Macau Grand Prix Takes Center Stage, Savor Global Flavors in Macau

Macau is bursting with events in November and beyond. The Macau Grand Prix is on, and a world of flavors descends upon the city. There are also winter carnivals, creative markets, and more, plus discounts on clothes and bags. You might not know this yet, but you can now travel to Macau with peace of mind! Macau has had zero new COVID-19 cases for over 200 days—it’s a very safe destination.

So, what do you need to prepare? First, one or two days before your trip, get a nucleic acid test at a certified facility. It’s simple—just a throat swab, and then you wait for the result. Usually, you’ll get the report that same afternoon or the next day. Make sure the seven-day validity of the test report covers your entire stay in Macau. Also, check your Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macau (EEP) to ensure you have a Macau endorsement and that it’s still valid.

If you’re crossing from Zhuhai, both Gongbei Port and Hengqin Port are open. Hengqin Port tends to be less crowded. Before departure, use your phone to complete the customs health declaration and get the green Guangdong Health Code (Yuekang Code) to clear customs. When exiting Zhuhai, scan the green code. If you have a card-type travel permit, you can use the self-service gates. Upon entering Macau, scan the Macau Health Code again and present your negative test report. If the electronic version can’t be processed, bring a paper copy.

The annual Macau Grand Prix has roared into action! This year’s events include the Macau Grand Prix Formula 4 Race, Macau GT Cup, Macau Guia Race, Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix, Macau Touring Car Cup, and the Greater Bay Area GT Cup. With over 60 years of history, the Macau Grand Prix has become the world’s premier stage for young talents in touring cars, GT, and formula racing—and the best platform for us to witness pure “speed and passion.” It’s best to buy tickets early on the official website; sales usually start in mid-October. Depending on the grandstand—Lisboa Bend Stand, Main Grandstand, or Reservoir Stand—ticket prices range from 400 to 1,000 MOP.

The extreme speed battles and thrilling collisions showcase the extraordinary allure of motorsport. Under strict pandemic measures, the finals of five events at this year’s Macau Grand Prix were spectacularly held on the iconic Guia Circuit. The circuit’s many twists, narrow stretches, and steep gradients pose a huge challenge for drivers, but they also give us a feast for the eyes.

In November, Macau is also hosting the 20th Macau Food Festival, a 17-day culinary extravaganza at Sai Van Lake Square. The festival is divided into themed streets: Chinese Restaurant Street, European Gourmet Street, Asian Food Street, Local Delights Street, and Dessert Street. With a mix of performances, games, and food, we wander through the different food lanes, immersing ourselves in Macau’s diverse culinary culture.

If you want to taste Macau specialties—pork chop buns, bacalhau (salted cod), Portuguese egg tarts, fish balls, seafood—you’ll find them all here. Every stall is thoughtfully decorated, each with its own unique character. My favorites are the Southeast Asian treats and the mango pomelo sago on Dessert Street—generous chunks of mango paired with sago are simply divine! In previous years, you needed to buy vouchers, but this time, for convenience and hygiene, every stall accepts mobile payments. Just remember to eat your food in the designated dining area!

This is one of my annual must-do events in Macau. The Tap Seac Craft Market brings together not only Macau’s local original art but also creative groups like iMART from Mainland China, CAMPOBAG from Taiwan, the Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs Association of Hong Kong, and artists from Malaysia. Dozens of booths showcase personalized, original products, revealing the creators’ ingenuity.

There is a certain breed of people: as night falls, they retreat from the noise, quietly delving into their creative realms. When conversation sparks, they are sharp, insightful, and eloquent. Sometimes they read and create alone, wandering here and there in search of life’s inspiration. Each carries a dream, brimming with curiosity and a thirst for knowledge. The scenes they see transform into new creations in their minds. They have an endless fascination with all art and creativity, with a unique ability to express it. They never miss a music festival, flea market, or craft fair. Maybe at Tap Seac Craft Market, you’ll find these people.

Here is a free-spirited wonderland of folk art. You’ll see all kinds of handicrafts—handmade soaps, hats, headscarves, jewelry, and even a grandma selling her handmade paper-cut cards, which is utterly charming and a testament to her attitude toward life. This year’s market has over a hundred booths, surrounded by colorful inflatable flowers, radiating a deep creative vibe. At night, twinkling lights make the market feel even cozier.

teamLab is one of the world’s top ten must-see exhibitions, and Macau’s teamLab SuperNature is the tallest teamLab globally, soaring up to eight meters high with a powerfully immersive experience. It is also an “immersive museum of the body,” composed of works that explore new perceptions of nature, humanity, and the world. Through teamLab’s concept of ‘Body Immersive,’ visitors immerse their bodies together with others, co-creating and merging with the artworks. By transcending the boundary between body and art, it redefines our sense of separation from the world and fosters a new understanding of our continuity with it. Immerse yourself in this complex, three-dimensional world, create it with others, and become one with it.

Many of the exhibits hide little surprises. For example, when you touch flowers on the wall, petals scatter; if you hold still, the flowers bloom more than usual. In the calligraphy gallery, touching a Chinese character reveals the pictorial world it contains. On a trampoline filled with a starry cosmos, jumping repeatedly in the same spot causes nebulae to slowly gather into a planet and eventually turn into a cosmic “black hole” that swallows everything around. There are also interactive “Small World,” “Hopscotch,” and “Sliding Fruit Garden.” In “Graffiti Nature: Reversing World,” children can draw animals, and staff will scan and project their drawings into the exhibit, as if the creations instantly come to life.