|
Macau
has a
large and varied number of attractions to keep the visitor
not only occupied but also enthralled.
The
following are just a few of the main featured attractions.
MUSEUM OF MACAU
Opposite
St. Paul's Ruins, the Museum of Macau has been built into
the ancient Monte Fort. This museum does not possess a
collection of art of high monetary value. However, it
represents and explains the origin and development of the
local community. The museum is divided into 3 sections;
Macau's Formation, Popular Arts and Traditions of Macau and
Contemporary Macau.
ST. PAUL'S CHURCH
The Sam
Ba Sing Tzik is the remaining front wall of the Sacred Ruins
of St Paul's Church. This is one of the most famous
structures in Macau and should not be missed. The
architecture is simply magnificent. Visitors walk up a grand
set of steps to reach the site which is located in the city
centre. St. Paul's was designed by an Italian priest and was
constructed on one of Macau's seven hills with the help of
the Japanese. The foundations were laid in 1602 and
completed in 1637. The church experienced 3 fires, one after
another, with the church being re-stored and re-built each
time. The final fire in 1853 was the most devastating,
leaving just the front wall of the church V actually the
most sacred part.
MACAU TOWER
The
Macau Tower Convention & Entertainment Centre opened for
business in 2001. Inside the tower you will find some great
restaurants, including 360c as well as a variety of shops
and 2 theatres to cater for conventions and events.
To take
in the fabulous views of Macau, visit the Observation Lounge
which has a glass-floored section that gives you the feeling
that you are floating in mid air. At 223 metres/750 feet off
the ground, this is quite an experience!
Additionally, for the thrill seekers out there, you can
experience a variety of climbs and bungee jumps through the
New Zealand based extreme sports company AJ Hackett.
The Mast Climb allows you to climb up
the masts 100m of vertical ladders to the top of the tower
in approximately 2 hours. There is also the Skywalk, which
is a walk around the covered walkway. It is the 10th tallest
free-standing tower in the world, 8th tallest in Asia and
from the highest viewing deck, it is possible to see 55
km/34 miles away.
MACAU'S CASINOS
Gambling
has existed in Macau since it was legalized by the
Portuguese in 1847 and Macau is today the only Chinese
territory where casino gambling is legal.
GRAND PRIX MUSEUM
The
Grand Prix Museum officially opened in 1993 in-conjunction
with celebrating 40 years of racing in Macau. This popular
event is held annually in November attracting thousands of
tourists and racing enthusiasts to Macau to watch the
classic Guia Race and the Formula 3 Grand Prix and has
boasted such names as Michael Schumacher, Ayrton Senna, John
Corsmit and Teddy Yip.
The
museum contains a collection of the magnificent machines
that raced and won at the Guia circuit, representing the
racing history of one of the most exciting circuits in the
world. The museum also offers the fantastic opportunity to
see what it would feel like to be behind the wheel of a race
car, in a simulator. You can either be the driver racing
against others around the famous track or be a passenger of
a real car driven in the 1995 Grand Prix.
SENADO SQUARE AND ST. DOMINIC'S CHURCH
Macau's
main square is paved with a wave-patterned stone mosaic
which extends from the square to St Paul's Ruins. The
square, which has been a civic hub for centuries, is now a
pedestrian thoroughfare and contains an elegant fountain,
trees, benches, cafés and space for public events. At the
far end of the square stands St. Dominic's Church.This
beautiful 17th Century church is painted beige with quaint
green shutters. The inside of the church is gorgeous and
features a statue of the Virgin and Child and a painting of
Christ.
LOU LIM LOK GARDEN
This
beautiful Chinese, Suzhou style garden was built in the 19th
century by wealthy Chinese trader Lou Kau. The garden was
named after Lou Kau's first born son, Lou Lim Loc.The
garden, enclosed by a high wall, contains huge shady trees,
lotus ponds, golden bamboo groves and rock grottoes. There
is also a nine-turn bridge that zig-zags across the pond
(legend has it evil spirits can only move in straight lines)
and leads to a large pavilion combining classical and
Chinese architectural elements. In the early mornings,
locals practice the famous exercise form of Tai Chi here.
FISHERMAN'S WHARF
The
first ever themed entertainment attraction in Macau, Macau
Fisherman's Wharf is centrally located at Macau's outer
harbour, a 5-minute walk from the Macau Ferry Terminal.
Fisherman's Wharf is divided into 3 themed sections:
1.
Dynasty Wharf - a
replica of Tang Dynasty architectures with an international
array of products to satisfy your shopping desire.
2. East
Meets West - a children's entertainment and functional area
which includes a mixture of food and beverage outlets,
multi-functional live show venues, convention and exhibition
facilities and various family rides.
3. Legend
Wharf - features a collection of European and Latin style
architecture. Visitors can indulge their senses with tasty
treats at various restaurants or choose an exclusive gift
from the wide range of brand-name shops.
MACAU WINE MUSEUM
This is
the first museum in Asia that has been dedicated to the
history and production of wine. On display throughout the
museum are wines, wine presses, storage barrels, harvesting
tools, descriptions of the wine-growing regions in Portugal
as well as examples of wine production in the Peoples
Republic of China. Included in the entry fee is the
opportunity to sample a variety of the wines.
|
