Unique Places in Concelho de Macau

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Standing on the site of a chapel and convent built by the Dominicans in the 1590's St. Dominic's Church dates from the early 17th century. It has an imposing facade of cream-colored stone with white stucco moldings and green-shutter windows.

St. Dominic's Church has a violently dramatic past. In 1644 a military officer who supported the Spanish against the Portuguese was murdered at the alter during Mass. In 1707 the Dominicans sided with the Pope against Macau's bishop in the Rites Controversy. When local soldiers tried to enforce an excommunication order on them, the friars locked themselves in the church for three days and pelted the soldiers with stones. In 1834 the monastic orders were suppressed and for a time the church was used by the government as barracks, stable and public works office.

St. Dominic's Church was renovated in 1997 and opened to the public with a museum, on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd floor. The museum shows paintings, sculptures and liturgical ornaments that illustrate the history of the Roman Catholic church in Asia.

The church is now part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Historic Centre of Macau.

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I’m not really sure what this building is, or why it was built in the style of a traditional Chinese castle. Still, the fact that it is fairly far from the old city of Macau leads me to believe that it is not quite as old as it seems to be. It stands over the Fishermen’s Wharf and provides an impressive view to anyone who is arriving in Macau from HK. Perhaps there is something special inside, or perhaps it’s just an extension of the nearby Sands Casino.

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The reservoir is hardly a tourist attraction in Macau, but it is something that adds a bit of tranquility and peace to an otherwise hectic and dirty city. I walked along here on my way back from the Islamic Cemetery and Mosque (again, not a tourist attraction) and thought the view a pretty one. This is one of the few places in the city where you are likely to find people jogging out of doors.

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I went to Lou Lim Ioc Park because I was bored with too much wandering around the streets in the noise and pollution. This park is a real gem, as it is not only a beautiful green spot in an otherwise densely populated city, but also a showcase of traditional Chinese architecture. The park has a number of different small ponds with lots of water lilies and flowering bushes. There are also small courtyards and pavilions done in traditional architectural style, with glazed green or red roofs. The park is filled with elderly people, some of whom do exercises, although you do occasionally see school-aged children within its walls.

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A bit of a walk outside of the main city centre and the old buildings, the Macau Central Library and the Cultural Institue provide a bit of insight into the modern life of the territory and efforts to preserve its unique culture. Both are fairly new establishments, and it is pretty obvious that they were modelled on, somewhat successfully, the traditional architecture of the Portuguese areas of Macau. The colours are a bit off, but the style of the buildings is quite close to what you would expect of the Portuguese theatres and cultural institutions. Across the main plaza that are also modern theatres, built in the colossal proportions for which Mainland China is famous. I didn't stop by to see what sort of performances are put on here, but I imagine that the majority of them are in Cantonese, rather than English or Portuguese.

This is in São Lazaro, at the end of Abreu Nunes.

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Sam Van Vui Kun Temple is billed as a testament to the harmonious coexistence of Chinese and Portuguese in Macau. It is located in the old Chinese Bazaar, but the area was also an important one for Portuguese merchants. Furthermore, the temple’s proximity to the Cathedral seems to point to a laissez-faire attitude on the part of the Portuguese with respect to the continuance of local traditions. Its actual date of construction is unknown, although inscriptions point to the fact that it was restored in 1792. It is a fairly small, humble structure that is sometimes overshadowed by the larger commercial buildings around it, with its southern façade the best one for pictures. The interior is, like many other Chinese temples, quite crowded, but it is still in use and therefore a fairly busy place. I forget the exact meaning of the name of this temple, but I think that it is something like “three intersecting streets”.

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The Na Tcha Temple is a small temple that is just to the side of the ruins of São Pedro. It’s not a large structure, but it is an interesting one for those who are looking to photograph traditional Chinese architecture. This provides a neat bit of perspective on the Colonial authorities’ priorities, as there is a tiny temple located next to a mammoth skeleton of a Catholic church, despite the fact that the vast majority of the city’s inhabitants were and are Buddhist, Taoist or Confucian, not Catholic.

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A highly recommended place to visit even if you not staying there or not visiting the casino.
See the tree poping up from the ground and the spectacular and sparkling movement of kinetic sculptures, video, light and music.

The Tree of Prosperity performance is designed to thrill and excite guests as they enter Wynn Macau. The atrium depicts Chinese and western astrological symbols, and includes a crystal chandelier, and a first-of-its-kind golden tree, symbolizing auspiciousness.

The show is available every 30 minutes from 10am to 2am daily.