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 Saturday, 22 November 2008 |
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Macau - Best of Both Worlds |
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Written by Macau Tourism
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Monday, 15 May 2006 |
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MACAU HAS THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDSCHANGE has been swift for
Macau, yet the Asian centre's status as a UNESCO World Heritage site
ensures the former Portuguese enclave doesn't lose touch with its
treasured - and colourful - colonial and Chinese past.
From its
early beginnings as a fishing village, Macau has grown to become a
thriving 21st century Asian centre that links a colourful past as a
trading port with an even brighter future as a commercial,
entertainment and holidaying hub.
Handed back to the People's Republic of China in 1999, but continuing to operate as a separate special administrative region and has its own currency - pataca - with Portuguese and Chinese continuing to be the two official languages.
The main bustling corner of the city of more than 465,000 residents stretches along a peninsula that has an area no larger than 8.7 square kilometres. However, three bridges, the longest spanning 4.5kms, have ensured the city grows, linking the peninsula with two islands_ Taipa and Coloane - thus expanding the territory's area to 28.2 square kilometres.
Macau's landscape is rapidly expanding . . . a transformation that includes the building of ritzy new hotels, casinos, theme parks, shops and restaurants.
They join a modern international airport which is planned to double its capacity to cater for 12 million passengers a year, and an impressive 338-metre high Macau Tower which hosts daredevil A J Hackett-style sky jumps as well as skywalks around an outside perimeter 233 metres above the ground. The tower is very much a city icon on the peninsula's water's edge.
As part of Macau's recent investment boom, a mammoth $260 million Fisherman's Wharf has also opened this year, an expansive theme park-style attraction that boasts a well-equipped marina, large contemporary convention and exhibition centre, shopping malls, restaurants, bars, a giant Water World, a 72-room Victorian-style The Rocks Hotel and a spectacular man-made volcano for the young and young-at-heart to explore.
Plans are also in the advance stages to open an exciting 34-storey, 500-room StarWorld Hotel in Macau by mid this year. Located about 1.5km from the Ferry Pier, on Macau's main thoroughfare Avenida de Amizada, the lavish hotel with its 500 guestrooms provides the city skyline with a new look.
Four Seasons Hotel and Resorts will manage another new luxury hotel of 400 rooms and 600 serviced suites, under construction along the city's Cotai Strip, a manmade isthmus that links Macau's two islands, Taipa and Coloane. Las Vegas Sands Corp is behind the hotel's construction and will operate The Venetian Macau casino on the site.
The Grand Canal Shoppes in the Venetian Macau is expected to feature one million square feet of retail mall space and similar to the Venetian in Las Vegas, will combine the beauty of Venetian landmarks, arched bridges, and serenading gondoliers with a renowned mix of exclusive shops, scheduled to open in early 2007. At completion, the luxury resort will feature 3,000 suites, one million square feet of meeting and exhibition space, a 2,000 seat showroom, and a 15,000 seat arena.
Also The world largest travel retailer DFS Group have reached an agreement that will see DFS lease significant retail space in the mall at Four Seasons Hotel which will feature individual stores by the prestigious brands including Fendi, Gucci, Hermes, Dior, Prada, Burberry Ferragamo, Cartier, Ermenegildo Zegna, Dunhill, Celine, Omega, Tag and many more.
Hilton Hotels and Starwood Hotels & Resorts set to join with Las Vegas Sands as two of the latest addition to Cotai Strip as an addition of plans for a 1200 room Hilton Hotel and a 300 room Conrad Hotel, as well as 1200 room Sheraton Hotel and 300 room St Regis Hotel.
600 rooms MGM Grand Macau construction is underway and project is due to open in th second half of 2007 which include a premier entertainment venue and an iconic hotel atrium. The desgined atrium will be a spectacular feature that will be three times the size of the Bellagio's world famous conservatory.
Sydney-Leisure and entertainment firm Melco International Development Ltd. and Kerry Packer's Publishing & Broadcasting Ltd. has team up to build the Crown Macau on the Taipa Island included 227 rooms and the casino schedule to open late this year. The joint venture will also build an "Underwater Casino Hall" showcasing tropical marine life on the Cotai Strip. The resort expected to open in mid 2008.
A multi-million dollar investment into building world standard sporting facilities paved the way for a successful hosting of the Asian Games late last year, and the city continues to arouse motor racing interest by running its annual Macau Grand Prix.
To add more fuel to an expanding tourism market, Macau has a new airline, Macau Asia Express, which initially fly to new destinations in China.
Despite the many changes and the prospect of attracting an increased number of international visitors, Macau has retained classic examples of its colourful past, sprucing up its surviving historic buildings to be protected as UNESCO World Heritage.
With such impressive architecture throughout Macau, the city has been listed as a treasured UNESCO World Heritage site member, which is appropriate considering it is celebrating 2006 Macau Heritage Year.
 Macau is a city on the move - without losing touch with its historic past. Of particular interest for holidaymakers are the charming cobbled stoned streets, squares, churches and temples that have been World Heritage listed.
They include:
* The Ruins of St Paul's, a city icon, is fascinating for its stone façade that depicts
Christianity in Asia. Designed by an Italian Jesuit, the church was built in the 17th
century and was considered the great church east of Rome. It was built with the help
of Japanese Christians who had fled persecution in their homeland and stands
prominently at the top of a grand staircase,
* Senate Square and its famous wave-patterned stone mosaic tiles;
* The Leal Senate Building, considered one of the finest examples of neo-classical
Portuguese architecture;
* Monte Fort and Museum of Macau, also built by Jesuits about the same time as St
Paul's. It was only half completed when, in 1622, a Dutch fleet attacked the city.
However, a cannon ball fired from the fort blew up the enemy gunpowder supplied and the city was saved;
* Guia Fortress, Chapel and Lighthouse, on the highest point of the city, also built in the 17th century;
* The 1889-built Lou Kau Mansion, home of a prominent Chinese merchant who owned several imposing properties in Macau;
* Old Protestant Cemetery beside the Casa Garden and Camoes Grotto;
* Temple of A-Ma, the most famous and pictuiresque temple in Macau with prayer
pavilions on four levels, rising from the Inner Harbour waterfront;
* The Sao Domingos Church which was renovated in 1997;
* The Church of St Joseph's Seminary, built by the Jesuits in the18th century;
* Sao Lourenco Church with its whitewashed towers, painted ceiling and altar
constructed of stone in the early 1800s;
* The Cathedral, consecrated of stone in 1850 but had to be rebuilt 24 years later after being badly damaged by a typhoon.
As a street venue for motor racing, Macau Grand Prix (Formula 3) is world renowned, and in 1993, during the race's 40th anniversary, a museum was opened to commemorate.
The museum and its memorabilia takes up a corner of the Tourism Activities Centre along with a more recently opened Wine Museum with its cellar of 700 different Portuguese wines.
Macau is also a great place for dining as there's an array of restaurants and tantalising recipes worth sampling, Portuguese, Macanese, Chinese, European, Japanese and Thai are among the many styles of cuisine.
In 2005, more than 18 million tourist arrivals were recorded in Macau. Australian arrivals in Macau has increased significantly from 42,059 in 2004 to 61,646 in 2005 representing 46.6% growth.
QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE
Getting There
- -A TurboJet or catamaran from Hong Kong takes only 1 hour. Depart from Shun Tak Centre, Hong Kong Island or the China Ferry Terminal, Kowloon.
- - Turbojet Seaexpress jetfoil service direct from Hong Kong's Chek Lap Kok airport to Macau. Travelling time is 45mins and customs, immigration etc is completed in Macau. For more information visit www.turbojetseaexpress.com.hk
Tourists can also fly into the Macau International Airport (MFM) via other Asian countries
Note: there are no direct services from Australia.
Visas: Australian passport holders do NOT require a visa for stays up to 30 days.
Currency: The official unit of currency is the ‘pataca' (MOP), made up of 100 ‘avos'.
It is pegged to the Hong Kong Dollar at MOP$103.20 = HK$100.00.
Climate: Macau's climate is moderate to hot, with an temperatures ranging from 16-25C (Celsius) and humidity between 75%-90%.
Seasons:
Sep - Nov: Best time - the days are warm and sunny and humidity is low
Dec - Mar : Winter is cold but sunny
Apr - Aug : The summer climate is hot and humid, with occasional typhoons
 List of Wholesalers;
Helen Wong's Tours
2 nights at Mandarin Oriental Hotel from $190 per person share twin, includes return shuttle bus transfers to/from hotel.
Reservation: 1300 328 700
Explore Holidays;
4 nights from $1159 per person share twin plus taxes, includes return international air (ex. Sydney) & jetfoil tickets, 1 night in Macau with breakfast and 3 nights in Hong Kong.
Creative Holidays;
4 nights from $425 per person share twin land only, includes 2 nights at Mandarin Oriental Macau and 2 nights at Standford Hillview Hong Kong, jetfoil transfers and return transfers in Hong Kong.
For information kit and details:
Macau Government Tourist Office, phone (02) 9264 1488,
www.macautourism.gov.mo
"2006 Macau World Heritage Year"
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Last Updated ( Monday, 15 May 2006 )
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