A Brief lntroduction of Macau
Location and sub-districts
Location
Macau is situated on the Southeast China coast, facing to the South China Sea with the Zhujiang (Pearl River) Delta behind. Comprising Macau Peninsula, Taipa Island and Coloane Island. Macau lies between longitude 111º31'36'' E and 1133º5'23'' E, latitude 220º06' N and 22º13'05'' N. In general, the longitude and latitude of the summit of Guia Hill in Macau Peninsula is used as Macau's geographic coordinates: 113º32'47'' E and 22o~_11'52'' N.
Macau is on the west of Hong Kong ar a distance about 60 kilometers, separated by the mouth of the Zhujiang River, To the west, Wanzai of Zhuhai City, Guangdong Province, is Macau's close neighbour separated only by a strip of water, less than one kilometer wide. Gongbei of Zhuhai City is linked to Macau on the north by ah old sand ridge; their land border is only 240 meters.
Area
Owing to the reclamation, the area of Macau has increased rapidly. Its total area is 21.45 square kilometers in 1996; Macau Peninsula has an area of 7.84 square kilometers, coloane Island 7.82 square kilometers, and Taipa Island 5.79 square kilometers.
Macau Península
Macau's urban district is distributed in the Peninsula. It is the political, economic and cultural center of Macau. The overwhelming majority of Macau's population, industry and commerce are concentrated there. The Inner harbour is on the west, Thirty-four wharves, mainly for inland transport and fishing boats, lined along the west coast. The Outer Harbour is on the east facing to the mouth of the Zhujiang River, The large Macau-Hong Kong Ferry Terminal with a helicopter-parking platform is on the coast. The peninsula is divided into tive sub-districts named after the church within them. There are no local authorities for them. That is justa regional division (they are Parishes, Freguesia in Portuguese, of the Roman Catholic Church originally).
Our Lady Fatima Parish (Freguesia de Nossa Senhora de Fatima) is Iocated in the northern part of the peninsula, including Ilha Verde (Green Island), Toi San, Hipodromo, Areia Preta, Mong Ha and Fai Chi Kei. Most of them are reclaimed lands from the sea. ir is the largest sub-district both in area and population, with an area about 3 square kilometers and more than one third of Peninsula's total population. About 30 years ago, it had been the suburb with cultivated lands and livestock farms. Since the 1970's, it has become a new and developing industrial area along with the rapid economic growth of Macau.
St. Anthony Parish (Freguesia de Santo Antonio) is Iocated in the western part of the peninsula, Its area is about 1 square kilometer, exclusive of Fai Chi Kei newly reclaimed land. It has the highest population density in Macau, about one hundred thousand persons per one square kilometer. St. Anthony Parish is the major commercial-residential area mixed with traditional industrial units.
St. Lazarus Parish (Freguesia de S. Lazaro), the smallest sub-district, is Iocated in the middle of the peninsula. Its area is only 0.64 square kilometer, of which one third is covered by Guia Hill. However, its population density ranks next to St. Anthony Padsh, more than fifty thousand persons per square kilometer. The southern part is mainly a commercial-residential area, and the northern and eastern parts are residential areas with high-rise residential buildings.
Cathedral Parish (Freguesia da Se) is Iocated in the eastern part of the peninsula, with a narrow belt along the north of Avenida de AImeida Ribeiro extended as far as the western coast. Its area, 1.43 kilometers exclusive Praia Grande Reclamation Area, ranks next to Our Lady Fatima Parish. But its population and population density is the smallest. This Parish is the economic center of Macau. Its western part, the oldest commercial area, is still bustlingand prosperous. The central part (most are reclaimed land) is Macau's CBD (Central Business District), grown up rapidly during last 15 years. High-rise commercial buildings stand tall over there side by side. Its eastern part, reclaimed from the sea, is a high levei commercialresidential area; most 4-star and 5-star hotels are situated there.
St. Lawrence Parish (Freguesia de S. Lourenco) is Iocated in the southern part of the peninsula. Its area is 0.9 square kilometer, exclusive Praia Grande Reclamation Area. The northern part is an old and prosperous commercial area. The southwestern part is a commercial-residential area mixed with small industrial units. Penha Hill and Barra Hill cover its southern part; villas with different style were built on their slopes, forming a luxurious residential area.
The Islands
In the past, Taipa Island and Coloane Island are much less developed areas with a sparse population. Only some small villages and two little towns on the islands. Fishing and agriculture are major economic activities. This backward situation continued for a very Iong time, because their connection with the urban peninsula was very inconvenient. The sea separates them. The only transport was small and slow ferries, it took one or two hours for a round trip. The transport even suspended when a typhoon or strong wind coming.
Since the Taipa-Coloane Causeway (1969) and the fist Macau-Taipa Bridge (1974) linked the Islands to the Peninsula, and Macau's economy developed rapidly in the 1970s, steps of the Island's development have quickened.
Taipa is Iocated in the southeast by south of Macau at a distance about 2.5 kilometers. The Big Taipa Hill stands on the east and the Small Taipa Hill on the west. Between them lies a flat land formed by deposition and reclamation. There are two bridges on the north go straight to the Peninsula: Governor Nobre de Carvalho Bridge (1974) and the Friendship Bridge (1994). On the south the TaipaColoane Causeway joined these two islands. Taipa experiences a rapid development in recent years, and will soon become Macau's satellite town. University of Macau is situated in the northern part. In the eastern end, Macau International Airport, reclaimed from the sea, started operatien at the end of 1995.
Coloane lies in the south of Taipa ata distance about 2 kilometers. Hills rise and fali on the island, with limited flat lands. The development of Coloane is much slower as compared with Taipa, because its conditions are not as good as those of Taipa. However, its beautiful beaches (Cheoc Van and Hac Sa) and picturesque hills are excellent recreational places for citizens. Ka Ho Habour was build at the northeast of the island, where the nearshore water is the deepest in Macau. A cement factory and a power plant are also situated in the northeast part.
Phisical Characteristics
Geology
Almost all of the basic rocks in Macau are granites. They are formed by magmatic intrusion during the orogenic movement occurred 170 million to 100 million years ago, in the so-called Mesozoic Era in geology. Owing to various tectonic movements and erosion processes during the Iong, Iong geological periods, the huge granitic bodies become the hills on the peninsula and the islands.
Besides, there are quaternary deposits among hills, in valleys and beaches.
Hydrology
Owing to the deposition of a great amount of sediments carried by the Zhujiang River, depths in most part of water areas around Macau are less than 3 meters. At places around the Peninsula, near the north coast of Taipa and at both sides of Taipa-Coloane Causeway, depths are even less than 2 meters. Large area of shallows above sea level can be seen in those places at the Iow tides. Near the eastern end of Coloane, the depth reaches 5 or 6 meters, and about 4 meters at the Iow tides. Macau's deep-water port, Ka Ho Harbour, is situated nearby.
This situation affects navigation very much. In order to let the ships enter and leave the harbours smoothly, two artificial channels were dredged deeply. One of them leading to the Outer Harbour is about 2 kilometers Iong and 6 meters deep. Another leading to the Inner Harbour is about 5 kilometers Iong and 5 meters deep. It is necessary to dredge them frequently for keeping the enough depths.
Relief
Macau is a Iow-lying hilly area with limited natural flat lands. The elevation rises gradually from north to south. The highest hill called Coloane High, 172.4 meters above sea levei, is situated in the middle of Coloane Island. There are other hills above 120 meters on the island: Central Point (136.0 meters), Ka Ho Hill (122.6 meters), andArtillery Hill (121.0 meters). Big Taipa Hill (159,2 meters) and Small Taipa Hill (110.8 meters) stand on the eastern and western part of Taipa Island separately; Shooting Range Hill (63.7 meters), on which the University of Macau is situated, lies on the northern coast of the island.
Hill on Macau Peninsula are much Iower. The highest one, Guia Hill, is only 90 meters above sea levei. It lies on the old seashore of the peninsula's eastern coast, stretching for more than one kilometer. Barra Hiil (73.2 meters) and Penha Hill (62.7 meters) stand side by side at the southern end of the peninsula. Monte Hill (57.3 meters) settles in the middle. Mong Ha Hill (60.7 meters) is on the northern. Ilha Verda Hill (55.6 meters) and D. Maria Hill (48.2 meters) stand on the northwest and northeast separately.
Changes of Coastlines
Macau's coastlines have experienced tremendous natural and artificial changes. Most parts of them have pushed forward several times, leaving without a trace at some former sites of the old coastlines. Only by the street names such as “seaside” and “riverside” or related to ships and boats, we can imagine that some places far away from the sea nowadays were once the coasts at a certain times before.
Macau Peninsula's coastline changed completely. It was exactly an island long ago. Owing to the sedimentation occurred between the continent and the island, a narrow sand ridge above sea levei were formed gradually in a very long period. The sand ridge linked them together at last; as a result, the island became a peninsula. Such kind of peninsula is called “land-tied island”. The road named Istmo de Ferreira do Amarai is just lying on the former sand ridge. The Portuguese word “istmo” (“istmus” in English) means a narrow strip of land, which links two land areas together. Moreover, Ilha Verde, situated in the northern part of Macau Peninsula, is also a land-tied island, but an artificial one. It was linked to the Peninsula in 1892 by constructing a dyke, on which Avenida do Conselheiro Borja is located.
Because flat lands were quite limited on the Peninsula, it was deficient in land resources for urban development. Since the 1860s, reclamation projects have been carried out one after another. The coastline of the Peninsula is artificial bank completely, which is far away from the original coast.
Before 1860s, the eastern part of peninsula's coastline lied approximately along the east side of Istmo de Ferreira do Amarai, the north side of Mong Ha Hill and D. Maria Hill, the southeast side of Guia Hill, Avenida da Praia Grande, and the east sides of Penha Hill and Barra Hill. Its western part was along the west sides of Istmo de Ferreira do Amarai and Mong Ha Hill, Rua do Padre João Climaco, Rua do Barca, the west and north sides of Camões Garden, Rua de Camilo Pessanha, Rua da Praia do Manduco, and the west sides of Penha Hill and Barra Hill.
The coastline of Taipa has experienced remarkable changes, too. Taipa was joined together from two islands, Big Taipa and Small Taipa, in the 1920s. Their original coastlines lied around the hills. There was a strait between today's Hyatt Regency Hotel and New Century Hotel.
The change of Coloane's coastline was much less than the other two. Large reclamation projects carried out only at its northeastern and northwestern parts.
Climate
Macau is located on the northern fringe of the tropical zone. It has a distinctive seasonal climate that is infiuenced deeply by the monsoon. Prevailing winds and weather types change follow the monsoon pattern. It is warm and moist when the southeast and southwest winds coming from Paoific or Indian Ocean; and is dry and slightly cold when the north winds coming from Mongolia or Siberia. During the transition period from northeast monsoon to southwest monsoon (March and April), the weather is moist and foggy. It is Macau's spring season. Summer is from May to September, when the southeast and southwest monsoon prevailing. It is rather hot and rainy. The weather in autumn (the end of September and October) is sunny and warm, when the southwest monsoon withdrawing gradually and the northeast monsoon advancing south. Winter is from November to February next year, when the northeast monsoon prevailing. It is slightly cold and has less rainfall; air temperature will suddenly drop to below 5℃ when a strong cold wave coming.
The annual mean temperature of Macau is 22.3℃. The hottest month is July with a monthly mean temperature of 28.6℃, and the coldest is January with 14.5℃. The annual range of air temperature is 14.0℃. The extreme minimum temperature recorded in Macau Observatory is-1.8℃, which occurred on January 26,1948. The extreme maximum temperature is 38.9℃, occurred on July 2 and 6,1930.
Macau has abundant rainfall with an average annual total rainfall of 2031.4 millimeters. However, there is a remarkable seasonal change in precipitation due to theinfluence of monsoon. The precipitation concentrates in period from April to September. It is Macau's rainy season, rainfall of which accounts for 83% of the annual total. Average monthly rainfalls from May to Setember are more than 200 mm, May, June and August even more than 300mm. From October to next March is the dry season, rainfall of which accounts for only 17% of the annual total. Average monthly rainfalls from November to next March are less than 80 mm, from December to next February even less than 40 mm.
The precipitation in Macau changes greatly from year to year, too. According to the records of the Observatory from 1901 to 1995, the year 1982 received most precipitation (3041.4 mm); the year 1904 received least (982.5 mm).
Macau is affected by typhoons frequently from May to October, especially in July, August and September. On the average, about twice a year typhoons enter within the range of 100 nautical miles causing direct influences. However, during forty-four years from 1952 to 1995, there were only twenty-one years in which typhoons hit Macau (within 50 nautical miles) causing damages in varying degrees. Although typhoon is a destructive weather system, it brings plentiful of rainfall lightened the drought in late summer and autumn.
Population
Macau has a population of 415,850 at the end of 1996 according to the estimation of Macau Census and Statistics Department. It is 2.3 times as much as in 1951. Of the total population, more than 96% are Chinese; most of the others are Portuguese, of which more than ten thousand are Macaense. The Macaense is a person of mixed ancestry who has Portuguese descent, was born in Macau, and speaks Portuguese of Portuguese with a Macau accent.
Macau is small in area but densely populated. At the end of 1995, its population density is a bit more than 20,000 persons per one square kilometer. Because more than 96% of the population live in Macau Peninsula, the population of the Peninsula is over 50,000 persons per one square kilometer.
City Development
Urban Land Use
The types of urban land use in Macau mainly are: commercial, commercial-residential, residential, industrial, government and community, education, municipal facilities, wharf and warehouse, recreation and so on. Commerciat-residential zones occupy largest area in the Peninsula, and residential ranks next.
Macau's Central Business District (CBD) is located around Avenida da Praia Grande, Avenida do Infante D. Henrique, Avenida do Doutor Mario Soares, and the eastern end of Avenida de AImeida Ribeiro. Most highrise commercial buildings stand there. AImost all headquarters of Macau's twenty more banks are situated there. Government House, Legislative Assembly, Municipal Council, and some other important government departments such as administration, economics, finance, judicial affairs, education, post and telecommunication are also over there. Macau's Central Business District is not only the center of commerce and finance, but also the administrative heart of Macau. In recent years, CBD has expanded eastward along Avenida da Amizade and Avenida do Dr. Rodrigo Rodrigues with the development of Outer Harbour reclaimed land.
There are several commercial-residential districts distributed in southern, middle, northern and northeastern parts of the peninsula. They are densely populated with flourishing commerce and heavy traffic.
The residential districts are located in southern, middle and northern parts of the Peninsula. The luxurious one is on Penha Hill and Barra Hill where beautiful villas and green trees set off each other. At the northwestern foot of Guia Hill, and around the eastern parts of Avenida de Horta e Costa and the northern part of Avenida do Conselheiro Ferreira de AImeida, high-rise residential buildings tower here and there. That is a newly developed higher level residential district. Those in the southern and middle parts are the older ones. At Fai Chi Kei, Toi San, Ilha Verde and lao Hon in northern peninsula, lower income residential districts are located. A new residential district is developing at eastern Hipodromo and Areia Preta reclaimed tand.
The industrial district is located in Areia Preta (northeastern part of the peninsula), where modern factory buidings stand side by side. It is a newly developing export-oriented manufacture area grown up rapidly since the late 1970s. More than 40% of Macau's industrial units are settled there. Besides, quite a lot of small anal traditional factories and workshops are scattered in the commercialresidential districts at Patane (western Peninsula) and Praia do Manduco (southern peninsula).
Reclaimed land
Macau is a hilly area with limited natural fiat land for urban development. Since 1860s, reclamation projects havebeen carried out one after another. The area of reclaimed land accounts for 56% of the total area of Macau in 1994. Especially in the peninsula, reclaimed land amounts to about two third of its total area.
In northern Peninsula, Toi San, Fai Chi Kei, Hipodromo, Areia Preta and the land around Ilha Verde Hill are all reclaimed from the sea. In eastern peninsula, there is a broad expands of reclaimed land to the east of Guia hill and Avenida da Praia Grande. The western coast along Inner Harbour is also reclaimed land.
In Taipa, reclaimed area is also larger than its original area. The land between Big and Small Hills, the land around hills, and the place on which Macau International Airport was constructed are all reclaimed. However, reclaimed area in Coloane is much smaller. Only in northeastern part where cement factory, power plant and Ka Ho Harbour located and in northwestern part where an industrial district is settled, there are reclaimed lands.
The large-scale reclamation projects are still proceeding. In southeastern peninsula, the Praia Grande Project, including two artificial lakes, is nearly completion. It has an area of 1.9 square kilometers, and is planned for commercial, residential, cultural and recreation uses. In northern Peninsula, reclamation between Fai Chi Kei and Patane is making good progress. In the western side of Taipa-Coloane Causeway, a biggest reclamation project is going on smoothly. A large piece of land with an area of 4.4 square kilometers wiil link Taipa and Coloane together, and will become Macau's new industrial zone, the terminal station of Guangzhou-Zhuhai-Macau Railway will be build there too.
The Economy
Macau has experienced rapid economic growth since the early 1970s. Its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) amounted to 57,800 million patacas (MOR unit of Macau's currency) at current market prices in 1995, near 7 folds as much as in 1982. GDP per capita was about 136 thousand MOP or 17 thousand US dollars.
Tourism, export-oriented manufacturing, financing and insurancel and real estate and construction are four pillars of Macau's economy. Their output values account for more than 70% of GDP.
Industry
Macau's modern industry started its rapid growth in the 1970s. There were only 172 factories in 1961 with a total output value of 76 million MOR Number of factories and their total output value increased to 1,268 and near 4,000 million MOP in 1981, and reached 1,587 and 14,753 million MOP in 1994.
The principle part of Macau's industry is export-oriented manufacture; most of their products are exported. Clothing and textiles are dominant industries in Macau. In 1993, half of the total output value came from clothing manufacturing, and one fifth from textiles. Toys and electronics accounted for 4.2% and 3.5% respectively.
Most factories in Macau are small. In 1992, about 93% of them employed less than 100 persons; there are only six factories having more than 500 employee.
Besides the newly developed modern industrial district located at Areia Preta, industrial establishments mainly distributed at Ilha Verde, Fai Chi Kei, Patane and Praia do Manduco.
External Trades
Macau has been a commercial port from the beginning. During the 16th and 17th century, Macau was an important center for the re-export trade among Europe, Asia and South America. It declined later due to its shallow-water harbour and the rise of Hong Kong at its nearby. However, it has taken a turn for the better since the 1970s.
The rapid development of Macau's modern industry has brought its external trades into a steep rise. The total value of external trades in 1995 increased 47 and 135 folds of those in 1970 and 1960 respectively. Particularly, the export value in 1995 increased 58 and 220 folds of those in 1970 and 1960 respectively. After 1975, export value exceeded import value in most years.
Majority of the exports is industrial products, of which about three forth in value are garments and textiles; toys, electronic products and shoes are main export goods too. The United States, countries of European Economic Community, China, Japan and Hong Kong are the main export destinations.
The largest amount of imports is raw materiais and semi-manufactured goods, accounting for more than 50% of the total import value. Most import goods come from Hong Kong, China, countries of European Economic Community, United States and Japan.
Macau also plays important role as an entrepot. There are quite a lot of Chinese goods through Macau for re-export,and some of the non-Chinese imports are re-exported from Macau to China.
Tourism
Macau is a well-known tourism city. Tourism has grown rapidly since the 1960s. There were 7.75 miilion visitor arrivals in 1995, increased by about ten folds in 1960. Of the total visitors, 76% arrived at Macau-Hong Kong Terminai by sea, 22% arrived at Barrier Gate by iand. Hong Kong residents make up three fourths of the visitor arrivals. Chinese visitors both from mainland and Taiwan have increased in recent years. The majority of foreign visitors are Japanese, Korean, American, Thai, British and Australian.
Although it is only a small place, Macau is a very charming city with beautiful scenic spots, historic sites, various local dishes, varied entertainment and gambling, and colorful festival activities. All of them have strong attractive to visitors.
There are 43 hotels with 7,725 rooms and 63 guesthouses with 754 rooms in 1995. Of the hotels, 9 are five star, 4 are four star. The hotel occupancy rate is about sixty per cent, because many visitors arrive at weekends.
Tourism plays a very important role in promoting Macau's economic prosperity. On the average in 1993, each visitor spends 817 MOP on accommodation, eating, transport, entertainment and shopping during his staying in Macau. These bring considerable profits to those service sectors, increase greatly financiai income of the government from related tax revenue, and provide more jobs to citizens.
Transportation
Internal Transport
Macau consists of three separated parts, one peninsuia and two islands. Before the early 1960s, the only transport facility cennecting them was small ferries. It is very inconvenient. Now, there are one causeway and two bridges crossing the sea to link them together.
Taipa-Coloane Causeway was open to traffic in autumn, 1969. Its length is 2,225 meters; the width of its surface, which is tive meters above the sea level, is 9 meters.
Governor Nobre de Carvalho Bridge is the first bridge linked Taipa with Macau peninsula, it begins from the peninsula at the coast just in front of Hotel Lisboa, and reaches Taipa Island at northern foot of Small Taipa Hill.Its construction was started in June 1970, and open to traffic in October 1974. It is named after Macau's Governor at that time, but is generally called Macau-Taipa Bridge. Its length is 2,569.8 meters with a width of 9.2 meters. The middle of the bridge is in the shape of a triangular arc, the top of which is 35 meters above sea level.
China-Portugal Friendship Bridge, also called New Macau-Taipa Bridge, begins in the peninsula at the eastern side of the Reservoir, and reaches Taipa at the reciaimed land to the north of Big Taipa Hill, Its overall length is 4,700 meters, including 800 meters of flyovers, Its width is 18 meters. The construction of the bridge began in June 1990 and open to traffic in March 1994. In the middle part of the bridge, there are two uprises about 30 meters above sea level.
A tunnel through Guia Hill was open to traffic in November 1990. It is 284.85 meters in length and 10.5 meters in width.
Public transport consists of buses and taxis, There are no trams, trains, underground trains and ferries in Macau. There are about 40 bus routes, of which 14 linked the islands to the peninsula and 2 are within the islands.
The roads in Macau are very congested. Macau has more than 500 vehicles per kilometer of road. Most roads are narrow and zigzag, and many cars often park along their sides.
External Transport
Shipping is particularly important to Macau's external transportation. More than 80% of the travelers and about three fourths of the cargoes coming in and out of Macau are by ships.
Passenger shipping between Macau and Hong Kong may be the busiest shipping route in the world. Several dozens of high-speed hydrofoils, jetfoils, overmarines and jetcats shuttle to and fro between Macau and Hong Kong more than 200 voyages round the clock. They carry more than thirteen million passengers each year. Freight shipping between Macau and Hong Kong is a also very busy.
Passenger ships travei regularly between Macau and Guangzhou, Jiangmen and Shenzhen. There are three ferries connecting Macau and Wanzai Located on the opposite of Inner Harbour. Near fifty freight shipping routes link to Shanghai, Qingdao and ports in Guangdong.
Barrier Gare at the northern end of the peninsuia is the only external passage on land, More than one millionvehicles pass through Barrier Gate each year.There is a plan to build a railway from Guangzhou to Zhuhai with a branch line stretching to Macau. The railway station of Macau will be set on the reclaimed land between Taipa and Coloane.
There are scheduled flights of helicopter carrying passengers between Macau and Hong Kong several times a day.
Macau International Airport situated at the eastern end of Taipa was opened in December 1995. It was built on reclaimed land. There are now air services between Macau and many cities in East Asia, Southeast Asia and Europe.
Places of Interest
The Eight Scenes of Macau
In Chinese tradition, painters, poets and writers often chose eight or ten representative scenes for a place, such as “the Eight scenes of West Lake” for Hangzhou. Each of the scenes was named usually by a four Chinese characters' phrase to describe its beautiful features. There were “Ten Scenes of Macau” in the 18th century and “the Eight Scenes” fifty years ago. However, natural and human landscapes have changed very much from then on. Some of those scenes are no longer in existence.
In 1992, eight associations formed a committee to organize the selection of the new“Eight Scenes of Macau”. After one year, the new “Eight Scenes of Macau” were selected. They are:
“鏡海長虹”(Keang Hoi Cheong Hung): Two bridges cross over Macau's sea like two Iong rainbows.
“媽閣紫煙”(Ma Kok Zi Yin): A-Ma Temple is filled with smoke from burning joss sticks of worshippers.
“三巴聖蹟”(Sam Ba Sing Tsik): The sacred ruins of St. Paul's Church.
“普濟尋幽”(Po Tsai Tsum Yau): Looking for quiet and tasteful scenery at Kum lam Temple (Po Tsai Sim Yun).
“燈塔松濤”(Tang Tap Tsung Tou): Guia Lighthouse upon the rolling sea of pines.
“盧園探勝”(Lou Yun Tam Seng): Visit the famous scenery of Lou Lira Ioec Garden.
“龍環葡韻”(Lung Wan Pou Wan): Enjoy the Portuguese living style at the House Museum in Taipa.
“黑沙踏浪”(Hak Sa Tap Long): Playing and sporting on the waves at Hac Sa Beach.
Historic Sites
The Ruin of St. Paul's Church is the most famous sight in Macau. The original church was built in early 17th century. In 1835, most of the church and its adjacent college were destroyed by fire. All that remains of this majestic church is a magnificent facade decorated with carvings and status and the grand staircase in front.
Monte Fortress, built in 1617-1627, stands above a hill in the middle of Macau Peninsula. It is the biggest fortress in Macau with an area of 2,000 square meters. The Fortress is a good place for visitors to have an overall view of the city and its surroundings.
Barrier Gate is an arched gate standing on the border between Macau and Zhuhai. It had been the only official passage crossing the border before a new entrance hall was built several years ago. Today, it is separated from the entrance and opened for tourists.
Guia Lighthouse is the oldest in Far East. It was lit up on September 24,1865. Since then it has never ceased to glow at the top of the graceful and green Guia Hill, from where one of the most beautiful panoramas of the city can be enjoyed. Guia Fortress (built in the 1640s) and a chapel (built in the 1620s) stand by its side.
Gardens
Camões Garden named after the famous Portuguese poet Louis de Camões. There is a grotto in garden where Camoes is said to have hinished the national epic “The Lusiadas”. The bronze bust of the poet was installed in the grotto.
Lou Lim leoc Garden is a beautiful Chinese Garden modeled on those in Suzhou. It is a miniaturized landscape. Narrow paths wind through groves of bamboo and flower bushes, amid artificial “hills” in fantastic shapes. A nine-turn bridge zigzags across a large pond filled with golden carps and lotus flowers.
Sun Yat Sen Park, Iocated to the west of Barrier Gate, is named after this Chinese great man, whose status is installed outside the gate. The park contains pavilions, ponds, woods, aviary, greenhouse, children's playground and two multi-purpose sports fields.
Flora Garden is located at the northwestern foot of Guia Hill. The garden is particular with children because it contains a small zoo. There is a fountain in the garden. Behind it there are steps leading up a slope to the roadthat encircles Guia Hill. In October 1997, a cable car facility is built up there for viewing the beantiful scene of Guia.
The other gardens in the peninsula are St, Francisco Garden, Montanha Russa Garden, Heong San Garden,Vasco da Gama Garden and Victory Garden.
In th Islands, some gardens are quite small,such as Carmel Garden and Star Garden in Taipa, Municipal Garden in Coloane; some are bigger country parks, such as Seac Pai Van Park, Cheoc Van Park, Hac Sa Park, Coloane High Park and Ka Ho High Park in Coloane.
Temples
A-MaTemple (Ma Kok Miu), the oldest temple in Macau, has a history of over 500 years. A-Ma, or Ma Tsou, is the goddess protecting sailors and fishermen. The temple is situated at the western foot of Penha Hill in southwestern coast of the peninsula. On the slope behind the temple, there are a lot of inscriptions engraved on huge granitic rocks written by litterateurs through the ages.
Kun lato Temple (Pou Tsai Sim Yun or Kum lam Tong), the biggest temple in Macau, was built in the 1620s. Kun lam is the Goddess of Mercy. The temple was the place where the Sino-American “Mong Ha Treaty” was signed in 1844.
Lin FongTemple is named after Lin Fong Hill (Mong Ha Hill), at the northern foot of which the temple is situated. It has a history of about 400 years. In 1839, the temple was chosen as the temporary residence for Lin Zexu, Chinese Imperial Commissioner, when he made an inspection tour to Macau.
Besides the above three big temples, there are forty more small temples in Macau. Such as Hong Kong Miu, Tou Tei Miu, Fok Tak Chi, Tin Hou Miu, Tam Kong Miu and so on.
Churches
The Cathedral was first constructed of wood in 1576. The first stone cathedral, was built in 1850, and was almost destroyed in a typhoon 24 years later. The present one was completely rebuilt in 1937. It has two solid towers and massive doors. Many of the major events of the church focus on the Cathedral.
Chapel of Our Lady of Penha is located on the top of Penha Hill. The first chapel was built in 1622 served as a point of pilgrimage for sailors embarking on hazardous voyage. It was completely rebuilt, along with the Bishop's Palace, in 1837.
St. Anthony Church, standing on the site of Macau's first chapel founded in 1558, was built in 1638. It was burned and rebuilt for several rimes. The last fire and restoration was in 1930, and further work was done on the façade and tower in 1940.
St. Dominic's Church, standing on the site of a chapel and convent built in 1587, dates from the early 17th century. It has an imposing façade of cream coloured stone with white stucco mouldings and green windows.
St. Lawrence's Church was first bulir of wood in 1569, reconstructed in stone in the beginning of the 19th century. It is the most fashionable church in Macau today. The church, standing in a garden filled with palm trees, has twin towers and a fine Chinese tile roof. The interior is richly decorated.
St. Lazarus Church, standing on the site of a hermitage founded in 1570 to serve lepers, was built in 1895 and renovated in 1966. In the forecourt is the Cross of Hope from the original chapel.
The Church of St. Joseph Seminary stands majestically on a staircase with tens of steps. The seminary was founded in 1728; and the new church was built in the 1740s and 1750s. The art of architecture and sculpture are the most attractive features of the church.
The Protestant Chapel is a small stone building located at the southeastern comer of Camões Garden. The Old Protestant Cemetery lies on its side, among those buried here are: Robert Morrison, a missionary who compiled the first English and Chinese dictionary and translated the Bible into Chinese; George Chinnery, an artist who lived in Macau in th 18th century and left many nice painting on Macau; Capt. Lord John Spencer Churchill, an ancestor of Sir Winston Churchill; Anders Ljungstedt, a Swedish who lived in Macau from 1813 to his death in 1835 and wrote the first history of Macau.
Museum
Museum of Macau History, situated at Monte Fortress, is in preparation.
Mueum of St. Paul's Church, situated at the Ruins of St. Paul, is an outdoor museum.
Maritime Museum is situated on the southwestern coastof the peninsula just opposite to A-Ma Temple. It may be the only one of its kind in Asia.
Taipa House Museum is situated in an old style colonial building of the late 19th and early 20th century at the southern coast of Taipa. It is a faith reproduction of a Macaense residence in that time.
Post Office Museum, housed in the Central Post Office, contains displays of stamps, postal and communication equipment used in Macau.
Sun Yat Sen Memorial House is located to the west of Guia Hill. Dr. Sun Yat Sen, who led the Chinese revolution that overthrew the Manchu Empire and established the Republic, practiced medicine and carried out revolutionary activities in Macau in the 1890s.
Besides, Grand Prix Museum and Wine Museum are housed within the Tourist Activity Centre of Macau.
Beaches
Hac Sa, located in the southeastern coast of Coloane Island, is the biggest beach in Macau. Its length is about 1,300 meters, and the width is from 50 to 100 meters. The name “Hac Sa” means “black sand”, because the beach is covered by black sand. Besides the beach, there is a recreational center on the coast, consisting of a swimming pool, tennis courts and a children playground.
Cheoc Van, located in southern Coloane, is a small white sanded beach with a length of 300 meters. There is also a swimming pool on the coast.
