Catchy title right!
No seriously, there's more to the "Las Vegas of Asia" than its casinos, malls and not to mention, its massive gaming industry.
Before that, how about a round of "Did you know"?
1. It was a Portuguese colony up until 1999, when it was transferred to the People's Republic of China.
2. It ranks 9th in terms of tourism revenue.
3. Its gaming industry is 7 times larger than that of Las Vegas.
4. It is one of the most densely populated regions, with a population of ~600K in an area of just 33 sq kilometers.
5. Fun with flags anyone?
Here's a list of 10 places one must visit, when in Macao:
1. Bungee at Macau Tower - An obvious one to start with. I mean, who wouldn't love to free fall 233 meters right!
2. Ruins of St. Paul's - A 17th century Portuguese church, that was originally a college as well. It happens to be a UNESCO World Heritage Site, so it helps cross it off your list.
3. Senado Square - It's a hub for festival celebrations and cultural performances. Due to the enormous influx of tourists, traffic has been cordoned off to make this a pedestrian zone.
4. Hac Sa Beach - The literal meaning of the name is "black sand". Ironically, in order to maintain the beach from disappearing due to erosion, the Macau government has refilled it with yellow sand.
5. Science Center - Includes a planetarium and exhibitions that involve human interaction.
6. Grand Prix Museum - This one's self-explanatory. If you love automobiles, you gotta go here.
7. Guia Lighthouse - There's a fort and a chapel here, constructed in the 16th century. It isn't tall like most lighthouses but does offer a good view.
8. Red Market - Derives its name from the red bricks used to build it. The building is symmetrical, with a clock tower in the center and a watchtower in each corner.
9. Nam Van Lake - A visit to this man-made lake can include water sports, kayaking, rowing and dragon boat racing.
10. Kun Iam Statue - The ~20m tall statue is situated in a lovely location with peaceful surroundings.
Thanks for reading!
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If you're still here, lucky you, here's 10 more:
11. Trekking - There's literally plenty of hiking trails in Macao, away from the blitz and glamour of casinos.
12. Pink dolphin watching - Take a cruise to Qingzhou Shuidao Island and watch pink Indo-Pacific Humpback dolphins.
13. Ride the Figure of eight Ferris wheel - It is located at the Studio City resort. The number eight is said to be auspicious in the Chinese culture.
14. Visit Taipa Village - There's a rustic charm to this village due to its Portuguese-styled buildings.
15. Experience the bridges in Macau from afar - While this one seems strange to be on this list, the lighting on it can take your breath away.
16. Go karting - If you're an adventure junky, a visit to the Macao Motorsports Club is mandatory.
17. Garden walking - The Triangular Da Areia Preta Garden is bustling with activity and there's plenty of shopping and eateries here. Take a gentle walk and enjoy conversation with a few locals.
18. A-Ma Temple - It is of traditional Chinese architecture, named after the appearance of a lost girl named Matzo.
Let's end this list with the two best casinos in Macao, since it is after all, famous for them.
19. Venetian Casino Resort - It is the biggest casino resort in the world, consisting of 3000 rooms, shopping malls and importantly, mock canals similar to those in Venice, Italy.
20. City of Dreams - If you're in for great food, it consists of Michelin-starred restaurants and one of the biggest gaming floors in the city.
Happy visit!
