Welcome to a unique and hybrid urban culture.
Macau, the city that lies in the Guangdong province of southern China, by the west bank of Pearl River, was once a Portuguese colony (founded in 1557). On December 20 1999, Macau became one of China’s Special Administrative Regions, and just like Hong Kong, it now benefits from the principle “one country, two systems.” The city is a peninsula with joints to two small isles called Taipa and Coloane.
This tiny World Heritage City’s urban area was recognized worldwide not due to the classification of one building itself, but an entire architectural path. As it has been nurtured by two dominant yet contrasting cultures, Macau’s identity can be compared to a ‘threshold’ and a crossroad of the East and the West. This distinctive symbolism can be found in the numerous attractions which characterise the thrilling and modern life in Macau.
Have you ever imagined yourself walking under the rain in shorts or skirt, while being embraced by warm, tropical weather? This might turn into reality once you step into the southern coastal area of China in summer time. It is believed that European tourists are more struck by the climatic conditions rather than the culture impacts of this vibrant city.
However, the variable weather should never constrain your activities during your stay in Macau. Leisure plans can range from visiting historical buildings (temples and churches), world class museums, gardens (which in my opinion can be better described as storytelling centres), hotels and casinos, as well as taking part in the region’s traditional festivals.
The liberalization of the gaming industry in Macau has always raised the issue of how far it should satisfy the interests of economic growth without interfering with the preservation of cultural heritage. Yet it is due to its gaming industry, which includes the city’s luxury hotels, restaurants, and casinos, that Macau is known today as one of the world’s fastest growing entertainment and leisure holiday destination, beating Las Vegas in Nevada for its gaming revenue.
Macau’s cuisine continues to attract people from far and wide. Personally, I will never learn to stop talking once I start indulging in the subject of how amazing food is in Macau. As well as the traditional Macanese, Portuguese, Cantonese and Chinese cuisine you will be able to savour in this thriving, cosmopolitan city, there is still the famous fusion cuisine – a result of multicultural influences which have already been in Macau for hundreds of years. Furthermore, once you fall in love with the city’s vibrant night life, you will have the chance to enjoy some of Macau’s more conventional food in its many twenty-four-hour restaurants, which serve meals around the clock.
Events play a major role in Chinese societies and are seen as opportunities to share happiness and refresh the identity of a culture. Important festivals in Macau include the celebration of Chinese New Year, which is the most meaningful and colourful period of the year (surely an unforgettable experience), the Dragon Boat Festival which takes place in Nam Van Lake and where everyone can admire the ornamented and carved dragon boats accompanied by the sound of drums, the Mid-Autumn Festival, when the moon is the focus of the whole festivity and people offer lunar cakes to friends and families while observing the new moon and worshipping the gods, and the Grand Prix which is a motor-racing event – still the only street circuit that holds both car and motorcycle races.
This is simply a very succinct description of what Macau has to offer. Words are not enough to depict a complete picture of this magnificent and thriving city, which is quickly taking to the global stage for its gaming revenue and cultural gems. For this reason, I suggest that if you ever get the opportunity, don’t miss out on a visit to this fast-growing modern metropolis where a true, eye-opening life adventure awaits you. On personal recommendation, challenge yourself by trying the “Sky Jump” from the Macau Tower, a twenty second flight from 233 meters above ground. Maybe this way you will see the city with entirely different eyes, and it will remain an unforgettable experience.
Jovita Lo do Nascimento
