From Grand Lisboa: Capturing Macau's Day and Night
Starting September 23, travel endorsements for mainland residents to Macau (including group and individual travel endorsements) will be reinstated. Long time no see, I've missed it so much! After Guangdong resumed the individual travel scheme, Yuzi couldn't wait to visit Macau and experience the entry procedures under the special period. Everything went very smoothly. You probably have many questions, and Yuzi has prepared a guide for you!
When it comes to Macau tourism, you certainly can't miss these two iconic landmarks: one is the 56-story Macau Tower, a modern landmark; the other is the Ruins of St. Paul's, a cultural heritage site. Both are located on the Macau Peninsula.
However, as you wander through the Historic Centre of Macau, you'll always catch a glimpse of this magnificent 'golden lotus' building – the Grand Lisboa hotel. The most noticeable feature of Grand Lisboa is the dazzling spherical LED display on its exterior. Made up of over 1.2 million LED lights, it is the largest display in the world.
The Grand Lisboa is located on Avenida de Lisboa. Turn right when you exit and walk straight along the road, and you'll soon reach the famous Senado Square.
This might be the most comfortable time to explore Macau – with few crowds. Walking through the long souvenir street, I was stunned to find the Ruins of St. Paul's completely empty in front. I quickly took photos to capture the moment.
Macau, a small but densely populated international city, is perfect for independent travel. Whether it's its location, attractions, or transportation, everything is simpler and more convenient than in other big cities. Plus, with no language barrier, it's a great choice for first-time free independent travelers.
The bus terminal at Praça de Ferreira do Amaral opposite the Grand Lisboa covers almost all bus routes to every corner of Macau, making it very convenient to get anywhere.
How much do you know about Grand Lisboa? It's the talk of the town, never out of sight, even more popular than souvenirs. That might be its greatest charm. So what's it like to stay at the Grand Lisboa? Let Yuzi tell you all about it:
01 Breakfast with a view of the Ruins of St. Paul's
The Grand Lisboa boasts over 400 luxurious rooms and suites, all equipped with top-notch facilities. Due to the hotel's unique architectural design, the layout of rooms varies on each floor, so every stay brings a different experience. This time, I stayed in a high-floor room with a 180-degree panoramic view of Macau. The moment I opened the door, I was thrilled.
Standing by the window, I could overlook the entire Macau Peninsula, from a clear blue morning to a beautiful sunset in the evening, an unobstructed view from above.
The room featured a steam shower, a 60cm diameter rain shower head, and a multi-jet massage bathtub.
Chinese, Continental, American
In the morning, just a phone call and breakfast can be delivered to your room. The Day & Night Coffee Shop offers three breakfast sets – Chinese, American, and Continental.
Sitting by the window, leisurely enjoying breakfast while spotting the Ruins of St. Paul's among the dense cityscape – such a dining experience is exclusive to Grand Lisboa.
02 Two Three-Michelin-Starred Restaurants
Grand Lisboa's greatest pride is its two three-Michelin-starred restaurants. '8 Restaurant' features a very modern Chinese decor style, with the number '8' and goldfish motifs everywhere, along with large black and dark red decorative paintings, lit by spotlights from various angles, exuding elegance.
The restaurant seats 160 and has six private rooms, each accommodating up to 10 people, with the largest holding 24. The tableware is custom-made by Legle, featuring a goldfish theme. '8 Restaurant' offers over 160 dishes, with more than 40 creative dim sum items at lunch.
This time I tried some new dishes and would recommend: deep-fried sole fish with spiced salt, shredded chicken with fish maw and conpoy broth, wok-fried star grouper fillet with garlic and broccoli, crispy blue angel shrimp and chicken roll, and braised rice with abalone and chicken in clay pot.
Grand Lisboa is also outstanding for its wine pairing. Its cellar houses over 17,000 fine wines from around the world, most of which have been rated 91 points or higher by Wine Advocate, founded by American wine critic Robert Parker. On this extensive wine list, you'll find multiple vintages from the same château, aged German Riesling TBA and BA, ancient Madeira, and even the rare 1825 and 1827 vintages of Château d'Yquem – truly a paradise for wine lovers.
Robuchon au Dôme
Robuchon au Dôme, the restaurant under legendary chef Joël Robuchon who holds the most Michelin stars, is located on the 43rd floor, inside the highest dome of Grand Lisboa.
With its arched design, you can enjoy a 270-degree view over the Macau Peninsula and Nam Van. A dazzling crystal chandelier hangs from the center, a classic grand piano adds elegance, and luxurious tables with exquisite tableware and decorations create a magnificent romantic atmosphere, showcasing French luxury. It's one of the top French restaurants in Hong Kong and Macau.
Robuchon au Dôme offers great value for lunch. A three-course Michelin-starred French meal, with coffee or tea and classic candies, costs less than a thousand. The service is even more impressive, with bread trolleys before the meal, butter trolleys during, a wine trolley, and dessert trolley after. Even the main course, pan-seared beef and foie gras with port wine sauce, is unveiled from a mysterious black box.
03 More down-to-earth dining and experiences
- Don Alfonso 1890 Italian Cuisine -
Don Alfonso 1890 Italian Cuisine is especially suitable for family gatherings, serving authentic southern Italian dishes passed down for millennia from the Sorrento Peninsula and the Amalfi Coast.
Pizzaiolo Maurizio Ferrini, with over 10 years of experience in Naples, can skillfully bake a pizza in a stone oven at up to a thousand degrees in just one minute. If you're interested, you can join Maurizio Ferrini in making Neapolitan pizza, hand-topping it with crushed San Marzano tomatoes, fresh fior di latte mozzarella, buffalo mozzarella, and the finest Tuscan extra-virgin olive oil, then pack it to take back to your room as a supremely satisfying midnight snack.
- Day & Night Congee and Noodle Zone -
Located on the upper second floor of Grand Lisboa, the Day & Night Congee and Noodle Zone offers a variety of authentic Chinese dishes, including handmade noodles, Cantonese congee, and Sichuan and Shanghai-style snacks. The restaurant is open 24 hours, and noodle chefs demonstrate the making of various noodles on the spot. You can also enjoy tea carefully selected and brewed by the restaurant's tea master.
At the Day & Night Congee and Noodle Zone, you can try Macau's signature crab congee, with a whole crab included, as well as classic dishes like sour cabbage fish, oil-splashed noodles, and crayfish, plus the exclusive 21-meter 'single noodle'.
- Day & Night Coffee Shop -
Also on the upper second floor, opposite the Congee and Noodle Zone, the Day & Night Coffee Shop serves Macanese and Portuguese specialties.
Serradura (sawdust cake), a distinctive Macanese dessert loved by tourists and locals alike, is a must-try in Macau. You can even join the pastry chef in making it on the spot – great fun!
- Crystal Lounge -
Located on the upper first floor of the casino, Crystal Lounge serves Hong Kong and Macau-style local delights 24 hours a day. Grand Lisboa has always been committed to supporting local creativity, inviting Macau artists to blend local cuisine with local elements in artistic murals on the walls, giving you a taste of Macau's cha chaan teng culture while dining.
For a Macau-style breakfast, the Crystal Lounge’s Hong Kong-style pineapple bun with butter, pan-fried cocktail bun, four-treasure rice, and signature char siu with egg rice are all great choices. The restaurant also offers various nostalgic drinks, and you can learn how to make the classic red bean ice drink from the chef – I picked up quite a few tips.
04 Leisure and Entertainment All in One
With its unique design, the Grand Lisboa not only offers luxurious rooms but also brand shops, restaurants, a spa, a banquet hall, and more. Its excellent location has always made it my top choice in Macau. Inside its 'lotus sphere' exterior, the five-level casino is also the tallest casino in Macau.
At the Grand Lisboa, your eyes will be dazzled by the treasures: in the lobby, you'll see the bronze sculpture 'Taichi Series' by Taiwanese sculptor Ju Ming, a gold-plated peacock by British royal jeweler Garrard, and a white jade Maitreya Buddha purchased by Dr. Ho... walking through feels like a treasure house.
But the most talked-about are the two gems at the entrance: one is the 'Star of Stanley Ho' diamond, a 218-carat cushion-shaped diamond, rumored to be Dr. Ho's favorite, symbolizing 'peace of mind'; the other is a 210-carat emerald, representing 'the convergence of ethereal power over time'.
On the 5th floor, there's an all-weather heated outdoor pool, a gym, a health club, a spa, and a hair salon.
The hair salon features integrated leather barber chairs and mobile shampoo carts, allowing you to enjoy personal hair services while seated.
At the spa, the 60-minute Grand Lisboa signature massage uses pure essential oil aromatherapy, precise acupressure on the spine and feet, combined with Swedish massage techniques to soothe the body and mind, relieve muscle and joint soreness from exercise, and promote blood circulation.
The Bar Stage on the casino's 1st floor mixes cocktails on the spot, so you can enjoy a drink while watching free performances.
The Crazy Horse Revue de Paris, blending art and sensuality, has been performing in Macau for over 40 years. Don't miss the daily French can-can, Indian dance, pole dance, swing dance and more. This captivating show is sure to make your trip unforgettable.
At Grand Lisboa, a membership card brings you discounts and points. Accumulated points can be redeemed for free upgrades and services, such as room upgrades, dining discounts, ferry ticket exchanges, and more. Paying by card is super convenient.
Night Walk · Macau
The hotel is surrounded by attractions. After dinner, a stroll to the famous Senado Square feels completely different from the daytime. How rare to see outdoor café seating along the road! On a hot summer night, order a cold drink and some snacks, chill out with a few friends, and take photos – it's a great choice. Every evening from 7 to 9 pm, there's also a live jazz band performance.
I headed to Macau's latest Instagram hotspot – Calçada da Vitória. Exit the Grand Lisboa, turn right, cross the road to see the Macau Military Club, walk through Nam Van Garden, and take the left path that doesn't go uphill – that's Calçada da Vitória. This is a residential area, with shops on both sides of the road. Find a good angle, and you can photograph the Grand Lisboa in a unique way. But be careful of cars passing by occasionally when taking photos.
At night, looking out from my room, the Ruins of St. Paul's looked even more majestic under the lights. Macau may be small, but there's no limit to what you can discover.
Re-entry Guide for Macau
Regarding Entry and Exit
Mainland travelers with a valid endorsement for Macau, who have not been to foreign countries or areas such as Hong Kong and Taiwan in the past 14 days, must also present a negative nucleic acid test result from within 7 days or a 'health code' containing the negative test information, and can then enter Macau without the 14-day quarantine.
Mainland Visitors Entering Macau
Via land/sea:
1. Obtain a negative nucleic acid test result in advance.
2. Apply for the Guangdong health code (green code) on the day.
3. Convert the Guangdong health code into the Macau health code (conversion can be done within the Guangdong health code application system).
Via air:
1. Provide a valid negative nucleic acid test report.
2. Directly apply for the Macau health code for that day.
Mainland Visitors Departing Macau
If you entered by air or are leaving by land:
1. If the negative test report is still valid:
(1) Present the valid negative nucleic acid test report.
(2) Reapply for the Guangdong health code, convert it to Macau health code, then back to Guangdong health code to obtain the Guangdong health code exit document.
2. If the negative test report has expired:
(1) You must take another nucleic acid test in Macau and get a negative result.
(2) Then obtain the Guangdong health code exit document using the method above.
Departing by air:
1. Travelers must prepare their own health declaration required by the return destination.
2. Provide a valid negative nucleic acid test report.
Validity of Nucleic Acid Test Certificate
1. The validity starts from the day after the sample was taken.
2. Validity period = sampling date + 7 days.
Example: If the sample was taken on September 20, it is valid until September 27 (valid on the 27th).
Whether traveling by air, sea, or directly through the Zhuhai border, you must have a standard nucleic acid test certificate to enter Macau. Don't forget!
Source: National Immigration Administration, Yue Sheng Shi, Macau SAR Government Information Bureau
*Entry/exit policies may change, please refer to the latest official information.
Upcoming Macau Events
Macau has prepared a series of events to welcome you!
2020 Macau Light Festival - Light Carnival
This year's Macau Light Festival has been moved up to late September, offering a spectacular, healthy, and dynamic celebration! With the theme 'Light Carnival,' four routes connect Macau and Taipa, featuring light installations, interactive games, and large-scale projection shows from September 26 to October 31, bringing a dazzling carnival to all!
National Day fireworks light up the sky over Macau and Zhuhai
Although the Macau International Fireworks Display Contest is canceled this year, you can still enjoy a brilliant fireworks display on National Day. Co-organized by the Macau Government Tourism Office and the Hengqin New Area Management Committee of Zhuhai, the 'Full Moon over Macau and Hengqin National Day Fireworks Display' will take place over the sea off the Macau Tower on October 1, featuring a spectacular 20-minute fireworks show to light up the night sky as a special tribute to the National Day of the People's Republic of China!
2020 Macau International Music Festival
With the theme 'For a Special Year,' the 2020 Macau International Music Festival is in full swing. As always, the festival aims to spread music to every corner of the city and satisfy the audience's thirst for cultural diversity. The exciting program includes performances by Macau groups, concerts, 'Music in the Movies - Film Screenings,' and the 'Street Piano Project,' all free of charge. The festival runs until the end of October, so music lovers shouldn't miss it~
