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bjbjqPqP TGTV script Located on the south east coast of mainland China, a 45 minute
fast ferry ride from Hong Kong, Macau is something of a hidden gem. Settled by the Portuguese
in the 16th century, it was handed back to China in 1999 and now, like Hong Kong, is
a Special Administrative Region of China. Macau has something of a reputation as the
Las Vegas of the East but it s a title that doesn t really do the place justice. Its true
that luxury hotels and casinos dominate the skyline but there is a far more to attract
international visitors here than just the roll of the dice This is Senado Square, it
s the historic heart of Macau and the reason everybody comes here to see this rich Portuguese
architecture. The whole city centre of Macau has been designated by UNESCO as a world Heritage
site The historic centre is best explored on foot venture beyond the main square down
various side streets and alleyways and you will find lovely churches and fine examples
of Portuguese architecture alongside traditional Chinese temples and bustling street markets
. Take your time, there are over 20 historic sites to enjoy and plenty of cafes where you
can just stop and watch the world go by. At the iconic Ruins of St Pauls, my guide Alorino
told me more about the unique Macanese culture Dvaid: How long have the Portuguese been here?
Alorino:The Portuguese has been in Macau for more than 450 years. David: That s a lot longer
than the British were in Hong Kong. Alorino: Right, far longer. We can see this coexistence
of the mixed culture in the buildings in the people, in the temples, the street names and
so on and so forth Beyond the historic centre and the main city on the peninsula, Macau
is made up of two further islands, linked by three impressive bridges. To get your bearings,
I d suggest heading up the Macau Tower from the viewing platform at 223 metres, on a clear
day you can see as far as Hong Kong and - if you have the nerve - there s more than one
way to take in the views Back on the ground, (where personally I am far happier), there
s plenty to see and do Get up early one morning and you can join the locals for a spot of
Tai Chi its much harder than it looks There are also lots of attractions to visit, some
excellent museums and plenty to keep all ages amused Montage of Wine Museum, Macau Museum,
Panda Park, A Ma village, Grand Prix museum Macau is famous for its annual grand prix
which takes place in November but if you miss that there s a terrific museum where you can
come and look in all the cars, its really interesting Its also worth taking the short
drive out to the islands its only 20 minutes or so but the contrast is striking much calmer
and greener than the city centre. People head here for a more relaxing day out to enjoy
the sandy beaches and village lifestyle that has remained unchanged for centuries. At the
heart of Coloane village, it s a British family that has really made their mark with Lord
Stow s bakery, these days run by its founders sister, Eileen Stow Staying with food, this
is one of the key attractions in Macau. Its worth mentioning restaurants which are much cheaper fine dining
here than in Hong Kong. There s Michelin star fine dining and, as you d expect, there are
some outstanding Chinese and Portuguese restaurants There s also Macanese cuisine, which is the
local cooking. It s a little bit spicier than Portuguese, it incorporates lots of spices
that have been bought from all the colonies all over the world from Africa, from Indonesia
and so on. This is what I m eating here and its really delicious When it comes to choosing
where to stay, there s a wide choice of luxury hotels standards are very high indeed. Some
hotels are part of entertainment complexes, but there are also some unique, standalone
properties and more intimate pousadas. What makes Macau different as a Far East destination
is its unique blend of Chinese and Portuguese culture. I was last here about 15 years ago
and the place has grown enormously since then but I m really pleased to see that they ve
preserved their Portuguese heritage, their architecture and so on. Some people just come
to Macau as a day trip from Hong Kong but I d really suggest that you think in terms
of coming for 3 or 4 days perhaps or combining it with other destination in the Far East
as part of a multi centre tour. fZfZf hQ,1 hQ,1 hQ,1 hQ,1 :pQ,1 urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags
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