15 Aug 7 Experiences in Macau You Should Not Miss
Macau, dubbed the “Las Vegas of the East,” is home to some of the biggest casino hotels in Asia. It’s also known for its rich Portuguese and Chinese cultures, being the first and last Asian country to be colonized by the Europeans.
If you happen to be going to Macau anytime soon, make sure to bring a sturdy and reliable canon dslr and different camera lenses because you don’t want to pass up the opportunity to capture this picturesque city. Here are seven important experiences you shouldn’t miss.
Going on an Adventure at Macau Tower
For the adventure enthusiast, the Macau Tower is heaven-sent. You can go bungee jumping, wall climbing, skywalking, or skyjumping. If that doesn’t sound thrilling enough, you may want to conquer the top of the tower by climbing 100 meters up the vertical ladders.
If you want to shoot amazing panoramas, head over to the Macau Tower at night. It offers an awesome view of the skyline and the two contrasting areas in Macau: the developed area and the preserved area.
You can also enjoy buffet dining at the tower’s revolving café while admiring the stunning view of Macau.
Taking a Bite of Lord Stow’s Egg Tart
This is one yummy pastry you should try when you go to Macau. The Portuguese egg tart is a cup-like crust filled with egg custard and garnished with crème brulee. The warm and melt-in-your-mouth custard is to die for!
The egg tart was introduced in Asia by Lord Stow’s Bakery that was founded by Andrew Stow, an English pharmacist. Lord Stow’s opened in 1989 as a small bakery shop in Coloane Island, Macau. Now, its egg tarts in its various outlets are always sold out because of the famous Portuguese pastry, selling around 14,000 pieces in a day.
Tasting Meat Jerkies at Pastelaria Koi Kei
Best store to purchase the best meat jerkies!
If you’re on the hunt for something to take home for your family, you can always find Pastelaria Koi Kei in Senado Square, which happens to sell the best meat jerkies in Macau. Samples of meat jerkies in various flavors are given for free to tourists passing by the street.
Exploring the Historical Senado Square
Tourists crowding the historical Senado Square
Senado Square, or Lagro do Senado in Portuguese, is one of the four largest squares in Macau. It’s part of the Historic Centre of Macau, a UNESCO world heritage site. You can visit the General Post Office, Leal Senado, and St. Dominic’s Church while strolling around the square.
Check Out The Ruins of St. Paul’s
Stunning Baroque design of the Ruins of St. Paul’s Cathedral
As you walk around Senado Square, you’ll find narrow streets lined with thrift shops and food stalls that lead to the ruins of St. Paul’s Cathedral. Once the biggest cathedral in Asia, it was destroyed by three fires and a typhoon. What remains now is the detailed façade of the cathedral that’s engraved with beautiful Baroque designs.
Behind the walls, you’ll see memorabilias such as old pictures and relics that show a quick history of St. Paul’s Cathedral.
Taking a History Tour in Taipa Village
Dig deeper into Macau’s history in Taipa Village. Explore the Taipa Houses-Museum that was home to wealthy Macanese families in the early 20th century. The Macau government recognized its architectural value and decided to transform it into a museum.
Discovering Macau’s Roots at A-ma Temple
Photo by Blowing Puffer Fish / CC BY 2.0
Situated at the southeastern tip of the peninsula, A-ma Temple is the oldest Taoist temple in Macau. It’s also where Macau got its name. When the Portuguese landed on the shore some 400 years ago, they asked a couple of locals what the name of the land was. The locals thought that they were asking for the name of the bay and so they answered, “A-Ma-Gao,” which meant Bay of A-ma, a goddess of seafarers.
The temple consists of prayer halls, pavilions, and courtyards with big rocks. There are also statues of A-ma with a model of junk cannons. Chapels for Buddhists and Taoists are also located in the temple.
There’s surely a lot more to Macau than just big and luxurious malls, high-end hotels, and fun and exciting casinos. It may be a small region, but it’s very rich in history and in culture. I’m sure you’ll be amazed to see the hybrid of Chinese and Portuguese cultures in Macau, which is one of the reasons why I fell in love with it.
Author Bio
I am a travel photographer with more than 10 years of experience in the field. Being a freelance blogger enables me to help photography beginners and enthusiasts to tell wonderful stories of their travels as seen through their lenses. It also allows me to share my thoughts about another advocacy of mine: social equality and change.