Hong Kong has remained one of my most favourite destinations to visit, for both business and pleasure alike. On two of those trips to this Special Administrative Region, I decided to venture into its dissimilar neighbour and the autonomous region on the south coast of China — Macau.
Macau lies on the tip of the peninsula formed by the Zhujiang river on the east and the Xijiang river on the west. It is situated at a convenient distance from two of China’s major business hubs — 60 km from Hong Kong and 145 km from Guangzhou. While there are no direct flights from India yet, ferries to Macau can be boarded from Hong Kong’s International Airport itself. On one of my trips there, I seamlessly transferred to Macau from HK International Airport, with my luggage checked-in at my port of departure — Mumbai. This can be done from anywhere in the world and your luggage can be claimed at the Macau ferry terminal. There are a number of ferries that ply frequently from Hong Kong airport, but it is advisable to book it in advance (TurboJet — turbojet.com is a good option), as they fill up soon.
This Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China boasts an interesting culture that marries its two absolutely contrasting roots — Chinese and Portuguese. A Portuguese colony until 1999 (it was then handed-over to China), Macau is populated by an ethnic group that originated here in the 16th century — Macanese people. While its rich Portuguese culture continued to flourish, it rose as the Las Vegas of the east with its hotel and casino boom in the 21st century.
Approaching the famous Cotai Strip, on both my visits I have been bedazzled by its riot of colour, light and magnetism. Reminiscent of Las Vegas, the strip is lined with glamorously themed hotels that bring to life various aspects of the world. Whether it’s The Venetian that teleports you to the Italian town of Venice with its signature domes or The Parisian that effortlessly transports you to the French capital with its vibrant “Eiffel Tower” — Macau doesn’t cease to impress the hotel seeker. Owned by Sands China, both the hotels have become iconic to Macau with their awe-inspiring architecture, accommodation and entertainment. While touring the hotels, I was amazed to learn that The Venetian and The Parisian are a part of a larger hotel destination called Sands Resorts Macao (owned by Sands China) that features Sands Macao, Holiday Inn, Conrad, Sheraton Grand, St Regis and Four Seasons — all under one roof. While all the hotels are separate entities with their individual character and presence, they are connected via air-conditioned footbridges, offering a seamless and unparalleled hotel experience.
However, there is a misconception that Macau’s popular Cotai Strip is only known for its colossal casinos. Today, Macau is a family-friendly destination that has enough to keep each member of your clan occupied with a plethora of diverse options, ranging from concerts, shows, experiential galas, shopping avenues, multi-cuisine eateries to Michelin-starred restaurants. Let’s take a look at a few.
SENSORY ENTERTAINMENT
With its dynamic entertainment options, the various hotels of Macau ensure travellers across ages are entertained thoroughly. Speaking of this, I can’t help but begin with The Cotai Arena, a 15,000 seater mega stadium that caught my fancy during my stay at The Venetian. Known for its dramatic size and fascinating list of performers including Maroon 5, Celine Dion and Katy Perry, The Cotai Arena has also been popular with the Indian audience as Bollywood’s IIFA awards were held right here.
Another striking venue in Macau is The Parisian Theatre at The Parisian that blends old-world charm with crisp acoustics to create a one-of-a-kind viewing experience. You can treat yourself to classic French cabaret acts, innovative comedy performances by the in-house mime troupe and symphonies of Edith Piaf — basically everything that is effortlessly “à la française”.
But it’s safe to say that my trip to Macau was incomplete until I saw “The House of Dancing Water” — a unique performance that simply took my breath away. Held in a theatre called City of Dreams, the water-based show uses 3.7 gallons of it to put up a spectacle that features acrobatic elements and original acts, with a stage that transforms into alternate sets.
Ironically, the entertainment scene in Macau isn’t only limited to grown-ups. Speaking to Stephanie Tanpure, Vice President of Sales, Sands China gave me perspective on how Macau is a quintessential familial destination. “A wide range of family offerings include Thomas & The Little Big Club afternoon party and Planet J (an amusement park) at Sands Cotai Central, and permanent attractions such as Qube Kingdom (an indoor and outdoor play area) and Aqua World at The Parisian,” she says.
RETAIL INDULGENCE
The past decade saw a massive overhaul in Macau’s shopping scene. As mammoth hotels from Las Vegas opened, so did ginormous shopping arcades within them that impressed with only the best labels of the world. “Today, within the seven hotels of Sands China itself, there are about 850 stores that range from luxury, family to high street brands,” says Tanpure. Unmissable for an unmatched retail experience are the Grand Canal Shoppes at The Venetian — the biggest shopping destination in all of Macau. Housed within a fantastical Venetian theme, the shops are lined with canals that reminisce the charming Italian town of Venice. If shopping is out of your budget, choose to ride on a gondola captained by sailors who’ll serenade you with their melodious voices, as you cruise through a faux renaissance ambience. And “travelling” from one European city to another is literally a matter of minutes in Macau; walk from the Grand Canal Shoppes at The Venetian to shoppes at The Parisian. Standing alongside sidewalk cafés, patisseries and bistros, the shoppes area at The Parisian are aligned with classic boutiques from the precincts of Paris. Linked with 150 high-end stores that feature latest designs and brands, a shopping experience at Walk across an air-conditioned footbridge to reach the shoppes at the Four Seasons, where another 150 luxe labels sprawl across approximately 24,000 sq m of retail space.
DEGUSTATION DIARIES
As mentioned earlier, Macau is a cultural cauldron and this diversity reflects in its cuisine too. Macanese cuisine is the fusion of Chinese and Portuguese ingredients and cooking techniques. These interesting flavours can be enjoyed at the various Macanese restaurants here. “Macau is often described as the origin of fusion cuisine. The mix of Portuguese and Chinese flavours has created the very unique Macanese food. The prestigious UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy status is also enjoyed by Macau,” says Tanpure. Located in Rua do Almirante in Macau is Restaurante Litoral, once called “the spiritual home of Macanese cuisine” and also one of my top picks for Macanese cuisine here. Do try the signature African chicken at this unique restaurant. Known for its minchee (minced or ground meat), Riquexo is another popular one. It is spearheaded by a chef who is dubbed as the godmother of Macanese cuisine.
If you prefer international flavours to something experimental like Macanese, the hotels in Macau house varied restaurants that serve global cuisines. “Sands Resorts Macao offers more than 150 restaurants all under one roof,” adds Tanpure. While it’s impossible to experience all 150 restaurants during your visit here, I asked Tanpure to pick out the top restaurants from the Sands Resorts Macao umbrella. “For authentic Portuguese cuisine, visit Chiado (at The Venetian), to pique your palate with spicy Chinese delights, visit North (at The Venetian) and popular Chinese restaurant Crystal Jade (at The Parisian). To relish authentic Italian flavours, head to Portofino (at The Venetian) and for rich Indian aromas, a visit to the Michelin-starred The Golden Peacock (at The Venetian) is a must.”
While Macau is known for its casinos, it’s hard to ignore the rich blend of culture, entertainment and gastronomy it offers. Even though most tourists visit Macau for its nightlife (some even visit to extend an expiring Hong Kong visa, that can be re-issued for two weeks on arrival to Macau), a few days spent enjoying its lesser known aspects will manage to leave a deeper impact on your travel psyche.
Akanksha Maker
