Whether it's jumping off high towers, the rush of gambling, grabbing a bite of the streetside pork chop bun or the joy of seeing a Giant Panda, here are five reasons to stop by this Chinese city
Once the largest church in Asia, all that remains of St Paul's is the stone facade -- one of the most famous landmarks here
Best known as the Vegas of the East, Macau certainly lives up to the title, with all the glitz and gambling you can hope for. But, the city has so much more to offer. As a former Portuguese colony in China, Macau is where you can soak in the marriage of both cultures. Walk through the city centre and you’ll see roads with Portuguese names and hear locals speak Cantonese. The city’s most ancient Chinese temple dedicated to goddess A Ma, sits on a boulevard paved with Portuguese mosaic tiles.
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Once the largest church in Asia, all that remains of St Paul’s is the stone facade — one of the most famous landmarks here
Start on a high
The city has become a weekend haven for those seeking the thrill of casinos, but if you prefer the high of adrenaline, why not start with the Macau Tower? Take a leap of faith from 764 feet in the sky (higher than a 70 storey building!) - certified by the Guinness Book of World Records as the world’s highest commercial bungee jump. Cameras and phones aren’t allowed, but for an extra charge, they will attach cameras to your safety harness. If jumping off buildings is not your thing, there’s also the skywalk around the ledge of the tower, with breathtaking views of the city.
If you’re looking for thrills on a tight budget, try the megacasinos here. The minimum stake at the tables is $20 and can run up to hundreds of dollars (HKD). The slots are less expensive. If it’s your first tie at a casino, head to one of the better known ones like Venetian or MGM, as there will be more staff there to walk you through it.
Representation Pic/AFP
Race to the finish
One of the biggest events of the year is the Macau Grand Prix, and there is an entire museum dedicated to racing, Not only can you see legendary cars, including one that was driven by Michael Schumacher, but you can be a Formula racer yourself on a simulator that allows you to drive on the Grand Prix circuit. Try your hands at the wheel, and see if you are one of the gifted few who can make it out without crashing — Macau is famous for being one of the most demanding race circuits.
Soak in the history
Spread across 30.4 sq km, Macau is easy to cover in a few days or in a weekend. Be sure to wear comfortable shoes; most of the tourist sights are within minutes of each other, so it’s much easier to just walk around and take in the sights. There are also plenty of walking tours to guide tourists. There’s no better place to start than Senado Square, which symbolises the crossroads between China and Portugal. The square is named after the Leal Senado — a meeting place for the Chinese and Portuguese in the 16th to 18th centuries. Walk on towards one of the city’s most famed landmarks — the Ruins of St Paul’s, a 17th-century Portuguese church that is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. At one point, it was one of the largest Catholic churches in Asia, and European royalty would scramble to bestow the best gifts upon it. Now, all that remains is the façade of the church, that was destroyed in a fire during a typhoon in 1835. Thanks to splendid preservation work, you can still see the detailing on the stone façade that merges Christian and Chinese imagery, such as the carving of the Virgin Mary on a seven-headed dragon. At the southwest tip of the Macau peninsula is the ancient and still gorgeous 15th century A-Ma temple — one of the oldest Taoist temples in Macau, where fishermen and seafarers would pray for fair weather. Legend has it that Macau derives its name from here; when the Portuguese arrived, they asked for the name of the place, and the locals had answered “A-Ma Gau”, or A-Ma Bay.
Pigging out
Like any Chinese city, Macau is a paradise for pork lovers. Pork chop buns seem to be the most popular street food. Essentially, it’s just a slab of seasoned and fried pork in a sandwich, but it combines the best of both worlds — Portuguese expertise in breads and Chinese pork flavours.
Pork chop buns are the most popular street food
While you’re in the city, don’t forget to try the suckling pig, said to be a Macau specialty. The most famous food in Macau, however, is the Portuguese egg tart. Best eaten warm, the tart has a flaky shell with a rich, sweet egg custard filling that is caramelised on top. You’ll find that patisseries all over the city sell this delicate pastry, but none compare to Lord Stow’s bakery in Coloane village, where the egg tart was invented.
Kai Kai’s mate Xin Xin gave birth to twins last month
Pandamonium
On top of the agenda for the next morning was the Panda Pavillion on Coloane island, home to the city's most popular couple — pandas Kai Kai and Xin Xin. They spend most of their day alternating between eating and sleeping, so it's best to make the visit in the morning, as that is when the pandas are most likely to be up and about.
Painting of Chinese Mother Mary and Baby Jesus at St Francis Xavier Church
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