Travel to Macau with MyChina.com

Macau, like Hong Kong, is considered a "Special Administrative Region" of the People's Republic of China. It has a population of around half a million people and combines an exotic Mediterranean atmosphere with a technological, urban ambience. Macau has flourishing industries including textile, electronic and gambling. This together with the significant number of tourists that visit it each year makes it one of the wealthiest modern cities in the world.

Visitors to Macau should not expect to find just another traditional Chinese urban area nor a high tech metropolitan like Hong Kong. In fact, never mind what image you have in your head, the city will beyond doubt catch you off guard and manage to surprise you. There is no other city like it - neither in Asia nor in the entire world. It combines Portuguese influences with European affects, Chinese character, Christian influence and modernized nature. It is romantic and magical while being highly industrialized and relevant and with its complex style it appeals to any visitor.

Places to See in Macau

The Coloane Village existence seems almost miraculous in this modern age. It is a real old fashion fishermen village that exists within Macau. Coloane combines the city's Portuguese and Cantonese nature and is a magical refuge that thrives inside the city offering hiking, golden beaches and cleaner, sweeter air. The village offers some lovely sites such as the Old Tin Hau Temple, the Tam Kung Temple, the Chapel of St. Francis Xavier and many others.

The Historic Centre of Macau is a collection of over twenty architectural sites, Chinese and Portuguese buildings, churches, temples and different historic monuments. All these demonstrate well the coexistence of Eastern and Western influence within the city. The area was once a major center of international trade and it still bares proofs of its great cultural and historical importance. Tourists can spend not just a single day, but several, scouting through the varied sights.

The only main challenge when visiting The Historic Centre is to decide where to go first. The ruins of the great catholic cathedral of Saint Paul, the former Portuguese military center known as Mount Fortress, the exquisite Dom Pedro V Theatre and the Casa Garden with its Old Protestant Cemetery and art gallery all make fine options. Even if you are tires of temples and cathedrals, don't miss the famous A-Ma Temple, built in the honor of the goddess Matsu - the defender of fishermen and sea travelers, or the lovely St. Dominic's Church. There are many other places worth a visit, so it's better to come ready for making explorations.

The Macau Tower known as "The Sky Tower" offers incredible panoramic view of the city and includes shopping malls, dining places and theaters. Visitors to the tower who have no fear of heights can also enjoy the breathtaking tour around its outer rim.

Since 1962 Macau has had a blooming legal gambling industry. Most of the huge casinos stand between the city's historic centre and the large harbor. The Grand Lisboa, MGM Grand Macau and Sands Macao are just three of the most famous ones, but there are of course many others.

For more information regarding Macau's beautiful sights, amusements, hotels and restaurant try the official city's site macautourism.gov.mo or wikitravel.org/en/Macau.