Travel in Macau - China - Asia - Culture

Macau - Culture

IMAGE:Dancer Macau is the oldest European enclave in Asia, predating Hong Kong by 300 years. It's an interesting mix of cultures, a relaxed fusion of the Latin and Asian temperament with a strong Portuguese flavour. It's a city of cobbled side streets, baroque churches, fortresses and exotic street names. There are Chinese temples and colonial villas, as well as excellent restaurants and plenty of opportunities to stick your pennies down a poker machine.

Apart from Chinese gamblers, most tourists who go to Macau spend just a few hours here. It's a pity, because it's one of those curious places where something new can be found on every visit.

Macau, which hangs off the south coast of China, is divided into three main sections - the Macau Peninsula, which is attached to China at the northern tip, and the two islands of Taipa and Coloane. Taipa is directly south of the peninsula and has two bridges, each 2km (1.2mi) long, connecting the island to the peninsula. Coloane is south of Taipa and connected to it by a causeway. Macau is a tiny place. It has a total land area of 23.5 sq km (9 sq mi), including the peninsula and the two islands. The airport is on Taipa Island, with the runway on a strip of reclaimed land just to its east.

IMAGE:Colonial style architecture Avenida de Almeida Ribeiro is the main street of Macau. Most of Macau's sights are in the area directly north of the Avenida, known as Central Macau. The area north of this has been more recently developed than the centre and south, and has fewer historical sights. You'll find cheap guesthouses and mid-range hotels in the west of the peninsula, and top-end joints in the east and centre of town. There are a few exclusive options in the south of the peninsula. Most places to eat are clustered in Central Macau.

Events
The Chinese in Macau celebrate the same religious festivals as their counterparts in Hong Kong, but there are also parties for Catholic festivals and Portuguese national holidays. During Chinese New Year, in late January or early February, the streets are a feast of colour and noise. For a more Catholic flavour, try the Procession of Our Lord of Passion, when a statue of Christ is paraded through the streets to Macau Cathedral. The Macau Arts Festival is held in March, while the Anniversary of 1974 Portuguese Revolution on 25 April celebrates Portugal's left-wing military coup.

IMAGE:Dragon Dance Macau has a major public holiday in June for the Dragon Boat Festival, when boats are raced off the tip of the Macau Peninsula. On 13 July Taipa and Coloane celebrate their final defeat of maurading pirates. the International Music Festival, held in October or Novermber, is usually an intriguing mix of opera, musicals, visiting Portuguese orchestras and other musical events. At the end of the year the Winter Solstice is celebrated - many Macau Chinese consider this festival even more important than Chinese New Year.

Activities
There's a good jogging track around the lighthouse, just to the east of the city centre. You can also do t'ai chi here. If you want to go swimming you could try Macau's public pool, or head for the beaches on Coloane Island. Coloane's also a good spot for watersports, with jet-skis and windsurfers for hire, and there are a few tennis courts on the island. On Taipa Island you can hire bikes. The Macau Peninsula is small enough to walk around, and this is an excellent way to see the sights.

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