Macau

 

An Overview of Macau

When you book for a one week tour of a city, it is almost impossible to squeeze into the sightseeing time that you have all the activities that the locals have enjoyed doing over the years. As such, you cannot really discover everything that a country has to offer during your short stay. However, in a city like Macau, you will clearly see the delineation between its two faces.

On the one hand, Macau is a city which is chockfull of historical Mediterranean style buildings as a result of its former colonial master Portugal. On the other hand, the mega-casinos and hotels which are scattered within the length and breadth of Macau have earned it a reputation of being the Las Vegas of the East. So which is which? Out of these two facades, which one represents the real Macau?

The Mediterranean Aspect of Visiting Macau

First, let’s take a look at the Mediterranean aspect of living in Macau. Basically, this city is a Special Administration Region of China which is made up of the Macau Peninsula, Coloane islands and Taipa. China resumed sovereignty of Macau from the Portuguese Government on December 20, 1999.

Despite being a relatively young Chinese city, you will actually feel as if you are not in Asia but in a lovely European city when you step foot on Macau. The structures are a reflection of the 400-year-old Portuguese influence, along with a mixture of three centuries of Chinese history. There are plenty of historic buildings in Macau which range from old fortresses to Baroque churches.

A large portion of the Macau Peninsula is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and dozens f buildings and sites have a cultural significance. If you’re a history buff, you would have blast visiting the Museum of Taipa and Coloane History, as well as the Taipa Houses Museum.

Some of the activities that you can indulge in as a tourist if you’re not witnessing the Mediterranean influence in Macau include greyhound racing, go karting, swimming, hiking, cycling, bowling, or simply strolling through the city, shopping or sampling the local goods.

How about the Las Vegas Influence?

Since it earned its reputation of being a haven for gamblers looking for Las Vegas-style casinos in Asia, even the people from mainland China flock to Macau to try their luck at the tables. Some of the most popular casinos in Macau include the Casino Lisboa; Cotai Strip is being turned into the “Las Vegas Strip of the East”; and the Venetian Macao, the largest casino in the world, is also situated in Macao.

The Verdict: Is Macau a Place that’s Worth a Visit?

If it’s your first time to visit Macau, it will definitely be a shock to the sense to discover just what makes this two-faced city tick. If you’re a traditional traveller who would like to learn about a place’s history, you can definitely see that from the Mediterranean-influenced buildings, fortresses and other similar sites. On the other hand, if your goal is to have fun and feel like you’re in a quaint European city but with Las Vegas-style casinos, then travelling to Macau is definitely for you.

All in all, Macau is a place that’s worth visiting because it offers something for everybody – no matter what kind of a tourist you are.


 

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