Macau travel guide Macau is a tiny island in southeast China located an hour’s boat ride from Hong Kong. It is a Special Administrative Region governed under the ‘one country, two systems’ policy of the People’s Republic of China. The Portuguese colony is a unique fusion of East and West, with its cobbled streets, baroque architecture and traditional food and wine. The historic centre of Macau is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, yet this modern Chinese metropolis is now a self-styled Vegas of the East, with its mega casinos and hotels helping to propel its tourism and economy. When to go? Macau’s subtropical climate has cool dry winters and hot wet summers. Temperatures drop as low as 10°C during winter (Jan-Feb) and rise to 35°C during summer (Jul-Aug). Visitors getting to Macau during the summer months of July and September should be aware that there is a risk of typhoons. The best time to visit Macau is from October to December, when the weather is cool and less humid. Getting there By air Air Macau is the national carrier that gets into Macau International Airport. Regional airlines getting to Macau fly from cities like Seoul, Bangkok, Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur. Sky Shuttle also run frequent 16-minute helicopter rides between Macau and Hong Kong but are expensive. By ferry Getting to Macau by ferry is possible from Shenzhen and Hong Kong. Popular routes from Shekou (80 minutes) and Wanzai (30 minutes) arrive at Macau Ferry Terminal. Ferries and high speed catamarans from Hong Kong (1 hour) operate almost 24 hours. By bus Macau is easily accessible by land from mainland China. There are buses from Guangzhou (4 hours), Dongguan (3 hours) and Zhongshan (70 minutes) getting to Macau. Getting around By foot The historic centre in Macau Peninsula is small, compact and made for exploring by foot. Most sights can be viewed in a day, especially around the Border Gate, Senado Square and the many narrow alleyways and patios full of traditional shops and restaurants. By bus Taking the bus is the most popular form of public transport in Macau. The system is efficient and well-established, with routes connecting Macau Peninsula and the islands of Taipa, Cotai and Coloane. Transmac and Transportas Companhia de Macau are the two public bus companies © 2011 AsiaRooms.com. All rights reserved. with fares starting from as little as MOP$2.50. Coins are dropped into a box and no change is given. By trishaw Three-wheeled pedicabs, known as trishaws, are usually lined up outside main sightseeing attractions like Hotel Lisboa and the ferry terminal. The yellow vehicles can be hired by the hour for a slow and scenic ride around town. By taxi Taxis are a good and affordable form of transport in Macau. The black and yellow cars can be flagged down from pretty much anywhere in the city. Visitors are advised to have their destination written in Chinese, as most taxi drivers speak only Cantonese. There are surcharges for airport trips, journeys to Taipa and Coloane islands and for luggage placed in the boot. By car Car rental agencies have branches at the Macau International Airport and in town. Daily rates start from about MOP$600. However, driving is not a popular option given the small size and high population density of Macau. Sightseeing Ruins of St. Paul At the top of every visitor’s list of things to do in Macau is seeing the Ruins of St. Paul, the island’s number one tourist spot. Standing adjacent to Mount Fortress and Macau Museum, the front façade and grand stone stairs are the only remains after a fire in 1835 burned down what was the biggest Catholic Church in East Asia at the time. Admire the surviving façade which is a perfect fusion of Western and Eastern with its decorations of the Virgin Mary and Chinese dragons. Senado Square Head on to Senado Square, where limestone mosaic pieces hand-laid on the ground create a wave of attractive patterns. The square has been Macau’s urban centre for centuries, and is still a popular venue for public events and celebrations today. The neoclassical buildings that surround the square are of high architectural interest, notably the Post Office Building. Guia Fortress A hike up to Guia Fortress on Guia Hill is one of the most enjoyable things to do in Macau, as it is the highest point on the peninsula and has panoramic views of the island. The historic military fort has a chapel and a lighthouse, the latter which is the oldest in China and a UNESCO Heritage Site. At the base of Guia Hill is the European-style Flora Garden, where a pedestrian avenue lined with tall palms and flowering shrubs leads to an aviary, a small zoo and a tree-shaded patio. A-Ma Temple The A-Ma Temple on Barra Hill is the oldest and most important temple in the city, said to have existed even before Macau was founded. Built during the Ming Dynasty in the 15th century by grateful fishermen who endured a storm at sea, it is dedicated to the sea goddess Matsu. Considered one of the most important things to do in Macau, the best time to visit is during the temple festival in April when throngs of devotees come to worship Matsu. © 2011 AsiaRooms.com. All rights reserved. St. Lawrence’s Church St. Lawrence's Church located on Rua de S. Lourenço is one of Macau’s oldest and most beautiful churches. Originally built of wood by the Jesuits before 1560, the creamy yellow building is accessible through a stone staircase and ornamental gate. Inside, the beautiful wooden ceiling in turquoise, white and gold is richly decorated with Chinese tiles, intricate woodwork and hanging chandeliers. Macau Museum Another one of the most enjoyable things to do in Macau is visiting the Macau Museum. Located on Monte Fort opposite the ruins of St Paul, the beautiful white museum is housed inside a 17th- century fortress. Miniature recreations depict scenes from Macau’s history, from the arrival of Portuguese traders and Jesuit missionaries to the day-to-day life of ordinary citizens. The three- storey museum leads to a wall rampart on the top floor, complete with canons and a great view of the city. Where to eat Litoral Litoral is a beautiful two-storey restaurant on Rua do Almirante Sérgio which attracts both locals and tourists alike with its authentic Portuguese and Macanese food. Their specialties include pato de cabidela (bloody duck), bacalhau (salted cod), caldo verde (potato and chorizo soup) and minchi, Macau’s national dish of minced beef cooked with potatoes, onions, soy sauce and an egg. Try the baked duck rice, homemade crab soup and shrimp soup served in a bread bowl. A Lorcha A Lorcha located on Rua do Almirante Sérgio right by the A-Ma Temple is a Macanese restaurant which serves up authentic dishes like pork-ear salad and deep-fried bacalhau cakes. A night out in a Macau restaurant is not complete without Portuguese wine, which is widely available in restaurants and bars. A crisp glass of vinho verde (young white) as well as the locally-brewed Macau Beer goes very well with Macanese food. Restaurante Escada Restaurante Escada off Avenida de Almeida Ribeiro is a charming little Macau restaurant serving bacalhau, seafood stew and a range of grilled meats. Try the flaming Portuguese sausage and Galinha à Africana, a roasted chicken covered in piri piri (African bird's eye chili) sauce. Fernando’s Further out in Taipa Island is one of the most famous restaurants in Macau. Fernando’s is popular for its seafood, traditional Macanese fried rice and roast suckling pig served with salad and thick homemade fries. The restaurant on the black sand beach of Hac Sa has a devoted clientele, so a long wait is to be expected. Shopping Senado Square The area around Senado Square is another popular Macau shopping district, especially along Avenida Almeida Ribeiro and the many narrow streets leading off the main square. Visitors will find a wealth of inexpensive Macanese-made clothes, accessories and vintage wear. © 2011 AsiaRooms.com. All rights reserved. Avenida de Horta e Costa One of Macau’s most popular shopping streets, the Avenida de Horta e Costa has everything from up-market boutiques to local shops. The street begins at the Red Market on Avenida Almirante Lacerda, which is a bustling market popular with the locals who come to buy fresh fruits, dried goods as well as clothes. Three Lamps District Head to Rotunda de Carlos da Maia in the historic Three Lamps District, another popular place to find good shopping in Macau. The area has many little shops selling fun and cheap clothing, especially Japanese and Korean apparel and shoes. The best bargains can be found in the stores here, which attracts many young people. Fortune Tower Shopping Centre For electronic product shopping in Macau, there is Fortune Tower Shopping Centre on Avenida do Ouvidor Arriaga. Macau’s largest computer centre has all the gizmos and gadgets from computer parts to game consoles at considerably lower prices than in larger outlets or in Hong Kong. Taipa Flea Market For an authentic Macau shopping experience, head to Taipa Flea Market on a Sunday. Located in the heart of an old village in picturesque Taipa Island, the market between Bombeiros Square and Camões Square has booths selling traditional crafts and souvenirs, food, drinks, clothes and toys. The market is open every Sunday from 11am to 8pm.