“I’m heading to Macao!” I say with super excitement in my voice to my mum. She replies, “Where on earth is Macao? I’ve never heard of it!”
And she wasn’t the only person to come back at me with this response. Truth be told, I had only heard of Macao when I first saw James Bond riding across on his boat in the film Skyfall in 2012 – I instantly said, “Wow, I am going there one day,” as I was amazed by the sheer beauty. I get to Macao, and the receptionist at my hotel tells me when I ask her, “Where is this? I would like to go and see it” showing her the clip from Skyfall, and with confusion set in her eyes, she tells me, “That is not Macao, Sir, that looks like it was filmed in Shanghai, or something.” I was confused. I googled where in Macao Skyfall was filmed, and I read it was filmed in Pinewood Studios, London. I couldn’t believe I dreamt of travelling to the region off a fictional Hollywood set.
Nevertheless, I am so glad I did. My trip to Macao was overwhelming, as it surpassed all my expectations. So why was this the case? And why has it not been on travellers’ radar?
My guide, Rebecca, diligently showcased the region for me and brilliantly explained the history of Macao. She explained that the Portuguese sailed across in the 1500s looking for spice—the irony is that I find their food so bland. They settled for 442 years, giving back their control on December 20, 1999.
Since then, Macao has been a Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China, with a vast history that people from the Western world have yet to explore. So, is it worth the money, and what can travellers gain from their time in the region?
The good thing to note is that you can get from A to B, depending on the time of the day, under half an hour. The fantastic part is that they have free shuttle buses that take you to all the areas of Macao, with the buses located in certain spots across the region, which will save you a lot of money. You can ask anyone at your hotel to provide that information. Plus, they are so efficiently run. This is also from the airport – even if you are staying in Macao Central, the shuttle will get you there for free.
But the region is small – around 12.75 square miles. Perhaps that’s the reason why Skyfall was filmed in a studio, as Daniel Craig, who played James Bond, would have fallen over with shock at the size as his garden is most likely more extensive.
Joking aside, I went to every corner of the region, with the two main islands, Taipa and Coloane, which have been partially connected through the new land built from scratch, forming the mesmerising yet surreal Cotai strip where I stayed—more on that in a second. Despite its size, Macao is one of the world’s most densely populated regions, with nearly 700,000 residents. And with Hong Kong only an hour away by bus and 45 minutes by ferry, residents from both sides are going back and forth for work. Also, another perk to visiting Macao, as you have the option to travel to Hong Kong for the day or even longer, which I did and found very cost-effective.
On to the Cotai strip, where I stayed at the glorious and elegant W Hotel in Studio City Macau. The airport is literally five minutes away, and I was a little sleep-deprived and could have been seeing things, but I wasn’t. There in front of me was Big Ben and Westminster – had I been teleported back to London, I thought? Then, metres away, I see the Eiffel Tower – is this a movie set I am on?
Well, neither of those, as these iconic replicas in Macao, hotels known as The Londoner and The Parisian, which were visually stunning, made the area for me so fascinating. The landmarks were built to look as close to the originals as possible, with the Eiffel Tower being half the size of the original in Paris. But it created an awe-inspiring atmosphere, allowing visitors like myself to experience and feel like I was stepping into another city without leaving Macao. My hotel was opposite the Eiffel Tower, and to have breakfast overlooking it was just a surreal moment.
Within each of these hotels, like Studio City, which housed four luxurious hotels, including the W Hotel, you have thrilling entertainment, with one of my highlights, and I love movies, a private screening of a new release at the magnificent state-of-the-art Studio City Cinema. Fiona and Jazmine, who both organised and attended my private screening, also added, “We are very proud to offer the very first and best Dolby surroundings cinema experience here at Studio City Macao.”
They had me when popcorn was brought to me at my seat, as I can’t get enough of them, but the cinema boasts Macao’s most distinctive and cutting-edge watching experience. The installation has nine innovative screens, which include the first exceptional Dolby Cinema in Macao, opening its door in June of this year, with five private screens, a Double House, an MX4D House, and a Regular House with the finest imaging and sound quality the city has ever witnessed.
Studio City also offers an array of delicious international cuisines. I highly recommend the exquisite Italian restaurant Rossi Trattoria, where I had some of the finest Italian dishes in the city. There are also branded shopping places to spend your hard-earned cash and a modern-day casino. Plus, take note of this – they hand out free popcorn every day from 12 until 6 pm. They will happily give out as much as you can grab.
Another thing I suggest you do if you aren’t scared of heights is the Golden Reel – it’s a moment to savour. I very rarely go on any of these things, especially as some of them have been a real disappointment. However, my experience riding this figure-8 Ferris wheel on the iconic landmark of Asia’s Entertainment Capital and Macao itself was a majestic experience that I will never forget. You rise some 130 metres high between Studio City’s stunning, Art Deco-inspired twin hotel towers, where if you time it with the sunset, you will get a spectacular view, especially with Hong Kong in the distance.
You can also get similar experiences at the MGM Hotel Cotai and The Wynn Palace Cotai. At the Wynn Palace, I saw the Illuminarium Immersive Art Exhibition, which was a space showing, and the Hypercar Exhibitions, which had some of the most impressive cars on display. The space show made me feel like I was on the moon. It’s a phenomenal example of showing you beauty.
You can also have a fabulous, luxurious dinner at the Lakeview Palace, where each meal is tailored to your specific dietary needs. Honestly, I felt like I was one of the emperors taken back in time. I loved being waited on with such passion by the servers. After that, you can experience the SkyCab cable cars down from the top to the ground and witness the stunning water show.
MGM has splendid art exhibitions that showcase a combination of modern and contemporary art. This will give you value in Macao’s historical art. I also had a magical dinner at Chún with some of the finest cooking on display. Each dish, again tailored to my dietary needs, was so succulent and flavoured that it left my taste buds tingling.
For that cultural experience and to get to know the history of Macao, I suggest heading over to Macao Central. There are many historical contexts for you to see, and take note: if you see structures in yellow and green, it’s linked to colonial times.
Macao’s number one visited spot, the UNESCO World Heritage site, the iconic Ruines de Sào Paulo, or Ruins of St Paul’s, is a place you have to see as the only thing remaining is the facade of the structure as built initially in 1602 to 1640 – the church was destroyed in 1835 within 10 minutes of being set on fire. The ruins are often regarded as a symbol of Macao’s history and a meeting point between East and West.
If that doesn’t quench your thirst for history, you must visit the A-Ma Temple – Macao’s oldest and most significant cultural and religious site. The temple was built in 1488 during the Ming Dynasty and is another UNESCO World Heritage site. It is also dedicated to worshipping the Chinese sea goddess Mazu, who is believed to have protected the fishermen and sailors. This is another deeply rich, historical and spiritual influence on the people of Macao.
Some other activities include heading over to the Macao Giant Panda Pavilion and the Pavilion of Rare Animals, which are delightful to see. Seeing the Pandas being playful is just superb. If you want to get with the locals, dressing up like one of them is something I urge, and it is so fun as well. The Qiyuan Macao Qipap and Cheongsam Experience will leave you wanting to marry a local if you aren’t married already. Believe me, I was searching for my wife.
And when you become peckish and want to try out some delicate and delicious street food and snacks, take yourself over to the Rua de Felicidade. They have an array of choices, and it’s situated in what’s known to the locals as Lightclub, where, in the past, it was the Red Light District of Macao.
Macao, for me, had it all – I fell in love with the place. It was just a combination of state-of-the-art facilities and entertainment, and it just captivated me. There was a mix of the West and the East, making it a one-of-a-kind destination. The vibrant nightlife, exquisite dining, and a fascinating blend of Portuguese and Chinese influences, evident in its architecture, cuisine and culture, made it all the more luxurious. What more could I ask for?
If you are looking for other cultural destinations, visit our website’s Art and Culture page.
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Shebs Alom
Shebs is currently a Co-Executive Producer for the Award-winning television docuseries on PBS, ‘Fly Brother with Ernest White II’. His work has been featured in the BBC, The Times, The Express, Travel Magazine, Marriott Bonvoy, to name a few. Shebs has also worked as a radio host on a breakfast show on Africa’s first and only dedicated travel radio station, Gallivant Radio. He also hosts an award-nominated travel podcast, Take a Wander with Shebs.