Macau Travel Guide, China

Macau Travel Guide – Introduction

Also called the ‘Oriental Las Vegas’, Macau is a vibrant metropolis offering great possibilities for visitors. The city is located in the western side of Pearl River delta on the shore of South China Sea. Macau has got the status of special administrative region, a title possessed by Hong Kong and Macau only, because it used to be a Portuguese colony for 400 years and got under Chinese rule only in 1999. This fact makes the city even more colorful and attractive as you can find 17th century Catholic churches alongside old Chinese temples.

Macau lies only 60 km (37 mi) from Hong Kong and 145 km (90 mi) from Guangzhou but it is much smaller than them with its population of about 500.000 people. However this does not mean Macau hasn’t got much to show. In fact this Macau travel guide is only a hint of what the city can offer. The humid subtropical climate makes Macau a very pleasant destination for the whole year.

Macau Travel Guide – Attractions

Traditional and modern, Chinese tranquility and European glamour meet in this wonderful city. The unique history of Macau make the city’s sights really varied. You will not find another place where baroque Catholic churches alternate with traditional Chinese buildings and beautiful gardens and parks share the landscape with nice modern hotels with casinos - the reason of the city's nickname, Oriental Las Vegas.

Some of the oldest and most beautiful churches are the Macau Cathedral, the Saint Dominic Church and the Saint Joseph Seminary Church, all built by early Portuguese priests who made Macau an Eastern bastion of Christianity. The A-Ma temple, dedicated to the sea goddess Mazu, is older than the city itself. The Lou Kau Mansion is a typical Chinese house with two stories and side wings, it is beautiful. The city has got two central squares, Leal Senado Square and St. Dominic Square, they are both surrounded mainly with neo-classical and baroque buildings and they are in the middle of everything in Macau. Smaller squares and plazas like Lilau and Barra are perfect for quaint and non-touristy walks.

Living in harmony with nature has got an important role in Eastern cultures. Macau’s wonderful gardens, like Luis de Camoes Garden or Casa Garden are the perfect proof of this fact with their special arrangements which make the place so very tranquil and comforting. There are two islands, Taipa and Coloane connected to the city with two bridges, which also worth an exploring visit. They are perfect getaways with very nice, lonely beaches if one got enough of the busy city life.

Enjoy your vacation in Macau!

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