Chapter 17
Next Door: Guangzhou, Macau & Shenzhen The close proximity of Guangzhou, Macau and Shenzhen to Hong Kong makes them ideal for visiting on the weekend or during the city’s many public holidays. These neighboring cities offer easy access to a change of scenery for those who live and work in Hong Kong.
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17 Macau For newcomers and veterans alike, the fastpaced lifestyle of Hong Kong can get a bit overwhelming. In times like these, the best remedy is an overnight bag, a few friends and a ticket to one of Hong Kong’s neighbors for a short leisure trip. Macau is just a short ferry trip away from Hong Kong with several operators offering regular sailings seven days a week. Ferries depart from the purpose-built ferry terminal located inside the Shun Tak Center in the Sheung Wan district of Hong Kong and also the China Ferry Terminal in Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon. http://crossboundaryferryservices.mardep. gov.hk
e-Channel The Automated Passenger Clearance System, commonly known as e-Channel, is installed at all immigration controls for people entering and departing Hong Kong. As long as you have a smart Hong Kong identity card, are aged 11 or above and are an eligible resident of Hong Kong, you can use the e-Channel document readers at the border for selfservice immigration clearance. The quick, two-step process requires that you first insert your identity card and next press your thumb or finger against the e-Channel scanner to get clearance. The Macau Public Security Police Force and Immigration Department have introduced the e-Channel system for Hong Kong and Macau residents. Eligible Hong Kong residents and Macau permanent residents may use the e-Channel in Macau after successful enrollment. In addition to the regular e-Channel process, a pilot scheme for an Express e-Channel program has been set up at the Lo Wu control point to Shenzhen. This is to provide
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faster immigration clearance for those who enroll for Express e-Channel. Details about the e-Channel process and eligibility are available on the Hong Kong Government website. www.immd.gov.hk
Location Macau is situated 60 kilometers (37 miles) southwest of Hong Kong and 145 kilometers (90 miles) from Guangzhou. It has 41 kilometers (25 miles) of coastline, yet only 0.31 kilometers (0.19 miles) of its land borders with Guangdong Province. Macau was once a Portuguese colony and was handed back to China in 1999 after over 400 years as part of the Portuguese empire. Needless to say the city has a very strong resemblance to European cities of old with stunning architecture, much of which is still
Kong visitors often go there on a day trip for a good meal with a bottle of fine Portuguese wine or for a short stay with a hotel package that includes accommodations and tickets to shows.
standing. The city has managed to keep a great deal of its heritage alive, and this is one of the many reasons people living in Hong Kong make the trip to visit and explore the streets. Like Hong Kong, Macau is now a special administrative region (SAR) of the People’s Republic of China. Originally consisting of a peninsula connected to the Mainland and two small islands, Coloane and Taipa, they have recently been connected by landfill. This reclaimed area is called the Cotai Strip and is the location of some of Macau’s largest casinos and hotel resorts. Modeled after Las Vegas, with its headline casinos and entertainment industry, Macau is one of the most popular tourist destinations in China. Mainland tourists account for a majority of its visitors. Its gambling industry is now the main source of income for the city. Hong
There are many reasons to recommend that new residents of Hong Kong experience and explore Macau before seeing other nearby cities. First of all, with a majority population of Chinese descent and a small percentage of Macanese (those of mixed Chinese and Portuguese heritage), what you will notice is that Macau is very similar to Hong Kong in look, feel, taste and smell. With the exception of street signs that are written in both Portuguese and Chinese, the major spoken language is Hong Kong’s native Cantonese. However, you should have no problems getting around in English, as it is often used in trade, commerce, hospitality and tourism. There is also no need to exchange cash for Macau’s Pataca, because Hong Kong dollars and Chinese Yuan (or Renminbi) are accepted in most businesses. Other reasons to visit are Macau’s cultural heritage and festivals, as well as the food. Although extravagant hotels, fine dining and gambling are readily available, it is the exquisite charm of Macau’s cultural history, unique local cuisine, and burgeoning arts scene that will leave you reminiscing about a journey to this lovely place. It is also such a refreshing change from the modern cityscape of Hong Kong to wander around the old parts of Macau.
History and Culture Make sure your itinerary includes a visit to “The Historic Center of Macau” to see its amazing cultural relics, which hark back to the city’s historical settlement and showcase beautifully restored colonial buildings. Here you will find the world famous Senado Square
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17 and its surrounding architectural gems – St Dominic’s Church, the Holy House of Mercy, Leal Senado Building and the Sam Kai Vui Kun Temple – all of which have transformed to become Macau’s urban (and historic) center over the years. The area is now one of the more famous streetscapes. You may also be interested in seeing Barra Square, Lilau Square, St Augustine’s Square, Cathedral Square, St Dominic’s Square, and Company of Jesus Square. At Camoes Square and its surrounding spectacular monuments, including A-Ma Temple, The Monte Fort, Kun Iam Temple, Lin Fung Temple and Ruins of St Paul’s, you will find cultural exchanges of East and West. While you’re touring the historic center, be sure to explore The Museum of Macau (Museum De Macau), from which you will learn its history and how multicultural influences over the past four centuries have made Macau the city it is today. And if that’s not enough, you can get another slice of history at the Macau Maritime Museum. Reputed to be the oldest of its kind in Macau, the museum focuses on the long history of maritime activities between Macau, Portugal and China. Showcasing how Macau came to be what it is today through trade. You may also be interested in Macau’s Museum of Art or the romantic garden of Camoes Grotto, the largest garden in Macau. Macau’s (non-gambling) splendors aren’t limited to old streetscapes, churches and museums though. You may just be in for a treat if you plan ahead and arrive at the right time, when Macau hosts a number of regional, national and international annual events and festivals. In terms of Macau’s own branded events, it is home to festivities of both Chinese and Western cultures, such
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as the A-Ma Festival, an annual festival honoring the Goddess of Seafarers – from whom it is said that Macau derived its name. The “Procession of the Passion of Our Lord, the God Jesus” is another unique religious celebration in Macau, during which an image of Christ is taken in solemn procession from St Augustine’s Church to the Cathedral for an overnight vigil and then returned. Macau’s Arts Festival is a time when the cultural diversity of Macau truly comes out to shine, featuring programs of dance, paintings, exhibitions, Chinese opera, theater and concerts. Similarly, the Macau International Music Festival gathers some of the world’s finest orchestras, singers, choirs and musicians displaying talents in Western, Chinese, classical and modern music. For sports fanatics, Macau is no quiet city. It is home to an array of annual sporting events, including the Macau Grand Prix (possibly the most internationally known event in Macau), as well as the Macau (Golf) Open, the FIVB Grand Prix organized by the International Volleyball Association, the International Dragon Boat Races and the Macau International Marathon (which attracts athletes from Hong Kong, China and around the world to run a course that circles the peninsula and crosses to Taipa and Coloane Islands). www.sport.gov.mo Other noteworthy events include the Macau International Fireworks Display Contest, an awe-inspiring display of fireworks from experts around the world (set off over Nam Van Lake), and it is the largest of its kind.
What to See and Do in Macau With so many things to do and places to see in Macau, a whole new book called “Visiting Macau” could be written. Macau recorded
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17 2.45 million visitors for the month of January 2016 and it pulls in more money than any other city with casinos in the world and easily beats out Las Vegas as the highest grossing casino mecca. Must-see places are as follows: • City of Dreams • Gula Fortress and Lighthouse • Macau Tower • Macau Giant Panda Pavilion • Mandarin’s House • Mount Fortress & Museum of Macao • Museum of Sacred Heart • Ruins of St Paul’s Cathedral • Senado Square • St. Joseph’s Seminary and Church • Studio City • Venetian Macao • Wynn Macau Macau is the only city in China with legal casinos, and many visitors from Mainland China come to visit one or several of the more than 51 gambling facilities, including horse racing tracks, greyhound tracks, poker rooms, and sports-betting parlors. The largest casino is the Venetian Macao located on Cotai. The hotel has 800 table games, 10 poker tables and 3,400 gaming and video poker machines. On top of its gambling facilities, the Venetian offers exclusive concerts of big headline groups such as The Rolling Stones, Justin Bieber, Alicia Keys and Rihanna, and mega sports event such as the Manny Pacquiao & Brandon Rios boxing match in its 15,000 capacity sports arena. The Venetian Macao Convention & Exhibition Center is also host for trade shows and trade events throughout the year. Appropriately called the “Las Vegas of the East” and the “Monte Carlo of the Orient,”
Macau’s glistening world-famous casinos and hotels with their awesome decoration and extravagant interior décor are also bring in amazing entertainment options. City of Dreams Macau features the internationally acclaimed House of Dancing Water, a spectacular production best described as a mix of circus, dance and water show set in a unique state-of the-art theater and Taboo – The Show of Secret Fantasies, a seductive cabaret style show at their nightclub. Both shows are creations of renowned theater director Franco Dragone, who has worked on the development of Cirque du Soleil’s shows and Celine Dion’s show at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.
Hotel Destinations Macau has a concentration of designation hotels, such as Pousada De Sao Tiago, The Venetian, Sands, Lisboa, Wynn and Conrad Macau. These hotels offer top quality
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17 accommodations, food and beverages, casinos, shopping and entertainment. Numerous value package deals mean that Macau can be a perfect escape for a weekend or short holiday for Hong Kong residents. Most of the hotels have been developed as resorts with leisure facilities geared towards on-site recreation. Near the city center, Hotel Lisboa, one of the iconic landmarks in the city, offers a historical glimpse of old Macau, while the newer Grand Lisboa houses several Michelin-rated restaurants that offer French, Chinese and Italian fine dining. A big draw for weekend visitors from Hong Kong, the food and beverage offerings at the Grand Lisboa are spectacular.
The Four Seasons Hotels, which offers five outdoor pools, 11 poolside cabanas and a private spa suite with a vitality pool, is a huge complex that is inspired by Macau’s Portuguese heritage. The Venetian’s offerings include room and entertainment packages for concerts and other events, as well as spa escapes. The Venetian also hosts exhibitions, themed programs and special performances, 3D light and sound spectaculars and red carpet movie premieres such as Dreamworks Kung Fu Panda 3.
Studio City, an impressive movie-themed resort offering 1,600 rooms of luxury accommodation in its Celebrity Tower and Star Tower complexes, is one the latest hotels to open in Macau. Rooms are equipped with top-notch facilities and amenities, with an indoor heated pool The city of Macau has a good reputation for excellent restaurants offering local, Chinese and health club. Studio City also boasts and international cuisines. Many restaurants some unique and exciting entertainment attractions, such as The House of Magic, the are local, rustic, small cozy bistros, while a few based in the mega hotels are staffed by Batman Dark Flight, and Golden Reel. Under Michelin-star chefs. These restaurants serve 14s can let loose in Warner Bros. Fun Zone, a wide variety of foods and menus that cater a 40,000 sq. ft. indoor theme park and play center which features popular characters to the many varied tastes and demands of from Warner Brothers, Hanna-Barbera and the international visitors coming to Macau. DC Comic franchises. For party-goers, Pacha Macau offers a nightclub experience on par Fine dining and fabulous cuisine are a with its sister venue in Ibiza. signature draw at Wynn Macau. Its Wing Lei restaurant dazzle diners with fine Cantonese www.studiocity-macau.com dishes and with its striking crystal flying Entertainment dragon adorning the décor. Wynn Macau’s performance lake, which involves a dance of The House of Dancing Water water and fire, is a show-stopper, along with Billed as “the world’s largest water extravaganza,” The House of Dancing Water its moon jellyfish aquarium. is a Chinese culture-inspired, water-based performance, housed in a 270-degree Some of the more expansive hotel and theater-in-the-round at the City of Dreams entertainment developments are on Cotai, Macau. The story revolves around a an area of reclaimed land between Taipa fisherman traveling in his boat. During his and Coloane Island. journey, he encounters a mysterious energy
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from the water that creates a whirlpool that pulls him to a place and a time of legends. The visually stunning production combines theater, dance, gymnastic artistry and highperformance diving. www.thehouseofdancingwater.com Taboo – The Show of Secret Fantasies As one of two resident shows at City of Dreams Macau, It is a cabaret styled show that is for adults only. The show “explores every man and woman’s deepest desires.” The performances, some acrobatic, others seductive striptease-like, are by an international cast of professional dancers and are meant to arouse “secret fantasies.” www.cityofdreamsmacau.com Dragon’s Treasure A 10-minute multimedia show, tells a magical story about four dragon kings, using thunderous surround sound and special effects in a 360-degree “bubble theater.” The show is available to visitors at thirty-minute intervals daily, and is free with purchases from any City of Dreams restaurant, bar or shop. www.cityofdreamsmacau.com Batman Dark Flight Combining the best and latest in flight simulation technology, audio and visual design, Batman Dark Flight will take you on an action-packed, multi-sensory and interactive journey through Gotham as the Dark Knight battles the city’s notorious villains. www.studiocity-macau.com Golden Reel Suspended at 130 meters above ground, between two Art Deco inspired hotel towers, this spectacular ride holds the record as the Asia’s highest Ferris wheel, as well as the first in the world to have a figure eight shape. Each steampunk-themed car is spacious
enough to hold ten passengers, and offers spectacular panoramic views of Macau. www.studiocity-macau.com House of Magic Hosted and curated by illusionist Franz Harary, The House of Magic is a 90-minute extravaganza featuring incredible, showstopping illusions brought to you by some of the world’s most talented magicians. Apart from Franz Harary himself, the line-up includes Las Vegas duo Kyle and Mistie Knight, and Portuguese legend Luis de Matos. www.studiocity-macau.com Macau Tower Bungy Jump If you’re in the mood for a thrill, the Macau Tower Bungy Jump is sure to get your heart racing. This attraction is the world’s second highest commercial jump. Visitors jump from a 233-meter platform, which catapults the passenger at speeds of 200 km/h. The passenger then experiences a four to five second free fall that stretches the cord almost four times its original length before rebounding from 30 meters above the ground. www.ajhackett.com/macau
Events Calendar Macau has a year-long calendar of festivals and major international events for locals and visitors to enjoy.
Macau Arts Festival The Macau Arts Festival is an annual event featuring works of art from around the world as well as by local artists, typically held during the month of May. www.icm.gov.mo/fam
Dragon Boat Festival The Dragon Boat Festival is held during the Tuen Ng Festival in the middle of June. The races in Macau take place on Nam Van Lake with many foreign and local teams taking part in this annual event. www.sport.gov.mo
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17 Macau International Fireworks Display Contest The Macau International Fireworks Display Contest has brought international teams to compete in its annual fireworks extravaganza. The event takes place in the sea area in front of the Macau Tower. The contest is held over several weekends during September and early October.
Macau International Music Festival The International Music Festival brings internationally renowned artists to Macau to present a range of performances ranging from orchestral, to Chinese folk, jazz and Broadway musical numbers. The festival is the major musical event in Macau and will be held from October to November. www.icm.gov.mo/fimm
Macau Grand Prix The annual Macau Grand Prix has become one of the city’s signature international events. The main race is the Formula 3 championship and many of the drivers go on to enter Formula 1 racing. It has been held for over five decades with a circuit using the city’s main streets similar to the famous Monaco Grand Prix. Each year, the event attracts the best drivers and a field of super-fast cars and motorcycles. www.macau.grandprix.gov.mo
Macau Food Festival The Macau Food Festival brings hundreds of local food merchants out to feature their products and food offerings. Macanese and other local foods are the festival’s highlights. http://en.macautourism.gov.mo
Sites of Interest World Heritage Sites The Historic Center of Macau was declared a World Heritage Site, and along with this, there are many such sites in this tiny city.
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Guia Fortress and Lighthouse Built in 1622-1638, this fortress is located at the highest part of the Macau peninsula with stunning panoramic views. The lighthouse was built in 1864 and is the oldest Western style lighthouse on the China coast. Address: Estrada do Engenheiro, Macau Guia Fortress For more information go to the sightseeing section of www.macautourism.gov.mo
Lin Fung Temple Built in 1592, this Temple of the Lotus has a fine facade of intricate clay bas-relief carved in the nineteenth century depicting historical and mythological figures. Stone lions guard the entrance. Inside is a hall with a statue of Tin Hau on the altar, flanked by the guardian generals. Lin Fung Temple is historically famous as the place where for centuries Chinese mandarins from Guangdong Province would stay when they came to Macau. Address: Av Almirante Lacerda, near the Canidrome Dog Race Compound For more information go to the sightseeing section of www.macautourism.gov.mo
Macau Museum Located at the Monte Fort and facing St Paul’s Ruins, the Museum also occupies the ancient Fortress, which dominates the Inner Harbor. It was built by Jesuits at the beginning of the seventeenth century. The Museum includes a vast number of objects of great historical value. On the first floor are exhibits that narrate the genesis and development of Macau culture. Exhibits on the second floor show different aspects of the popular art and traditions of Macau, some of which have survived through difficult times.
Address: Praceta do Museu de Macau, No 112 www.macaumuseum.gov.mo
Mandarin’s House The Mandarin’s House is a traditional 4,000square-meter Chinese-style compound made up of several courtyard houses featuring a mix of Chinese and Western design detail. The compound recently went through extensive restoration works and is now open to the public. Of immense historical and cultural value, the Mandarin’s House is a fine example of Qing Dynasty architecture. Address: No 10, Travessa de António da Silva, Macau www.wh.mo/mandarinhouse
a beautiful collection of Sino-Portuguese crucifixes made of ivory, wood and silver, as well as a large number of silver liturgical vessels (chalices, incense boats, reliquaries etc). Address: St Paul’s Ruins
Ruins of St Paul’s & Museum of Sacred Art Only a magnificent stone facade and grand staircase remain of the iconic Cathedral of St Paul’s. The church was built in 1602 next to the Jesuit College of St Paul’s, the first Western college in Asia, where missionaries studied Chinese before serving at the Ming Court in Beijing as astronomers and mathematicians.
Museum of the Holy House of Mercy The Holy House of Mercy, established in 1569, is the oldest social institution in Macau. To record and commemorate the many good works undertaken by the institution, the museum was inaugurated in December 2001. Oil paintings, ancient manuscripts, a bronze bell, ivory statues and religious artifacts are displayed along with Chinese, Japanese and European porcelain pieces, a testimony not only to the history of the House but to Macau itself. Address: Travessa da Misericordia, No 2 (at Senado Square) For more information go to the sightseeing section of www.macautourism.gov.mo
Museum of Sacred Art Built at the lower end of the inner area of St Paul’s Ruins, in the place where the magnificent church and the College of the Mother of God were previously located, is the Museum of Sacred Art, which includes sixteenth to nineteenth-century objects of high historical and artistic value. There is
In 1835, a fire razed both the college and the church, leaving only the dramatic façade standing in four colonnaded tiers, complete with carvings and statues. The unique architecture of St Paul’s Cathedral recalls the style of the European Renaissance and Asian architecture in a fascinating mix of Chinese and Western elements. Address: St.Paulo Street, Macau
St Dominic’s Church St Dominic’s Church has an imposing façade of cream-colored stone with white stucco moldings and green-shuttered windows. During the decade of 1590, the Portuguese Dominicans built the Church of
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17 St Domingos (St Dominic’s) together with a convent, which no longer exists. The visitor should start in the church, and then go up to the museum rooms to admire the rich collections of gold objects, statues, richly ornamented canonicals, religious paintings and liturgical vessels. Address: Senado Square, Macau
Treasure of Sacred Art in St Dominic’s Church Treasure of Sacred Art in St Dominic’s Church is located in the buildings adjacent to the church. When the Religious Orders were abolished in Portugal in 1834, the temple received a great number of sacred art pieces that are presently shown in this museum. Address: St Domingos Square (next to Senado Square)
St Joseph’s Seminary and Church Established in 1728 and built in 1758, the old Seminary, together with St Paul’s College, was the principal base for the missionary work undertaken in China, Japan and elsewhere in the region. This church, together with the Ruins of St Paul’s Cathedral, is the only example of baroque architecture in China.
automobiles and motorbikes that have raced in the annual event, the displays are a thrill for anyone who is mad about racing vehicles. A tryout in the racing simulator is free of charge. Address: Rua Luis Gonzaga Gomes, 431, basement (Tourism Activities Centre-CAT)
Wine Museum This 1,400-square-meter space is divided into different areas (Historical Information, Wine Cellar, Museum and Exhibitions) that provide information about wine and grapevines via maps, texts, photos, tiles and videos. Each sector recreates the atmosphere that involves the production of wine. Tastings are available for MOP 10 per glass. Wines are available for purchase on site. Address: Rua Luis Gonzaga Gomes 431, basement (Tourism Activities Centre-CAT) The Macau tourism website has more information on areas of interests and sites of interest. www.macautourism.gov.mo
Macau Giant Panda Pavilion
Address: Sanbaziheng Street (Rua Do Seminario), Macau
Giant Pandas Kaikai and Xinxin were gifts from the central government to commemorate the tenth anniversary of Macau’s reunification with China. These two prized pandas are ensconced in their pavilion home nestled against a hill side in Coloane. The Macau Giant Panda Pavilion provides facilities for viewing the pandas as well as an Information Center. Tickets should be purchased in advance due to limited daily numbers.
Other Places of Interest
Address: Seac Pai Van Park, Coloane www.macaupanda.org.mo
Inside the church in one of the lateral altars lies a fragment of bone from the arm of St Francis Xavier. This is one of Macau’s most precious religious relics, a revered item that formerly resided in the collection of the Church of Mater Dei (Ruins of St Paul’s).
Grand Prix Museum The Museum pays tribute to the Macau Grand Prix and individuals who contributed extensively to its success. Filled with vintage
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Dining In Macau With the arrival of many big brand-name hotels came also big name and highly skilled
chefs. The décor in these hotel-based restaurants is amazing. However, there are still quaint restaurants serving Macau’s unique style of Portuguese/Chinese cuisine. Some of the most iconic foods in the area are Portuguese custard tarts (pastel del nata), traditional almond cookies, pork chop buns and Portuguese seafood rice. The pork chop buns and Portuguese seafood rice can be found in eateries around the city, while those craving custard tarts should look no further than Lord Stow’s Bakery, a franchise established in the late 1980s. The tarts there are fresh and fragrant, with a sweet custard center and caramelized top that is creamier than the original pastel del nata from Portugal. The store’s founder, Andrew Stow, combined the original Portuguese recipe with that of the English custard tart, resulting in a product so successful that there are now branches of the franchise in Hong Kong, Japan and the Philippines. www.lordstow.com António Situated in the heart of quaint and historic Taipa Village, António features authentic Portuguese cuisine. An extensive menu includes their signature lobster cocktail, fried codfish cakes and Portuguese duck rice.
and decor of each of the eight represented dynasties: Qin, Han, Sui, Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing. Address: Level 1, Conrad Macau, Sands Cotai Central Reservations Tel +853 8113-8920 http://www.sandscotaicentral.com/ restaurants Litoral Restaurant Considered by many as the best old Macanese restaurant in town, Restaurante Litoral opened in 1995 serving dishes that contain both Portuguese and Chinese ingredients. Best to try their clams in garlic sauce with a glass of white wine and their Macanese-style duck rice at lunchtime. Address: 261A Rua do Almirante Sergio Reservations Tel +853 2896-7878 http://restaurante-litoral.com The Eight (Grand Lisboa) The Eight is one of the Michelin-rated restaurants within the Lisboa complex. An intimate Chinese restaurant with a lavish interior, The Eight offers Cantonese and Huaiyang cuisine. The lunch menu features over 50 kinds of dim sum.
Address: Rua dos Negociantes No. 3, Old Taipa Village, Taipa Reservations Tel +853 2888 8668 http://antoniomacau.com Conrad Macau Classic authentic high-end Chinese cuisine is served at Dynasty 8, the signature restaurant at Conrad Macau, Sands Cotai Central. The restaurant evokes a feeling of old world China charm and has eight private dining rooms that portray the rich history
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17 Grand Lisboa Reservations +853 8803-7788 www.grandlisboahotel.com Wing Lei (Wynn Macau) Classic Cantonese cuisine is served in a strikingly contemporary, yet distinctly Chinese-style dĂŠcor. The barbecue pork and roast duck are succulent; enjoy this with their house white (for only MOP 100). The Sea Whelk in Black Bean sauce and Fish with Bitter Melon are a delicious choice for dinner. Dress is casual elegant. Reservations +853 8986-3663 www.wynnmacau.com
How To Get There From Hong Kong, there are two ways to travel to Macau. The most economical way is by sea. There are currently several companies running reasonably priced ferry services (jetfoils, ferries or catamarans) traveling between Hong Kong and Macau throughout the day, seven days a week. There is a choice of two ferry terminals to depart from: the Hong Kong Macau Ferry Terminal, located in Shun Tak Center in Sheung Wan and the Hong Kong China Ferry Terminal, located in Tsim Sha Tsui. A one-way trip usually takes about an hour. These ferry companies service the Hong Kong/Kowloon to Macau route: Cotai Water Jet The Cotai Strip Water Jet also provides ferry service from the ferry terminals to Macau (Taipa). www.cotaijet.com.mo TurboJET www.turbojet.com.hk
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Sky Shuttle The more luxurious and fast way is by air from the Hong Kong Ferry Terminal to Macau Ferry Terminal via helicopter service. Flights between Macau and Hong Kong take only 15 minutes. Sky Shuttle flights are available every 30 minutes. For flight and fare information, go to www.skyshuttlehk.com From the ferry terminals in Macau or Taipa you can either catch a free shuttle bus provided by a number of hotels, or a taxi to your desired destination. Macau has a small international airport that services direct flights to and from destinations in Asia, Europe and America. For flight information and schedules, go to www.macau-airport.com All visitors entering or leaving Macau need valid passports or other valid travel documents. Visas are required; however, nationals of many countries, including holders of Hong Kong identity cards, do not need one. Visas may be applied for upon arrival at the immigration counter; however it is best to check on requirements and apply for a visa prior to arrival in Macau. Visas may be obtained through embassies and consulates of the People’s Republic of China. The Macau Government Tourist Office has a website with information on visa requirements, travel, sightseeing and special events. http://hk.macautourism.gov.mo
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17 Shenzhen
Shenzhen was one of the first Mainland Chinese cities to open its doors to the outside world. Influenced by its rich neighbor, Hong Kong, Shenzhen is now a prosperous metropolis, and it has become a favorite spot to enjoy shopping and Chinese dining, as well as for playing golf. Although Shenzhen does not have the history of other major Chinese cities, it has several large theme parks and recently developed tourist attractions. Window of the World displays more than 130 world famous sites in miniature. Splendid China presents scale models of China’s historical buildings and sites. China Folk Culture Village introduces visitors to the beauty and cultural diversity of China with exhibits of distinctive architecture, presentations of festivals and authentic ethnic foods. Happy Valley (Happy Kingdom) provides sightseeing, entertainment, accommodation and shopping.
Shenzhen is divided distinctly into several shopping zones. Dongmen Pedestrian Street is undoubtedly the number one shopping spot, with a wide variety of shops, restaurants and cinemas. Here you’ll find Hua Qiang Bei commercial area, known for electrical consumer products, and Women’s World, a mall that offers only women’s clothing, beauty products and jewelry. Other shopping zones include Nanshan, Renmin Nan and Shen Nan Zhong, each with its own distinctive characteristics. Another popular shopping spot is Yantian District. You’ll also find large department stores and shopping malls, including Coco Park, The MixC Mall, Rainbow Department Store, Garden City Mall and Coastal City Mall. These are good places to buy low-priced souvenirs.
Lo Wu Commercial Center A five-level mart of shops selling everything from fabric, purses and electronics to custom-made curtains and tailor-made suits,
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17 is one of the favorite and most-visited places to shop in Shenzhen. Easy to get to, its entrance is immediately outside the border crossing from Hong Kong. Laurel Restaurant on the fifth floor was declared “One of best restaurants in South China” by a food writer and is famous for its Peking Duck.
Golf Shenzhen attracts thousands of visitors each year from home and abroad for a round of golf. Since the first golf club opened in 1985, many large-scale golf clubs have been built in Shenzhen, the most of any city in Mainland China. The closest golf club to Hong Kong is Shenzhen Golf Club, only about eight minutes away by bus from the Huanggang Customs Point. Located in Shen Nan Road in Futian District, Shenzhen Golf Club has 27 holes built to international standards. Another course, Mission Hills, is a key player in the country’s fledgling sports and leisure industry. Situated along the intersection of the Meiguan Expressway, the Guanshen Expressway and the Jinhe Expressway, Mission Hills is easily accessible from any direction. It is only an hour from Central, Hong Kong. A regular shuttle service is provided for the convenience of members and guests. www.golf007.com
Food Restaurants in Shenzhen provide Chinese cuisines from all over the country. One of the best districts to check out local cuisine is the Dongmen area of the city. Seafood served in Shenzhen is particularly fresh and full of flavor. Other areas include food streets on Fenghuang Road, Baua Road 1 and Yantian Seafood Street. With the influx of migrants from northern parts of China, Manchu, Shandong and Beijing cuisine are common today in
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Shenzhen. You can also try the Shenzhen version of Sichuan style cooking. This is less hot and spicy than the original, making the dishes much more palatable for many people. A favorite food in Shenzhen is Gongming roasted goose, which originated in the nearby town of Gongming. This kind of goose is very tasty, and the roasted version has crispy skin with succulent meat that is fat, fragrant and flavorsome.
Hotels Depending on your needs and budget, there is a wide range of accommodation at all prices for you to choose from. There are many five-star hotels in Shenzhen, such as InterContinental, Shangri-La, Crowne Plaza, Kempinski Hotel, and others. Other big hotels include Sunshine Hotel, Best Western, Marco Polo and Four Points Sheraton. Less expensive accommodations include Donghua Holiday Inn, Shenzhen Guest House and Shanghai Hotel.
Qianhai One of the most talked about areas in Shenzhen, Qianhai is a 15-square-kilometer special district located on the west side of Shenzhen. It is aspiring to be a new business hub. The government has actively positioned the district as a zone for finance, logistics, IT and professional services, with a view to strengthening cooperation with Hong Kong. Recent changes have made it possible for companies in Shenzhen’s Qianhai development zone to borrow directly from Hong Kong banks in Renminbi.
How To Get There
There are car hire services to and from Shenzhen, as well as 24 hour bus service via the Huanggang border crossing. There are some websites that specialize in providing intercity transfer between Hong Kong and Shenzhen. • Hong Kong Car Service www.hongkongcarservice.com • PRDguide www.prdguide.com • Trans-Island Limousine Service www.trans-island.com.hk
To get travel to Shenzhen from Hong Kong, passengers need to pass through customs at Ferries may also be a form of transportation one of nine ports / border control areas. to Shenzhen and will go via Fuyong Port and / or Shekou Port. The MTR provides frequent train service to Lo Wu and Lok Ma Chau (known as Futian Port Currently, visitors to China who are nonon the Shenzhen side) border crossings. From Chinese residents can apply for a tourist there the Shenzhen Metro provides access to visa to enter Mainland China. It is best to the rest of the city. get your China visa well in advance at a branch of China Travel Service in Hong Kong before your trip. The application period may vary depending on personal background, situation and travel services. China visas are available for single, double and multiple entries. www.ctshk.com A single five-day visa on arrival (VOA) may be obtained at the Luo Wu, Huanggang Port, Shekou Port and Fuyong Port. Passport holders of some countries can easily get a VOA in Shenzhen, such as those from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, UK, Ireland and Spain. However, US and French passport holders are not eligible for a Shenzhen fiveday VOA. Many other countries are also not eligible, so it is best to plan well ahead and get your visa in advance. The Shenzhen tourism website has more information on areas of interests, sightseeing and accommodations. www.shenzhentour.com
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NEXT DOOR: GUANGZHOU, MACAU
17 Guangzhou For those who long to discover more of what China has to offer, further north, the ever-growing city of Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong (Canton) Province, may well be the next destination on your travel agenda. Guangzhou itself is situated in a wonderful and ideal geographic location. It sits north of the Pearl River Delta and close to the South China Sea. In both ancient and modern times, Guangzhou was Southern China’s key hub for trade and transport. The history of Guangzhou dates back over 2,000 years. For centuries it was the only Chinese port open to foreign trade, hence its name “China’s Southern Gate.” With the opening of China to the world, the city has further grown and expanded, offering both a combination of engaging history and new age pop culture. Although not labeled as a tourist “hot spot” the likes of Beijing or Shanghai, Guangzhou is in fact a bustling metropolis located just 120 km northwest of Hong Kong. Rich in culture, history and entertainment, it is home to 10 million people.
Transport Most visitors take taxis as their main mode of transport around Guangzhou, due to their affordability and abundance. It is recommended that you always carry with you a business card or the address of your hotel written in Chinese, so that you can hail a taxi to drive you back home if you are lost in the urban chaos. It is not a good idea to rent a vehicle to travel around Guangzhou for those who are unaccustomed to Mainland China
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“road rules.” You will be surprised by China’s road etiquette (or lack of it), so it is not recommended to try to drive yourself around. For those who are more adventurous, the Guangzhou subway system will get you around the city quite quickly. Local buses are cheap but may be difficult without a local guide to help you navigate. English is as not widely spoken as in Hong Kong, so do plan ahead on how you are going to communicate.
What to See and Do in Guangzhou For photography buffs, Guangzhou’s scenery is very picture friendly. Several parks, including: the Huanghua Gang Commemoration Park, Guangzhou Martyrs’ Memorial Garden, the Grand World Scenic
TV & Sightseeing Tower, was specially constructed for the Guangzhou Asian Games 2010. The tower was the focal point for the Game’s festivities. Canton Tower is now one of the tallest structures in the world, replacing the CN Tower in Toronto, Canada, as the world’s tallest tower. It is open to visitors and has restaurants, observation decks and sky-walks with public access. http://gztvtower.info The new Tai Koo Hui in Tianhe Central Business District is another must-see for visitors. The huge project features a shopping mall, two Grade-A office towers, a cultural center and the Mandarin Oriental Hotel with serviced apartments. www.taikoohui.com
Shopping Shopping enthusiasts will revel in Guangzhou’s thriving malls, shopping centers and pedestrian shopping streets. Park, the Baiyun Shan (White Cloud Mountain), the Lianhua Shan (Lotus Mountain), and the Chime Long Safari Park offer never-to-be-forgotten sights, and are not to be missed. Guangzhou also offers many sites that showcase its fascinating history. Many temples, historical buildings and other landmarks dating back thousands of years tell the tale of Guangzhou’s historical role in shaping China and the rest of the world we see today. These places include: the Guangxiao Temple, the Liurong Temple, Wu Xian Guan Temple, Sanyuan Temple, Xiguan Residence, as well as several museums such as the Guangzhou Uprising Museum and Guangdong Revolutions History Museum. Canton Tower, also known as Guangzhou
Prepare for excitement (and bargaining) at Shangxiajiu Pedestrian Street, notable for its unique Lingnan architectural style. The Beijing Road Pedestrian Street, located in the central business district, is beautifully decorated with lights and has a lively atmosphere at night. Also worth a visit are the large modern shopping centers filled with a variety of branded retailers and restaurants. TeeMall is arguably the most popular shopping mall in the city, along with Zhengjia Plaza (Grandview Mall) right next door to TeeMall and China Plaza, located at the Lie Shi Ling Yuan (Martyrs’ Park) Metro Station. For those with a bit more energy and bargaining skills, many street markets (often only accessible by foot) such as the Haiyin Shopping District, offer the best prices for
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NEXT DOOR: GUANGZHOU, MACAU
17 clothing, electronics, accessories and the like. Specialty street markets, such as: the Xiguan Jade Street, Flower Street, Cultural Street, Qing Ping Market, Hualin Crafts Street (with Hualin Temple at its center) and Hualin Jade Street boast shops selling all kinds of crafts and jewelry and are your best stops for exotic and specialty items all concentrated in single areas. Be sure to pick up some of the local folk art and crafts, such as Canton embroidery, with its vivid patterns and delicate stitching indicative of the needlework of the Pearl River Delta; Canton enamel with its 300-year history; or Canton carvings in jade or wood.
Cantonese Cuisine One cannot and must not travel to Guangzhou without tasting its world famous Cantonese cuisines. Because of its proximity to the sea and surrounding fertile land, fresh seafood, fruit and vegetables are readily available all year
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round. European influences (a result of Guangzhou’s proximity to Macau and education in different European cuisines) combine with local traditional delicacies to produce an original and captivating dining experience, surprising the most experienced of connoisseurs.
How to Get There There are many ways to travel to this great city from Hong Kong. Your first choice is via the MTR’s intercity through train to Guangzhou. Trains depart daily from Hung Hom station in Kowloon, pass through Changping and arrive at Guangzhou East Train Station, taking around two hours. This mode of transport can also be pre-booked and is a convenient and comfortable means of travel. www.it2.mtr.com.hk You may also take the MTR to Shenzhen and take the high-speed train from there to Guangzhou. Domestic trains to other
cities are also available within China. From Lo Wu in Shenzhen, train tickets may be purchased. Note that sometimes tickets are scare, particularity during peak travel seasons. Long line ups at the train station for tickets is a normal sight.
• Hong Kong Car Service www.hongkongcarservice.com
Ferries to Nansha, located at the southeast of Guangzhou, are also available. Many people go to Nansha from Hong Kong or Macau via ferry. Daily schedules leaving several times a day from the China Hong Kong City shopping mall and the International Airport in Hong Kong make going by sea a viable option. Turbojet has a schedule of sailings. www.turbojet.com.hk Another option is an express coach available from Hong Kong to Guangzhou City, and these depart regularly.
A more expensive route is by air. Flights from Hong Kong International Airport will take you to Guangzhou’s Baiyun International Airport, with a flight time of around 45 minutes (bear in mind checking-in at the airport may take much longer). Upon arrival you have a choice between the Airport Express Bus, the Airport Shuttle Bus, the Airport Intercity Bus, taxi or the subway, depending on your next intended destination in Guangzhou. Transportation options and information are available from China Travel Service Hong Kong. www.ctshk.com
There are some websites that specialize in providing intercity transfer between Hong Kong and Guangzhou.
The Guangzhou tourism website has more information on areas of interests, sightseeing and accommodations. www.visitgz.com
• PRDguide www.prdguide.com • Trans-Island Limousine Service www.trans-island.com.hk
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