Ilha de Macau Things to Do Tips by RoyJava Top 5 Page for this destination

MACAU DOWNTOWN

Macau is known as a harbour of Chinese refugees fleeing dullness of home, work and even political oppression. Indeed Macau is a city of cobbled backstreets, baroque churches, ancient stone fortresses and exotic street names, legacy by the distinctive Portueguese. The colourful looks gives Macau that fascinating characterization, because of the mix of cultures, of Mediterrean and Asian fusion in architecture, food, lifetyles and temperaments.

A bit of envious of my brothers environment I am very happy, too, he made it in this part of the world. Wandering in his world, walking downtown of Macau, I do realize all of us has his/her own "Home Sweet Home" ... even in Chinese written ...

Address: Rua de Pequim

Directions: Center, downtown Macau

A-Ma Statue

Whether A-Ma of Quan-Yin or Kun-Iam, the name of this honoured phenomenon got a long history. Even the local people can't think of an origin, and follow their hearts in stead of their mind. Discussing this "female divine" aspect is not of much use. Even the Buddhist aspect shows up with very Hinduistic origins, though it's not ... the locals will tell.

The impressive, 20 m high A-MA statue you can find on the top of the Coloane Hill (3rd island of Macau). It is of black marble, though the body is carved out of pure white marble. See the amazingly detailed front and the face part. The A-MA story is carved into a copper plate there. The walk to this statue is breathtaking ... I will never forget my pilgrimage to A-MA in December 2007.

Address: Alto de Coloane, Macau - Coloane Island

Directions: Coloane Hill

Other Contact: %bhttp://www.macautourism.gov.mo

A-MA Temple

The famous A-MA lightened up here by the sunset ... read about on website below.

We visited the A-MA place again. And again ...
Macau is changing its locations by new roads, new bridges, new buildings. So it could be easily you cannot find your want-to-visit place anymore. For now we got to the place where is the A-MA Temple, and the whole place is "under construction". Though the area is worth a visit, for sure. So give it a try, and enjoy the trip to Penha Hill and the A-MA Temple.

Address: Rua de Sao Tiago da Barra

Directions: Penha Hill on Barra Point (by bus)

Website: http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/7c3af/16d1df/6/?o=2

Meditation Time With A-MA?

Maybe not that well-known to tourists but all Chinese do know that the name of A-MA has derived from the legends around the Goddess A-MA, and the special A-MA Temple on Macau-Bay. It is the oldest temple structure, known from the 13th century with the name of KUN IAM Temple.

Although rebuilt in 1627 the A-MA Temple dates back to about 1500, probably referring to symbolic characters of Chinese language during the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644). Or maybe because KUN IAM often got Romanized as KUAN/GUAN YIN (KWAN YIN), associated with the Avalokiteshvara character of the Buddhist Sutras.

You can find the A-MA Temple down at the Penha Hill, however ask for info about the A-MA Temple, because the complex is a Buddhist one. The Goddess of Mercy, KUN IAM, can be found in only one shrine (see pic), where once the ocean reached the rocks of the cave ... I love to visit this spot, every time again !

Address: Rua de Sao Tiago da Barra

Directions: Macau Bay, down at Penha Hill

Website: http://%bhttp://members.virtualtourist.com/m/7c3af/16d1df/

RED MARKET

When visiting the RED MARKET I was surprised to find truly Indonesian products, like coffee (kopi tubruk), sweet delicacies and flowers (sedep malam). The RED MARKET area is located between the Avenida do Almirante Lacerda and Avenida de Horta e Costa. It is told the area got its name because of the red bricks houses ...

Very nice to see at the RED MARKET are the handicrafts where the products are still hand-made. Like the incense of this man on picture. I bought the famous Quan Yin incense and you could smell the strong fragrance all around when the artisan burnt one for me.

When visiting the RED MARKET, take bus 1 - 1A - 3 - 4 - 5 - 8 - 16 - 17 - 23 - 25 - 26 - 26A - 32 - 33 - 34

Address: Avenida de Horta e Costa

Directions: REDMARKET area is located between the Avenida do Almirante Lacerda and Avenida de Horta e Costa

COLOANE Island

The Coloane Island was famous by pirates until the beginning of the last century. The people on Coloane Island still celebrate the anniversary of the victory against the assault by buccaneers on the South China Sea (1910 July 13). Nowadays Coloane Island attracts a large number of visitors to its sandy coastline.

The Cheoc Van Beach is the white-yellow one with a swimming pool (see pic), attractive to many tourists. The Hac Sa Beach is much larger and more popular by the Macanese people. The sand indeed is a grey to blackish colour, looking somewhat dirty, but it is perfectly clean!

The Coloane Island got well-known, too, for the famous A-MA Statue (see above). It is colossal, purre white and just beautiful. When in the mood, a visit to the Coloane Village is a joy to do. It is a fascinating relic of Macau that once was ...

Address: Cheoc Van Beach

Directions: Coloane Island

Skyline TAIPA Island

Maybe in future Macau will be one huge peninsula joined together with Tiapa Island and Coloane Island. It is known the Portugeuse first sighted Taipa Island, not knowing there were actually two islands with Macau (A-Ma-Gau). By pouring down silt from the Pearl River the two were joined together, like Taipa and Coloane will be next.

Taipa Island, traditionally an island of duck farms and boat yards, was rapidly becoming urbanished. Still it is an oase of calm and greenery. However sizzling hot it is enjoyable for a walk on overgrown esplanades and a cycle along a parade of high buildings, baroque churches, Taoist and Buddhist temples ...

Address: Avenida de Praia

Directions: Taipa Island

LARGO do SENADO

This lovely Largo do Senado or Senate Square is considered the heart of Portuguese Macau, where most of the tourists start their Macau exploration. It has some great eyecatchers of architecture, stunning, colonial and beautiful, like the Macau Tourism Centre office, the General Post Office (of 1931) and Santa Casa da Misericordia.

To me this square got even more special and very familiar with my experiences. Because this area is the very same where my parents both walked together happily just before my dad passed away. And my mam returned to for some happy thoughts, just like I did for now ...

Address: Largo do Senado

Directions: Heart of central Macau Peninsula

Test Your Chances

In spite of the legendary past and its golden years at the beginning of the 17th century, Macau felt asleep, continuing to serve as a haven for Chinese refugees fleeing war, famine and political oppression. Not until 20 December 1999 Macau drew attention to its soul and burst out in all kind of projects to claim again the prestigious title "Recreational Centre of Southern China".

The city became the best legal gambling town of Asia where the "Test Your Chance" is a hot item in the more than 18 casino's. Legal means your age is 18 years (21 for Macau residents), absolutely NO photography, special dress code ... and maybe Macau is somewhat different from Las Vegas, the neon lights and glittering all around make you in the good mood to experience your gamble in China-style.

GOOD LUCK!!!

Address: Centre of Macau

Website: http://%bhttp://members.virtualtourist.com/m/7c3af/16d1df/5/

SWIM at CHEOC VAN

When you really are at your's last gasp because of the heat and humidity, jump into the bus and head for Southeast from Coloane Village. There are 2 beaches and the first one is the best, named CHEOC VAN Beach (Bamboo Bay).

It's popular with sunbathers and swimmers, even the water looks browny because of the silt caused by the Pearl River. The swimmingpool is ok for a nice rest, sometimes can be crowded with screaming kids. There are public changing rooms and toilets and, in season, lifeguards on duty ...

Open: 10am-6pm Mon-Sat
9am-6pm Sun May-Oct

Address: Estrada de Cheoc Van

Directions: Island of Coloane, Southeastern direction