnic area, and the statue of the Goddess A-Ma.

Visible from far out in the South China Sea, with a height of 19.99 metres (commemorating the year Macau once again became part of China), the statue crowns Coloane Peak. A-Ma is venerated by fishermen and sailors and therefore has always had a special significance in Macau.

Situated in the wooded hills on the west side of the island, not far from the causeway to Taipa, this park is a popular place for family outings. There are children's playgrounds, picnic areas, flowerbeds, a small zoo, and a large walk-in aviary which is home to peacocks, pheasants, and other colorful species. There is also a garden of native medicinal plants and the small but attractive Museum of Nature and Agriculture.

The heart of Coloane Village is the central square where the bus stop is located as well as several restaurants and the popular Lord Stow's Bakery. The village itself stretches north to the junk-building yards and the old ferry pier, and south along the waterfront promenade to the Tam Kung temple, dedicated to the Taoist God of Seafarers. Halfway along the waterfront is the Chapel of St. Francis Xavier and its picturesque Portuguese-style square, with busy cafes under the shelter of the arcades.