Concelho de Macau Things to Do

  Beautiful architecture/modern shops
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  • Beautiful architecture/modern shops
      Beautiful architecture/modern shops
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  • Pretty colours
      Pretty colours
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  • Amazing buildings
      Amazing buildings
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  • Colourful
      Colourful
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  • Sao Paulo facade
      Sao Paulo facade
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Reviews from VirtualTourist Members

Maritime Museum

by mikey_e

The Maritime Museum is the former Port Authority building of the Territory of Macau. Today, the building is used for purely touristic purposes, including showcasing the maritime history of the city. The structure is a typical one of colonial architecture, although, unlike many other buildings in the city, it is in a depressing dark olive green. I didn't go into the Museum, as I didn't think that it would nearly as interesting as some of the other sites along the way back to the centre of the city.

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Upper part of A-Ma Temple

by mikey_e

There's not much more to say about the temple, but I did want to get in more pictures of the upper parts of it. These include some impressive scriptures that are carved into the rockface. It's quite a sight when you get up close to them. Of course, not reading Chinese, I have no idea what they say, but they are still quite pretty.

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A-Ma Temple

by mikey_e

A-Ma Temple is the oldest temple in all of Macau. It was constructed in 1488 as a tribute to the Goddess of the Sky (dedicated to seafarers). This, of course, is just the original temple, as there were additional pavilions added to the Temple in the 17th and 19th centuries. There are a variety of pavilions, including that of Prayers, a Buddhist Pavilion, the Pavilion of Benevolence, the Portico Pavilion, the Memorial Arch and the Guanyin Pavilion. I'm not really certain which one is which, as the explanations are all in Chinese and my mastery of the characters is less than advanced. This is a temple that is actively used, so there are plenty of people who come here to light incense and honour their ancestors. There are also tons of tourists, so don't be ashamed to snap away. The roofs and pavilions all showcase the beautiful glazed tiles that are charactestic of Chinese architecture....

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Penha Church

by mikey_e

Penha Church is perched atop a hill in the southern part of Macau and, for that reason, it has great views of the lake and the tip of the territory. It was constructed in 1837, which means that it is not exactly the oldest church in the territory, but that it does indeed have a fair amount of history behind it. The church is, unfortunately, a rather simple and ugly structure that has neo-Romanesque features and a slate-grey exterior. The interior is brighter and cheerier, but again plain. It lacks the flashy accents of a Baroque church or the cavernous feeling of a Gothic one. This is a popular spot for wedding photography, so don't be surprised if you suddenly find yourself caught in a bit of a photoshoot while you're snapping away from the lookout in front of the church.

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Macau Tower

by mikey_e

The Macau Tower is, as expected, a very tall tower at the southern edge of Macau. It hosts a number of shops and restaurants at its observation deck, which can be accessed by elevator. It was constructed in 1998 and completed in 2001, inspired by the Sky Tower in Auckland, New Zealand. I suppose that it's supposed to be an impressive and awe-inspiring sight, but it sort of falls short of that ambition. In fact, the tower rises up over a part of the city that is far from glamorous, and it sort of highlights the sleazy modern side of Macau. Still, if towers are your thing, or perhaps you're into bungee jumping, a trip to the Macau Tower should definitely be in the cards.

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Igreja do São Lourenço

by mikey_e

The Church or Saint Laurence is sort of at a mid-point between the old town that is found around the Senate buildings and the other old town that spreads down the peninsula and clings the the cliffs around the nunnery and near the A-Ma Temple. It is a fairly old church, having been construced in the 16th century and completed in 1580. The current stone structure dates from 1801-02. It was, at one time, at the southern end of the city and a place where the families of sailors would gather to await their loved ones and pray for their safe return. It's a pastel yellow in a subdued Mannerist style, with a fairly simple interior that boasts some interesting art work. Outside of the church you'll find a number of saints' portraits on sticks. It's sort of a modern art take on the rows of portraits that are usually found inside of a church.

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Jorge Álvares Square

by mikey_e

Jorge Álvares was one of the first Portuguese explorers, and the first Portuguese to come to China and Macau. He sailed out from Portuguese Malacca toward China in 1517, in which year he raised the royal Padrão on an island in the Pearl River Delta. He also, possibly, took part in a battle between Portuguese colonists and Chinese villagers. There is a Jorge Álvares Institution that promotes Portuguese culture Macau, and today a statue of the explorer adorns the square of the same name in the centre of Macau. The square has a nice park, but other than that there's not much to it. There's a parking garage underneath the square, in the event you're looking for a spot.

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Military Club Park

by mikey_e

This park is beside the Military Club, although I don't think that there is any specific connection between it and the club. It is a beautiful green space that it is tiered on three levels and filled with both tropical flora and pink structures. These bright pastels are a pleasant compliment to the colours of the plants and flowers, and the typically Portuguese style of the rails and the tower make this feel more like Lisbon than China. There is a particularly interesting armoury tower at the top of the park that allows for visitors to remember the military nature of this area. The armoury tower is dedicated to those who lost their lives during the Great War of 1914-1918.

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Military Club

by mikey_e

The Military Club is one of several in Macau, and I'm not really sure what purpose it currently serves. Macau is not currently a militarily strategic place right now, but back during the dictatorship's day, the Portuguese military was as important for internal reasons as for external defence. It had a fairly important role in society, which explains the rather extravagant nature of this structure. Its pink walls and wide veranda make it seem much more like some sort of country club than a military establishment. Today, it is still a club (and likely a haunt for the city's former Portuguese soldiers), but its prestige as a military establishment is long since gone.

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Chamber of Commerce Library

by mikey_e

I was particularly taken by this structure's typically Chinese style. It turned out that it was a library for the Macau Chamber of Commerce and was filled with books and a small reading desk. I'm not sure that it was actually intended as a place for research, or just a small storeroom for books relating to the Chamber of Commerce. It is not, unfortunately, open to visitors.

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Questions and Answers

swiftfoot profile photo

Q:  I will be staying at the Pousada de Mong-ha in Macau. Is there a bus from the Macau airport to the hotel? Thanks. 

theguardianangel profile photo

A: Yes, there are buses in the airport and the ride is free. Just tell the people in the bus terminal where your destination is, so they may tell you the appropriate bus to... 

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