Macau is considered a specific administrative region of China, which was created on December 20, 1999, after the abolition of the colony of Macau, belonging to Portugal, and was given to the administration of China for half a century. Subsequently, it became one of the two special administrative regions of China. The fact that Macao is a special administrative region under China means that China has the right to deal with defense and diplomatic affairs, while the Macao government can coordinate police and customs issues, legislate and determine the rules of entry into the country. As a former Portuguese colony, Macau is a country that can safely be called a festival country, a resort country, a museum country, a gastronomic paradise for gourmets and a mecca for shopping lovers. Here, cultures mix in an extraordinary way. Macau is a specific administrative Chinese region, where the names of streets, bus stop announcements are available in both Chinese and Portuguese. On the other hand, for some, Macau can also become a breath of Europe: you can read almost all the inscriptions, shops sell delicious cheese and unsweetened sausage, Instagram works, and in cafes they attach a fork to orders, and although the official languages here are Portuguese and Chinese, and it is the Cantonese dialect that is used, most of the residents can also keep up a conversation in English.
Where is Macau?
Macau on the mapis located on the coast of the South China Sea, namely Macau on the map is located in the Pearl River estuary region. Macau on the map is located at a distance of 60 kilometers from the southwest of Hong Kong. The total area of the country includes the Macau Peninsula, the islands of Taipa and Coloan, including the Cotai region. The Macao Peninsula and the rest of the territory are connected by bridges. It is convenient to walk all over the territory, but the way between the selected parts is better to overcome with the help of transport. More than 650 thousand people live in the entire territory, more than half of which are considered Buddhists. Macau is one of those Instagrammable places where you can legally play in the Macau casino, get the opportunity to jump from the highest point and see the pandas. The Macau Peninsula, where is Macau located, has its own currency, "pataka", which is approximately equal to 0.1 euros. In addition, the Hong Kong dollar is also considered official in the country. The Macau population is quite religious. Here very often there are "vases" with fragrant sticks. And only about 7 percent of citizens chose Christianity. Macau is not a cheap country. The cheapest rooms here are rooms for 40-50 euros per day. The reason for the high cost was the fact that the country ranks first in the world in terms of Macau population density, namely, 21 thousand people per square kilometer. However, this is not very strongly felt: during the day, the streets of the country are not so full compared to China itself. The Macau Peninsula, where is Macau located, is quite compact and with a strong desire, you can walk along it and see all the sights of Macau in just a couple of days. We present to your attention 12 Instagrammable places in Macau. However, all of these places are also attractions that you can see when searching for "what to see in Macau" and "Macau attractions".
1. Grand Lisboa
In the country, casinos are not just places with slot machines and card tables, but majestic centers that contain a hotel zone, Macau shopping centers, luxury restaurants and other facilities that are aimed at vacationing rich customers. The income of this business is the main part of the income of Macau and there, to some extent, more than half of the population is involved. In terms of the amount of income from the industry, the gambling country surpasses Las Vegas. So, to come to Instagrammable Macau and not visit the casino means that you have visited Moscow and not visited Red Square. Although it is forbidden to take most liked Instagram photos and videos indoors, you can easily take photos against the background of the unique Macau casino buildings. The most liked Instagram photos will turn out just great. And given that there are 41 such casinos in Macau, you will definitely collect plenty of photos. One of these wonderful buildings is the Grand Lisboa Casino, the project cost of which was 386 million dollars. This casino is the tallest building in Macau at 258 meters, which was built in the form of a lotus flower and opened in the seventies of the XX century. The building has 47 floors and consists of 650 hotel rooms, a podium with casinos, boutiques, restaurants, bars, etc.
2. Wynn
One of the other notable gambling and hotel centers, which is located in the country and belongs to the famous American company Wynn Resorts. According to Forbes Travel Guide, it is a five-star resort. The building includes two components. One of them is a structure with twenty-two floors and a total height of one hundred meters Wynn Macau Resort & Casino. The project cost $ 1.2 billion and contains a casino, hotel rooms, several chic restaurants, wonderful bars, shops, swimming pools, spas and a conference hall. The other part is the Encore at Wynn Macau, which is two hundred and six meters high and includes a casino, luxury hotel rooms, luxury restaurants and bars, shops and a spa. The part with the shopping area includes boutiques of expensive world brands. It also exhibits expensive antiques, namely Chinese porcelain vases of the XVIII century and Chinese tapestries. In addition, Wynn organizes bright and unique shows that will definitely not leave you indifferent.
3. Venetian Macao
Veness is one of the bes places to visit in Macau. Casino of impressive size on a global scale, the territory of which is 3.5 hectares, with several thousand hotel rooms, a large number of gaming tables and slot machines. In fact, this casino is simply a version of exactly the same casino in Las Vegas, only bigger. So if you take a picture against the background of the Chinese counterpart, you yourself will not distinguish it from the American one. The building looks especially elegant in the evening: everything is very beautifully illuminated. You should also see The Parisian Casino, which is located next to The Venetian and is decorated in the French spirit. At the door is a replica of the Eiffel Tower, which is brightly illuminated in the evening. Also, be sure to visit the Galaxy Casino, which is a huge gold-colored structure with amazing lighting in the evening and a fountain show in the lobby.
4. Ruins of St. Paul's
The influence of Portuguese rule did not go unnoticed in Macau. And this is especially noticeable in the local architecture. Walking through the central streets, you will definitely forget exactly where you are-in Europe or Macau. The largest number of visitors can be found near the Ruins of St. Paul, which are a historical monument and include the facade of the church of the XVII century, which is protected by UNESCO. On the steps that lead to the attraction, you will meet a record number of those who are trying to take Instagram picture.
5. The historical center of Macau
The place where the aforementioned Ruins of St. Paul are located is called the Historical Center of Macau, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The ruins are a kind of visiting card of this Historical Center. It mixes several styles: European, Chinese and, of course, Oriental. There is also a Museum of Religious Art, which is interesting for travelers.
6. Main Square
Another attraction included in the UNESCO list is the Main One, namely the Senate Square. On the way, you can also visit the Church of St. Dominic, where the entrance to the Instagrammable museum is completely free. The square is decorated with stone mosaics that have taken the form of waves. In all parts of the square there are unique models of the architectural art of Europe, namely the Bureau of Civil and Municipal Affairs, the Holy House of Mercy and the Church of St. Dominic.
7. A-Ma Temple
Next to the Senate Square, there is another interesting object with a rich historical past, which is dedicated to the Taoist Goddess of the sea, Mazzu (A-Ma). The name of Macau has been derived from this Temple. The main part of the building was built at the end of the XV century, and it still functions today. Visitors can pray here, leave offerings, and light incense sticks, spirals, and candles. The largest candle is decorated in the form of a lotus and will cost you 151 euros. At the same time, there is an interesting fragment of the ancient city wall.
8. The Cemetery of St. Michael the Archangel
The Cemetery of St. Michael the Archangel is one of the best places to visit in Macau. Near the fortress of Gia and the Ruins of St. Paul, there is a green square representing the cemetery of St. Michael the Archangel, which is the largest Catholic cemetery in the country. This place with tombstones in Portuguese and Instagrammable sculptures will reveal the historical past of the country. The chapel, which rises in the middle of the cemetery, still receives visitors today.
9. Guia Hill
Nearby the aforementioned cemetery is located Gia Hill, which is the highest natural peak of the Macau Peninsula, where Macau is located. On the Hill in the XVII century, a fortress was built in the spirit of Portugal, in the XIX century, the first modern lighthouse in the Far East was erected there. From here you can see a magnificent panorama of the entire city.
10. Macau Tower
From the above-mentioned magnificent Gia Hill, which is included in the lists of "Macau attractions" and "What to see in Macau", in all its glory, you can also see the wonderful Macau Tower with a height of 338 meters. It is both a TV and radio tower. The unique Macau Tower has taken a place in the Guinness Book of World Records because it is the highest point in the world at 233 meters, from which anyone can bungee jump.
11. Fisherman's Wharf
In Macau, there are parts copied from other cities. For example, there are Instagrammable places that will immediately remind you of Venice and Paris. A piece of Rome was also borrowed, which is noticeable in the appearance of the entertainment center Fisherman's Wharf, which occupies one of the main items in the lists of "Macau attractions" and "What to see in Macau", and located in the middle of the buildings in the old decoration, they built their own small Colosseum. This is one of the most popular attractions for walking and, accordingly, for photo shoots. The subtle mix of European and Asian cultures in Macau is felt everywhere. This is one of the reasons why tourists go here.
12. Kuan-Tai and Na-Tcha Temple
Two temples that are made in the traditional Chinese style. Kuan-Tai is the patron saint of commerce, and Na-Cha also characterizes the eponymous deity. In addition to the temples, the most Instagrammable are the Mountain Fort of Macau and Fort Gui, from the towers of which you can enjoy an amazing panorama of the surrounding areas. Did you know that the name Macau is associated with a tongue twister – once there was a case in distant Macau. The patter – once there was a case in distant Macau sounds like this — once there was a case in distant Macau: koala macaque in cocoa makala. Koala cocoa lazily lapped, dipped the monkey, Koala hiccupped.
