Destination Guide: Macau, China
About Macau
Macau is one of the two special administrative regions of the People’s Republic of China. Under the ‘One Country, Two Systems’ framework, the People’s Republic of China is responsible for the defense and foreign affairs portfolio of the territory, while Macau continues to maintain its own customs and immigration policy, legal and monetary systems and police force.
The Special Administrative Region of Macau is situated on a small peninsula at the mouth of the Pearl River Delta. It is connected by a bridge to Taipa island which in turn is connected to the island of Côloane by a 2.2km (1.3 mile) causeway called the Cotai Strip, home to most of the over the top casino hotels, that Macau is famous for. On the northern end of the peninsula on a narrow isthmus is an imposing gateway called Portas do Cerco or the Border Gate, which leads to the Zhuhai and Zhongshan regions of the People’s Republic of China. The other Special Administrative Region of Hong Kong is located 60km (approx. 37 miles) to the northeast of Macau.
Macau is a former Portuguese colony. The Portuguese arrived in Macau in the early 16th century and soon established Macau as a major entrepôt for trade between China, India, Japan and continental Europe. Macau was the first and last European colony in China. The Portuguese continued to administer Macau, until the handover of Macau to the People’s Republic of China was made on 20th December 1999. The Sino-Portuguese Joint Declaration and the Basic Law of Macau, state that Macau can operate with a high degree of autonomy for a minimum of 50 years after the handover.
Today, Macau is a heavily tourist-trafficked destination, which is known for its glittering, neon-lit casino hotels, which offer numerous opportunities for gambling. The territory offers a landscape that is littered with old colonial buildings and traditional fishing villages, which seem to co-exist in harmony with the many dazzling casino hotels. The historic center of Macau is home to 25 World Heritage Sights, which help to illustrate the territory’s rich history and the unique amalgamation of the Eastern and Western civilizations, which co-exist in Macau to date.
Best time to visit Macau
Macau is bestowed with a subtropical climate that features very hot summers and cool, mild winters. The summer months in Macau extend from May to October and feature a wet season (mainly May to June) and a typhoon season (July to September). The average summer temperatures in Macau tend to hover around 30°C (86°F). Macau also experiences cool but mild winters, during which temperatures sometimes dip to 10°C (50°F). The best time to visit Macau is generally thought to be between the months of October and December, when the weather is pleasant and the levels of humidity are low.
Visas for Macau
The territory of Macau has its own visa regime, and visitors from China and Hong Kong also have to go through immigration to gain entry into Macau. All visitors to Macau have to be in possession of a passport or a valid travel document.
Several nationalities enjoy visa-free access to Macau. The following listed nationalities don’t need a visa to enter Macau
a) Nationals of Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cape Verde, Croatia, Czech, Cyprus, Denmark, Dominica, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lebanon, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Mali, Malta, Mexico, Mongolia, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovak, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania and the United Kingdom (6 months) are visa-exempt for a stay in Macau of up to 90 days.
b) Nationals of Australia, Brunei (14 days), Canada, Chile, India, Indonesia, Kiribati, Malaysia, Monaco, Namibia, New Zealand, Philippines, Samoa, Seychelles, Singapore, South Africa, Thailand, Turkey, the United States of America and Uruguay are visa exempt for a stay up to 30 days.
c) Holders of a Hong Kong Identity Card, Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card (One year visa-free stay) or Re-entry Permit can enter Macau without a visa.
d) Nationals of China with valid Macau entry/depart documents can enter Macau visa-free;
Additionally, holders of various Diplomatic passports and special permits are also visa exempt for Macau: -
Citizens of all other countries require a visa to enter Macau.
Getting to and around Macau
Macau can be accessed by air, land and sea, from other international gateways, like Hong Kong and Shenzhen. Passengers flying to Hong Kong International Airport can carry on to Macau, without going through Hong Kong customs and immigration. The Hong Kong International Airport is equipped with a Macau ferry terminal called SkyPier that offers connections to Macau. This connection is only for transit passengers from overseas and cannot be used by passengers whose trips originate in Hong Kong.
Macau also has its own international airport that receives carriers from various Asian and international cities. The Macau International Airport is served by buses and taxis but most international hotels in Macau offer their guests free transfers to and from the airport.
Macau can also be accessed via helicopter service from Hong Kong and Shenzhen.
Hong Kong has two major ferry terminals that offer sea connections to Macau: Shun Tak Centre located at Hong Kong Island and China Ferry Terminal located at Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon. These sea services are run by various companies, like TurboJET and the Cotai Strip CotaiJet™. Macau is served by two ferry terminals, the Macau Taipa Ferry Terminal (used by the Cotai Jet Services) and the Macau Outer Ferry Terminal (also known as Macau Maritime Ferry Terminal) which features a helipad and accommodates hydrofoils and ferries.
Family-friendly hotels in Macau
Glitzy, glamorous Macau is often referred to as the ‘Las Vegas’ of the east and this Chinese Special Administrative Region, is equipped with a wide range of hotels including grand casino hotels, many of which are extremely family-friendly. These hotels cater to all travel budgets and accommodation needs and include the following properties: -
Budget
Hotel Pousada de Coloane
Hotel Pousada de Coloane is a charming hotel housed in an old-world Portuguese Pousada. The hotel is located on Macau’s popular Cheoc-Van Beach, which is located on Macau’s Coloane Island. The hotel offers well-appointed, spacious, air-conditioned rooms that are equipped with conveniences like satellite TV, air-conditioning and minibars. Other facilities at the hotel include a restaurant and an outdoor pool. The hotel also offers rollaway beds and baby cribs for hire.
Mid-Range
Hard Rock Hotel Macau
The Hard Rock Hotel Macau is located on the famous Cotai Strip, a boulevard that hosts all of the major casino hotels located in Macau. The hotel is easily accessible from the Macau International Airport, the Taipa Ferry Terminal and the Macau Maritime Ferry Terminal.
This boutique hotel, which is part of the world-wide Hard Rock chain, offers a wide range of common facilities like function rooms, a fitness center, a spa, an outdoor swimming pool, several food and beverage outlets and access to a shopping enclave that offers all forms of retail therapy. The hotel also hosts shows like the House of Dancing Water and the 360° multi-media experience – Dragon’s Treasure, and offers easy access to an amusement park for younger children called Kid’s City.
The well-appointed guestrooms at the Hard Rock Hotel are luxuriously outfitted with amenities like signature bedding, iPod docks, TVs equipped with satellite channels, movies and video games on demand and complimentary Internet access.
Luxury
The Venetian Macau Resort Hotel
The luxurious Venetian Macau Resort Hotel is the place to stay if you want to splurge on your family vacation to Macau. This super-luxurious hotel offers a smorgasbord of activities for children of all ages.
The hotel offers spacious, luxurious suites, which are outfitted with a whole host of amenities like TVs with satellite access, wireless Internet access and more. Other facilities at the hotel include gondola rides, several food and beverage outlets, exclusive shows and performances, a shopping arcade, outdoor swimming pools and a children’s play area called the Qube. The hotel also hosts the Manchester United Experience, a store and play area that offers licensed merchandise of the immensely popular English Premier League team.
Family-friendly attractions in Macau
Historic Macau is littered with interesting sights, which offer children of all ages an insight into the territory’s rich history.
The Guia Fortress
The Guia Fortress which was built in 1637-1638 is located on the top of Guia Hill, the highest peak in Macau. The fortress was built to defend Macau from attacks from the sea and it once contained army barracks, ammunition and equipment stores. The fort also hosts a lighthouse, which dates back to 1865 and is the oldest lighthouse in China. The fortress also has a chapel featuring an image of Virgin Mary and the fortress can be accessed by the Guia Cable Car, which is available from the entrance of Flora Garden. The fortress is today a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Macau Maritime Museum
Macau’s fascinating Macau Maritime Museum is situated on the spot where the Portuguese first landed in Macau in the early 16th century. The location of the Museum is also significant for another reason, for it is located close to the Square of the Barra Pagoda, which is dedicated to the Taoist goddess ‘A-MA ‘who was believed to be protector of all fisherman.
The museum is housed in a building shaped like sail boat, in order to further emphasize the important role that the sea played in the fortunes of Macau. The museum offers various exhibits that display the lives of fishermen in Macau, the varieties of fish that live in the waters around Macau and the role the sea played in bridging the gap between the Chinese population of Macau and the European colonists.
The Ruins of St Paul’s Church
The Ruins of St Paul’s Church is Macau’s most prominent attraction, which is often used as a symbol for the territory. The ruins refer to the ruins of a 16th century church, which was once thought to be the most important church in Asia. This church was destroyed by a devastating fire in 1835. All that remains of the church today is its magnificent, ornate façade, which extends over four levels and features slender columns and carvings of biblical scenes.
The Largo do Senado
The Largo do Senado or the Square of the Senate is located in the heart of Macau and is its central square. This quintessential Portuguese square is covered with mosaic cobbles and lined with grand, colonial European buildings and many stores, restaurants and bakeries that sell the famous Portuguese-inspired treats, egg tarts and almond cookies.
The Macau Museum
The Macau Museum is located within the territory’s Monte Fortress. The museum has an extensive permanent collection of exhibits, which showcase the life and culture of Macau. The displays chronicle the history of Macau, its origins, the arrival of the Portuguese and the Jesuit Missionaries, the interaction between the Chinese and European civilizations, the traditions and culture of Macau and even local Macanese environments. The museum uses paintings, photographs and life size models to illustrate these various aspects of Macanese life and history.
Family-friendly activities in Macau
Go Bungee Jumping at the Macau Tower
The 338 meter (1,109 feet) high Macau tower offers various different avenues for entertainment. The tower has a main observation deck located at the height of 233 meters (764 feet), which offers panoramic views of the city. Also located here are restaurants, shopping outlets, theaters and the Skywalk X attraction, which offers visitors the chance to take an exciting walking tour on the outside rim of the tower. Yet another exciting attraction located here is a Bungee jumping facility, only recommended if you and your brood are daring and adventurous and have a head for heights.
Visit the Macau Giant Panda Pavilion
The Macau Giant Panda Pavilion is located within Seac Pai Van Park on the island of Coloane. The park is equipped with indoor and outdoor exhibit areas and offers visitors a chance to view these giant balls of fur at close quarters.
Head to the Macau Science Center
The Macau Science center aims to make science fun for kids and hosts various galleries like the Science Express Gallery, the Fun Science Gallery and the Children Science Gallery that offer various hands-on exhibits to help young children understand the mysteries of science.
The Macau Grand Prix Museum
The Macau Grand Prix Museum was opened in 1993 to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Macau Grand Prix, which is usually hosted in the territory in November each year. The museum hosts exhibits of race cars and uniforms and other memorabilia associated with previous winners of the Macau Grand Prix, legendary formula one drivers like Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher.
Have a meal at the legendary Fernando’s restaurant in Macau
Fernando’s is famous Portuguese restaurant in Macau that is housed in a charming pousada located on a beach on Coloane Island. The restaurant offers traditional Portuguese fare and its menu offerings include dishes like Feijoada, Portuguese chorizo, seafood, chargrilled chicken, pork ribs and more. The vibe at this restaurant is extremely laidback and casual, reminiscent of an earlier age when life was simple.
Useful Contacts to have on hand when visiting Macau
Macau Government Tourist Office
Address: Alameda Dr. Carlos d’Assumpção, nºs 335-341,
Edifício “Hot Line”, 12º andar, Macau
http://www.macautourism.gov.mo
E-mail: mgto@macautourism.gov.mo
Tel: (853) 2831 5566
Fax: (853) 2851 0104
Tourism Hotline: (853) 2833 3000
Macau emergency numbers: 999 for Police, Fire and Ambulance Services
Foreign Consulates in Hong Kong that cover Macau as well
United States Consulate-General, Hong Kong: +852 2523 9011.
British Consulate-General, Hong Kong: +852 2901 3000.
Canadian Consulate-General, Hong Kong: +852 2810 4700.
Australian Consulate-General, Hong Kong: +852 2827 8881.
South African Consulate-General, Hong Kong: +852 2577 3279.
Honorary Irish Consulate, Hong Kong: +852 2527 4897.
New Zealand Consulate-General, Hong Kong: +852 2525 5044.
