For one moment, one glorious moment, I felt as if I was smack in the middle of Lisbon.
Though officially a "Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China," Macau has retained its autonomy and is now a unique Asian-European fusion experience for all travellers in the area.
Visiting Macau was fascinating, as was observing its blend of Portuguese and Chinese architecture. To add to the mix, Macau is known as the "Vegas of Asia," displaying a vast array of casinos appealing to every type of gambler. The state is made up of the Macau Peninsula, to the north, and Taipa Island, to the south, where all the casinos are located.
Macau remained virtually uninhabited until the Portuguese arrived in the mid-1500s. Prior to that, the only inhabitants were some mainland Chinese refugees trying to escape the Mongol invasions at the time. When the Portuguese arrived, they didn't brutally conquer the land; instead they rented the land from the Chinese government, paying them an annual fee. The Portuguese built up the peninsula, fashioning the city in their own way, and establishing it as a major trading port with countries like India, China and Japan. In fact, the Japanese city of Fukuoka was one of the main Japanese cities that engaged in frequent trade with Macau.
Over the years, the Portuguese government gradually assumed complete control of Macau, and the nation remained relatively peaceful until its ultimate transfer of power to the central Chinese government in 1999. Macau often welcomed Chinese refugees escaping the many wars that China was involved in, including the civil wars and even World War II.
The only real glitch for Macau came during WWII. Macau was planning on remaining neutral during the war, however they were discreetly invaded by Japan in 1945. The then Japanese-controlled Macau offered aviation fuel to Japan, prompting the U.S. to carry out some air raids on the state to block the transport of the fuel. The U.S., evidently had not learned about Macau's conquering by the Japanese, so they were forced to pay upwards of $20 million to the Portuguese government.
Slowly, people in Macau were growing impatient with the central Portuguese government in Lisbon. Many protests for independence were held throughout the 1970s, leading to Portugal relinquishing ownership of the territory, now simply "administrating" it. This was the first step in Macau becoming a Chinese Special Administrative District, as it is today.
Despite its complicated history, Macau remains a vibrant city, unique to the rest of the Asian continent. My favourite spots in the city were Senado Square an the Ruins of St. Paul's Cathedral, where you can really see the Portuguese architecture come to life.
In fact, just by wandering through the streets, I couldn't help but notice the resemblances to a typical narrow European street.
The city also counted a few hills, which you could climb and then observe the impressive skyline. One of my highlights was climbing Guia Hill and admiring the cathedral sitting atop it.
Even the food was quite Portuguese. Well, somewhat. I managed to find one of my personal favourite Portuguese desserts, the pastel de nata, being sold throughout the many streets in the historic centre, and I stumbled upon a Portuguese restaurant where I ordered myself a nice bifana (Portuguese-style chicken) sandwich.
As you approach the southern Taipa Island, you can find perhaps the building in Macau: the Grand Lisboa Hotel. Nothing says glitz and glamour much like this golden building (literally).
Taipa island to the south feels a lot less Portuguese. The island is dominated by all the casinos, and you literally feel like you need to be a millionaire just to walk around this place. I didn't have enough time to walk into any casinos, but just from the outside they were enormous. The neighbourhood also featured a mock of Venice's St. Marc's Square and the Eiffel Tower...
Of course, my personal highlight from the entire trip was attending the Chinese New Year parade, which I wrote about in depth HERE. If ever you do end up in Macau during the Chinese New Year, a visit to the parade is an absolute must!
I loved everything about Macau! I loved the quaint feel of its old town, the glamour of the casino area, and the overall atmosphere of the entire city. It's small, but interesting in its own way!
-Daniele
