Come visit Macau before everyone finds out, let's be happy in the last days of 2020~

Part 1: Preparation before departure

Current health quarantine requirements for Macau entry: mainland residents need a negative nucleic acid test certificate within 7 days (Macau Health Code or a test report with a red stamp). No quarantine is required. However, if arriving from high-risk areas in mainland China, Hong Kong, or Taiwan, a 14-day quarantine is needed. Traveling between mainland China and Macau within 7 days does not require quarantine (the 7 days are counted from the date of the nucleic acid test).

1. Things to arrange before departure:

1) Negative nucleic acid test certificate: Get tested at an approved hospital/institution. Usually, you need to make an appointment in advance. At the hospital, fill in visitor information, complete registration and triage payment, then queue for sampling. I went early in the morning for a throat swab. It took about 30 minutes due to getting lost in the hospital; with a clear mind, it should take about 15 minutes. Registration + fee is around 100 RMB. The result will be synced to the Yue Kang Code by the next afternoon (you must show a negative result to pass the border, so schedule within 6 days; get tested 7 days before return trip). The Yue Kang Code can be converted to the Macau Health Code. Different personnel check different codes; it's recommended to get screenshots before crossing the border.

2) Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macau and endorsement: I'm in Shenzhen. Self-service machine renewals have been suspended during the pandemic; you need to go to the service hall in person. Make a reservation in advance via the "Shenzhen Police" WeChat public account. It took about 1 hour on-site (mainly waiting in line). The permit is ready in about 7 days (about 5 days if you choose mailing). Endorsement fee: 15 RMB, courier delivery: 18 RMB.

3) Transportation to Macau: You can either enter via Zhuhai or fly directly to Macau. I heard there are many flight deals recently, but since I'm from Shenzhen, I chose to take the high-speed rail to Zhuhai and then enter through the Gongbei Border Crossing. The Zhuhai Station and the Gongbei border are a 5-minute walk apart, very convenient. Round-trip tickets cost about 300 RMB.

2. Packing:

The most important thing is masks. I brought four KN94 masks. The weather was cool, so they weren't stuffy.

Clothes: I packed T-shirts, long-sleeved shirts, hoodies + jacket and long pants to handle various weather. I didn't bring pretty dresses because I planned a walking tour. If you bring dresses, choose bright colors; they look great in photos at luxurious malls and quaint streets.

Transportation card: Although Macau has many free shuttle buses and you can walk to attractions, I wanted to visit some less touristy places, so I brought a Macau Pass (available online). Macau also has an e-wallet called Mpay for bus rides, but the supported banks are all Macau banks.

3. Hotel reservation:

This year, the Macau Government Tourism Office has issued hotel vouchers, and various travel apps have promotions, so hotels are not expensive. I booked the Macau Parisian hotel package: a king bed room for two nights (free upgrade to a room with a view of the Eiffel Tower) + two tickets to the Parisian Tower + 200 MOP dining voucher. Splitting between two people, it was about 300 RMB per person per night, a great deal.

Part 2: Food and Fun

This trip was mainly about eating and drinking with friends, so the itinerary was relaxed.

Day 1: Arrived at the hotel around 6 PM, freshened up, then went to the Macau Tower. In November, the Macau Food Festival is held at Sai Van Lake Square. We enjoyed a big meal and returned to the hotel (per person: 100 MOP).

Day 2: Morning: visited the Macau Science Center and Macau Museum of Art (take the shuttle bus from Parisian to Sands and walk 10 minutes). Both venues have various events from time to time. The art museum is free; the science center charges 25 MOP for adults. Because of an event, we watched a free 3D show in the planetarium without glasses. After that, we explored the exhibition halls. Many parents brought their kids; the science center is large and great for family fun. Afternoon: went to Ruins of St. Paul's for shopping, also known as "Handicraft Street." Evening: returned to the hotel to drop off things, then went up the Parisian Tower, and later headed to Galaxy Macau for more shopping, returning to the hotel after 10 PM. Breakfast: had dim sum at the Venetian (used vouchers, per person around 100 MOP). Lunch: sandwich and coffee set (30 MOP per person). Dinner: at the food court (60 MOP per person).

Day 3: This was the last day, so we mainly stayed near the hotel. We visited Rua do Cunha. Most people take photos on Rua do Cunha, but there are many temples and exhibition halls in the alleys. I highly recommend the Casa Garden (Lou Lim Ieoc Garden area). Because a guide at the Taipa-Houses Museum recommended Hac Sa Beach, we spontaneously went to see the beach. The sand is black. In recent years, due to soil erosion, local authorities have supplemented the beach with yellow sand, giving it a black-and-gold texture that looks beautiful. If the weather were good, swimming would be even better. Afternoon: returned to Macau Parisian, picked up luggage, rushed to the border, and took the high-speed rail back to Shenzhen. Breakfast: pineapple bun, thick toast, cheese egg, coffee with milk, hand-made milk tea (50 MOP per person). Lunch: Mexican roll, curry beef offal noodles, mint lychee soda (100 MOP per person).

Part 3: Random Thoughts

Because it's close, Hong Kong and Macau are basically short trips for Shenzhen locals. I've been to Macau many times and always discover something new. Actually, Macau has many natural and cultural attractions worth seeing. The city's infrastructure is well-developed. Famous sights can be reached by free shuttle buses. The various museums are not crowded and fun. There are different events every month.

For example, places I've visited before include: A-Ma Temple, St. Lawrence's Church, Coloane Town (Coloane's egg tarts don't require queuing), Mandarin's House, Calcada da Trindade, Ruins of St. Paul's, Fisherman's Wharf, the Figure 8 Ferris Wheel at Studio City, Monte Fort, Senado Square, the Lotus Square (there are several museums nearby worth visiting), Ho Tung Library...

If I have another chance, I'd like to spend a few summer days in Coloane and enjoy Hac Sa Beach.