Macao Historical Town
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Where East meets West
A brief introduction Historical Center of Macau or Macau Historic Old Town Area is the old town historic district which composes of the 22 building in the Macau Peninsula and the eight adjacent former lands. In the 29th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee meeting on July 15, 2005, the Historic Centre of Macao unanimously adopted by the 21 member states and then formally included in the World Heritage List, which as the 31th world heritage of China. Historical value Historic Centre of Macao saves the history essence for four hundred years cultural exchange between Chinese and Western of Macau. It is an important witness of the disseminate history of the Western religious culture in China and the Far East. It is the oldest, the largest, the most complete saved and the largest concentration of buildings which coexisting styles of Eastern and Western in China. It includes the oldest Church and Monasteries’ Ruins, the oldest Christian Cemeteries, the oldest Western-style Battery Path Buildings, the First Western-style Theater, the First Modern Lighthouse, and the first Western Universities. As the European countries’ first territory in East Asia, the city witnessed Macao four hundred years’ history of Chinese culture and Western culture’ exchange, pluralistic coexistence. Most of the buildings in the city have the characteristics of both Chinese and Western for the communion of Chinese and Western cultures. Attractions in the Historic Center of Macau ●Ma Temple ●The Port Authority Building (also commonly known as "Navy Factory") ●Zhengjia House（The former residence of the famous thinker Zheng guanying) ●St. Lawrence's Church ●St. Joseph's Seminary Building and Church ●Dom Pedro V Theatre ●Ho Tung Library ●St. Augustine Church ●IACM Building (Macau City Hall) ●Third Street Hall ●Holy House of Mercy ●Metropolitan Cathedral ●Lou Kau Mansion (Kam Yuk Tong) ●Rosary Church ●Ruins of St. Paul（famous as the Oriental Vatican） ●Nazha Temple ●Old City Walls ●Mount Fortress ●St. Anthony's Church ●Site of oriental the Foundation ●Christian Cemetery ●Guia Fortress ●Jesus Square ●The Front Land of Yapojing ●Senado Square ●the Front Land of Baigechao Travel Guide Ma Temple--- The Port Authority Building --- Zhengjia House—the Front Land of Yapojing-- St. Lawrence's Church--St. Joseph's Seminary and Church-- St. Augustine Church, Dom Pedro V Theatre and Ho Tung Library-- IACM Building-- Senado Square-- Third Street Hall-- Holy House of Mercy--Macau Metropolitan Cathedral-- Lou Kau Mansion-- Rosary Church-- Ruins of St. Paul-- Mount Fortress--The Museum of Macao-- Old City Walls-- Nazha Temple—the Front Land of Baigechao-- Christian Cemetery-- Guia Fort and Lighthouse--Our Lady of Guia Templar(on the peak of Guia Hill, the highest mountains in the Macau Peninsula) In 400 years of its history, the Chinese people work together with the Portuguese in the Historic Center of Macau to create different living community. The communities’ atmosphere of warmth, honest and inclusive, which fermentation toWanna have a taste of European culture? Then Macau is a place for you. Don't worry about your slim wallet. As the unique meeting point of East and West, the enclave offers relaxation, recreation and relief for the weary soul. Though the city is spread over a small area of 28.2 square kilometres, it preserves many of its medieval architecture. The initiated across the world knew about them even before, but the uninitiated came to realize their importance on July 15, 2005, after the city's "Historic Centre of Macau" was inscribed on the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization's World Heritage List. The Historic Centre of Macau includes streetscapes, piazzas and more than 20 monuments that date back to the early 1550s when the Portuguese first set foot in Macau, a rarity in the region. For example, St. Paul's Church, the ruins of which are today a Historic Centre of Macau site and the symbolic scenic spot in Macau, was built in 1602 and destroyed in a fire in 1835. Perceived as the "Acropolis" of Macau, it stands witness to what was the first Western-style university in the Far East. A-Ma Temple, another Historic Centre of Macau site, existed even before the city of Macau came into being. A place to enshrine A-Ma, a sea goddess worshipped by Southeast Chinese, the temple represents a mixture of Chinese cultures, inspired by Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism and a motley of local beliefs. Other sites such as the Guia Fortress, Section of the Old City Walls and Mandarin's House also speak of the city's history. Apart from sightseeing, Macau also offers good places for entertainment. Punters from across the world try their luck in the casinos of Macau, the only place in China where gambling is legal. But Macau is not only gaming. It offers much more. The city is now stepping up efforts to become an international leisure and MICE( meetings, incentives, conferences, exhibitions) destination. Last year, Macau successfully hosted the Fourth East Asian Games, and demonstrated its ability to
Historic Centre of Macau
Macau is a port city with an unique history and modern mix of cultures. Once a Portuguese colony, Macau was under Portuguese administration from the mid-sixteenth century until 1999, when it fell under Chinese rule. Macau had been inhabited by Chinese fishermen and seafaring merchants, who established fishing villages. Portuguese traders arrived and settled in the port as part of its trade route, making Macau a prosperous port town. A population influx in 1949 brought many Chinese refugees, and Macau then became a Chinese territory administered by Portugal. Today, the city of Macau is considered a Special Administrative Region of China, and displays a fusion of cultures coexisting and connecting. The port of Macau is an important and long-lasting point of international trade – the trade of goods as well as culture. The Macau Historic Centre exhibits the merging of East and West, with architecture, technology, and culture influenced by both the Portuguese and Chinese inhabitants. Its streets are European, yet Asian, a development of something entirely unique to Macau. Two zones in the Historic Centre, with about 25 historical buildings with architecture influenced by both Portuguese and Chinese styles were designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005. Visitors to the Historic Centre of Macau can take the Macau Heritage Walk circuit to view examples of some of the earliest Western architecture in Asia, including styles from the Renaissance, Baroque, and neoclassical periods. Though these are in Western style, they incorporate characteristics from Chinese culture, including Chinese murals. Temples and homes in the Chinese style are also found in the historical city center. The Guia Fortress, which includes a fort, a chapel, and a cemetery, was built around 1622 to 1638. The lighthouse on site is the oldest lighthouse in South China. Other notable historical sites include several churches, including the ruins of Saint Paul’s church, though the façade is all that remains. The A-Ma Temple, situated in Barra Square, is a Taoist temple that may have contributed to the name of the city Macau. Dom Pedro V Theater was the first Western theater in China, constructed in the neoclassical style. The Moorish Barracks are also neoclassical design, featuring verandas and granite work. Macau Historic Centre includes several town squares, a library, many churches, and historical homes.
Bask in Macau's heritage and win a prize too
Travellers who are drawn by the historic, laid-back charm of a place are finding a new reason to visit Macau the Macau Heritage Passport. Organized by the Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) and sponsored by the Macau Foundation, the campaign comprises instant lucky draws, six monthly lucky draws and a year-end Mega Lucky Draw, offering total prizes worth 8 million patacas (US$998,000). Nine winners, eight for Special Prizes and one for the Grand Prize, will be drawn at each of the 6 monthly lucky draws. A Mega Lucky Draw will be held after the six monthly ones. All tourists can participate in the lucky draw. They just have to collect four stamps on their Macau Heritage Passport that can be obtained at MGTO Information Counters and participating hotels in Macau. One stamp can be got from the participating hotel where the tourist is staying, the second from any of the participating shops or stores with a single purchase of 300 patacas (US$37.5) or more. The other two can be picked up from MGTO's Information Counters at the Macau Business Tourism Centre, Macau Tourism and Cultural Activities Centre and Guia Lighthouse. The "Macau Heritage Passport" is aimed at enhancing visitors' knowledge about "The Historic Centre of Macau" and making them lengthen their stay and increasing their spending in the enclave, says MGTO Director Joao Manual Costa Antunes. The campaign has obviously achieved its goal, with enthusiastic reaction both from tourists and the participating business houses. In full swing Within a month-and-a-half of the campaign, about 6,400 "heritage passports" have been handed out, and the number is expected to keep rising as awareness increases and the summer holiday season begins. More than 480 instant lucky draws have been held till now, gifting key chains, magnets, coasters, postcards and paper fans designed with Macau's heritage images. And 698 entries have been received for the first monthly lucky draw. Participating business houses say many visitors have been shopping with their "heritage passport" in hand and spending more than they planned in order to get the stamps. This has led to a rise in their turnovers. A number of participating hotels said that many visitors from Hong Kong had learned about the campaign from TV commercials and MGTO's advertising campaigns, and were trying to get the stamps. Hotel employees have observed that Hongkongers often solicit the "passport" without being prompted. Well, the enthusiasm of Hongkongers has borne fruit, for they bagged all the eight Special Prizes and the Grand Prize at the first monthly lucky draw on August 1. Macau World Heritage Year The "Macau Heritage Passport" is a core component of the "2006 Macau World Heritage Year", a series of promotions and activities by MGTO to reinforce the enclave's tourism brand, "The Historic Centre of Macau". The 2006 Macau World Heritage Year covers six aspects: global image projection, overseas promotion, consumer promotion, media campaign, heritage tours and cultural performances to be introduced in the global market, especially the Chinese Mainland, Hong Kong, Taiwan Province, and Japan, South Korea, Europe, North America and Australia, says MGTO's Head of Promotion and Marketing Department Cecilia Tse. Apart from promoting the campaign through channels such as MGTO's website and information counters, and ports of entry, the tourist office will also distribute promotional materials of Macau World Heritage Year among travellers to arouse their interest, she says. Macau Heritage Passport is one of the two campaigns on the consumer front. The other, in partnership with VISA International, is the "Macau Treasure Hunt II", which offers discounts and lucky draws to boost visitor spending. The 29th Session of the World Heritage Committee held in Durban, South Africa, in July 2005 decided to inscribe China's bid, "The Historic Centre of Macau", on UNESCO's prestigious World Heritage List, raising the number of World Heritage Sites in China to 31. This international recognition has further raised community and visitor awareness, fostering greater appreciation of the heritage of Macau. The city has attracted an increasing number of tourists from across the world. According to latest official data, more than 12.2 million tourists visited the city from January to July, up 15.4 per cent year-on-year. Mainland visitors surged nearly 15 per cent to 6.78 million, accounting for 55.4 per cent of the total.
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1 With the support of the Central Government in the process of application, the Historical Centre of Macao was in July 2005, The 29th Session of the World Heritage Committee has agreed to inscribe ¡°The Historic Centre of Macao¡±, on UNESCO¡¯s prestigious World Heritage List.
2 A-Ma Temple, another Historic Centre of Macau site, existed even before the city of Macau came into being.
3 The Historic Centre of Macau includes streetscapes, piazzas and more than 20 monuments that date back to the early 1550s when the Portuguese first set foot in Macau, a rarity in the region.