Macao's many wonders

Macao attracts many tourists who are drawn to its developed hospitality industry, fresh seafood and ancient European-style architecture.

Portuguese first settled in Macao in the 1550s. It became a Portuguese colony in 1887 until sovereignty was transferred back to China in 1999.

One of the must-go places is Sands Macao, which recently celebrated its 10th anniversary. It's Macao's first leisure and entertainment complex by an international operator, setting the benchmark for Macao's development.

"We're not only celebrating that it's been 10 years since we opened our first property in Macao, but also the growth of Macao into a world center of tourism and leisure," says Edward Tracy, president and CEO of Sands China Ltd.

Sands Macao has a stunning glass exterior featuring seven specialty restaurants and lounges offering various cuisines such as beef steak and Cantonese dishes. You can also watch live entertainment in the 650-seated Sands Theater.

The Cotai Strip Resorts Macao is the other entertainment complex by Sands China Ltd. It allows you to choose from different hotels, including the Sheraton and Holiday Inn, and enjoy good proximity to various entertainment, retail stores and restaurants. There are occasionally concerts, performances and boxing matches in the complex.

Diehard cartoon fans must not miss DreamWorks. You can meet costumed characters from DreamWorks Animation classics, such as Shrek, Madagascar, and Kung Fu Panda.

In the Shrekfast with the DreamWorks Gang, the characters pose for photos with you after performances. The DreamWorks-themed food is delicious and is inspired by the company's animations, such as panda-shaped steamed buns and Fiona's cherry grumble.

You can work off the feast by going on a shopping spree. The Venetian Macao at Cotai Strip Resorts Macao is an integrated resort that makes guests feel they're in picturesque Venice, due to its architecture style and arched bridges over an indoor river.

The banks are lined with retail stores with designer and high street brands, and duty-free shops. Don't be deceived by the blue sky and white clouds above you - it's actually the ceiling and it changes color over time.

When you are tired of shopping, you can take a gondola along the river and listen to the uniformed Italian boatman or boatwoman sing Italian songs.

If Paris is more your style, you don't have long to wait - The Parisian Macao at Cotai Strip Resorts Macao under construction is expected to open at the end of 2015 or early 2016.

With a replica Eiffel Tower in front of its gate, the Paris-themed resort will feature about 3,000 rooms, a retail mall, diverse food and beverage options and entertainment.

"To make sure that the hotel stays thematically in the French style, we went to France to look at the trends, such as what people are buying and how they dress," Tracy says.

"As the hospitality industry continues to grow and the product offering improves, the visibility of Macao as an international destination will be greater and it's already happening."

Visitors can celebrate Children's Day by watching Transformers 30th Anniversary Expo at The Venetian Macao, with more than 1,000 Transformers models from different years.

The expo starts on June 1 and will last until October. You will see Optimus Prime in the form of a three-dimensional hologram, and feel as if the Transformer is standing in front of you.

After enjoying the leisure and entertainment of the modern resorts, you can experience the city's rich cultures.

The locals like to visit the A-Ma Temple for the protection of Mazu, the Chinese goddess of the sea, who protects fishermen and sailors. Mazu is widely worshipped in coastal regions, such as Fujian province, Hong Kong and Taiwan. Pavilions of the temple are dedicated to other deities in Confucianism and Buddhism, such as Guanyin, or the Goddess of Mercy.

You can go to Mount Fortress to have a bird's-eye view of Macao on a 52-meter-high hill. Built in the early 17th century, the fortress was the city's principal military defense structure, equipped with cannons, military barracks, and an arsenal.

In 1998, the Macao Museum was built there to demonstrate the former Portuguese colony's history and cultures.

Next to the fortress is another Macao landmark, the Ruins of St. Paul's. It is actually a 27-meter-high stone facade located on a small hill, with 66 stone steps leading up to it.

The ruins of the Cathedral of St. Paul has a history of more than 410 years. The Portuguese cathedral was one of the largest Catholic churches in Asia at that time, and was destroyed by three fires at different times.

IF YOU GO

There are many direct flights to Macao from major centers. You can also travel the entry ports of Zhuhai, Guangdong province, to reach Macao. It takes no more than 20 minutes by car from downtown to Macao International Airport. It's better to use Hong Kong dollars or Macao Pataca. There are local snack stores nearby scenic spots such as A-Ma Temple. You must try the dried pork slices, almond cakes and sweetheart cakes. After visiting Macao, you can take an one-hour boat journey or 16-minute helicopter ride to Hong Kong.

xulin@chinadaily.com.cn