Macao, China

Macao, China

Affluent, chic, plush, stylish – Macao deserves many adjectives.

The Ruins of St. Paul's Cathedral always draws a constant stream of visitors; Rua da Cunha is scented by the aromas of almond cakes; streets are caressed by gentle breezes coming off from the sea; egg tart shops serve their yummy creations to long queues…

Macao is where the East meets West, and tradition modernity, which is best reflected by two big sports events hosted here each year - Macao International Dragon Boat Race and the Macao F1 Grand Prix. In the Old City, buildings of Chinese and western architectural elements line the streets. After bumming around for a day, take the load off your feet in a street-front food joint and order a bowl of shrimp noodles – you will feel refreshed.

Getting around

• The Ruins of St. Paul's Cathedral

  The 16th-century Portuguese church tragically succumbed to a conflagration in 1835. Only the front façade has been left of the church for today's visitors to contemplate.

• Monte Fort

  The fort was built in the 17th century to provide protection to priests from pirates and later became the core of Macao's defense system. Its top affords a commanding view of the entire city.

• IACM Building

  The 16th century building was known as Senado and used for senatorial meetings when Macau was governed by the Portuguese back in the old days. Today, it's the headquarters of the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau (IACM). Its interior décor sheds interesting light on the decorative patterns prevalent during the reign of Portuguese King João V.

• A-Ma Temple

  The 5-century-old Taoist temple is dedicated to the worship of Matsu, a legendary Chinese goddess who is said to protect fishermen and sailors. The front gate, guarded by two stone lions sculpted by Qing dynasty's craftsmen, leads to four quaint, well-laid out buildings inside.

• Mandarin's House

  This mind-boggling, lavish 4000-square-meter courtyard built in the late 19th century was the ancestral home of Zheng Guanying, a thinker and industrialist in contemporary China. There's a hint of western architectural flavor in its detailed Chinese entirety.