Mamali Travelogue: Let's Go on Vacation! A Safe 4-Day, 3-Night Macau Trip
Preface: A quarantine-free healthy city – Macau welcomes you! With the epidemic now well under control, visitors can enjoy Macau with peace of mind. Mainland tourists who meet Macau's anti-epidemic requirements can travel quarantine-free both ways by presenting a negative COVID-19 nucleic acid test certificate valid within 7 days.
Nucleic acid test in hand, and it's time to go!
Finally, my first Macau trip after the pandemic has begun, so happy~~
Day 1: Enter Macau via Zhuhai Hengqin Port
Day 2: City of Dreams & Studio City
Morpheus at City of Dreams, visit TheArsenale Ultra Luxury Space, dine at the three-Michelin-starred Jade Dragon. Then at Studio City: the Figure 8 Ferris Wheel, Batman Dark Flight, Sweet & Sticky, Joyride.
Day 3: The Venetian Macao
Visit teamLab SuperNature, Qube Adventure, shopping and a gondola ride.
Day 4: MGM Cotai
Visit Spectacle, an art journey.
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A must-stay hotel of the year – The Morpheus, hailed as the world's first free-form exoskeleton building! I was deeply captivated at first sight! Just as the world says, it is "a rare building, a peerless masterpiece."
Inspired by jade ornaments, The Morpheus broke through many architectural techniques. It is the world's first high-rise with a free-form exoskeleton structure – a building brimming with fantasy and surrealist design!
Zaha Hadid – architecture students should have heard of this heavyweight in the architectural world. The Guangzhou Opera House, Beijing Galaxy SOHO, and Beijing Daxing International Airport also came from her hand. Some joke: a city without a Zaha Hadid work cannot be considered a first-tier city.
The lobby sightseeing elevator: the atrium is about 40 meters high, with 12 panoramic vertical glass elevators.
The rooftop infinity pool: floating in the Macau sky, the sky pool is on the 40th floor (130 meters above ground).
The hotel has about 770 guest rooms, suites and villas, including three pool villas and six duplex villas, all designed by world-class interior designer Peter Remedios.
A brand-new retail experience: a dedicated retail space featuring the world's most fashionable and coolest brands.
The Morpheus | Highlights Guide
1. Lobby sightseeing elevator: the atrium is about 40 meters high with 12 panoramic vertical glass elevators, traveling at one floor per second – like being in Inception.
2. Alainn Lounge, average spend around 170 MOP per person.
3. Feng Ya Chu on the 3rd floor, average spend around 300 MOP per person.
4. On the 21st floor: Yi and the KAWS art exhibition with the large sculpture "Good Intentions".
5. Alain Ducasse at Morpheus, one of Macau's only 19 two-Michelin-star restaurants.
6. "200 LITOFAIRHOUR" by French artist Charles Pétillon – a giant balloon-like bubble-fabric cloud suspended mid-air in the hotel.
7. "Echoes Infinity" by Japanese artist Shinji Ohmaki, like stepping into a kaleidoscope.
8. "9 Seas" by Mathieu Lehanneur – nine handcrafted ceramic disks painted in the colors of different ocean waters.
9. Rooftop infinity pool: the sky pool on the 40th floor (130 meters above ground).
10. Brand-new retail experience: a dedicated retail space with the world's most fashionable and coolest brands.
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TheArsenale Ultra Luxury Space is called "the world's most insane toy store" – don't miss it when you travel to Macau!
Here you'll find a series of unique, revolutionary extreme motorized toys, from super wealthy playthings to eye-opening art collections. Fusing design and technology, these extravagant exhibits rule land, sea, air, and even outer space.
TheArsenale is the world's first global distributor specializing in all kinds of sports machines. By combining professional machine manufacturers with top renowned design masters, it brings extraordinary treasures to art lovers, supercar enthusiasts, and high-end collectors.
Using advanced smart technology, it presents the world's first "urban flying taxi" – the EHang passenger-grade autonomous aerial vehicle.
There's also the A110 luxury sports car, designed by legendary rally brand Alpine, set to compete in the 2021 Formula One World Championship.
Don't miss the super cool NASA x Anicorn limited-edition store here! It offers a collection of limited treasures celebrating the NASA Mars 2020 mission. Prices: some are actually affordable, like T-shirts, sunglasses, hats, etc.
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Throughout my Macau trip, the most ceremonial meal was at the prestigious Cantonese restaurant on the 2nd floor of City of Dreams – Jade Dragon. It was also one of my rare "star-chasing" moments, hahaha.
Jade Dragon was awarded three Michelin stars in the 2019 and 2020 Michelin Guide Hong Kong Macau, following two-star honors from 2016–2018 and one star from 2014–2015 – making this its seventh consecutive year of international recognition. It is also listed among "Asia's 50 Best Restaurants."
Jade Dragon's magnificent, opulent décor is another highlight, perfectly complementing the exquisite dishes. The restaurant is divided into five sections based on the five elements (east, south, west, north and center), with design following principles from the I Ching, using appropriate seasonal and color themes for each area.
Inside, there's a scene: an arch-shaped fruitwood barbecue area behind a glass window, allowing foodies to peek at how their char siu is being transformed into something sublime. They use Spanish black pork, leaner than regular pork. At first bite, a caramelized flavor spreads in the mouth – an unexpected delight.
The tableware is very refined.
Black pepper and roast sauce wagyu puff.
The first dim sum served: a black pepper and roast sauce wagyu puff. The pastry is exceptionally crisp and airy, not greasy at all. The M8 wagyu filling is fried to a heavenly fragrance, leaving a lingering aftertaste.
Japanese hairy crab and zucchini bisque.
Overall, it's delicious and harmonious. The crab meat is very fresh, and the zucchini makes it both healthful and innovative.
Braised deep-sea rabbitfish with fish maw.
Using classic Cantonese cooking techniques, the rabbitfish is pan-fried with ginger and spring onion, then simmered with dried tangerine peel. The fish maw is braised in rich stock, finished with black caviar to enhance flavor and texture.
Jade Dragon honey-glazed Iberico black pork char siu.
One of Jade Dragon's signature dishes. The char siu is made extravagantly with Spanish Iberico black pork, much more tender than ordinary char siu, deeply flavorful, not dry, wonderfully juicy.
Desserts: preserved plum / milk tea sorbet and a platter of assorted small sweets, presented in a novel way, and absolutely delicious.
Address: Level 2, City of Dreams, Estrada do Istmo, Cotai (near the Cotai Strip)
Opening hours: Lunch: 12:00 noon – 3:00 pm (Sundays 11:00 am – 3:00 pm) | Dinner: 6:00 pm – 11:00 pm
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When you play in Macau, don't miss Studio City's incredible Ferris wheel! Overlooking Macau from above the clouds, a fresh perspective reveals a different kind of scenery. From day to night, the cityscape changes endlessly, a moment where reality and dreams intertwine!
This is the world's highest figure-8 Ferris wheel, standing 130 meters tall, soaring between Studio City's two artfully designed hotel towers.
This unprecedented attraction was designed and engineered by the world-class team at Intamin Amusement Rides Int. Corp. from Liechtenstein, a company renowned for creating many novel and thrilling rides.
In the once hit movie "Never Say Die", this super cool Ferris wheel made an appearance. The landmark "Golden Reel" was inspired by the stunning scenes of Hollywood blockbusters, resembling two fiery planets crashing into the building façades, leaving behind an almost perfect "8".
Girls are utterly charmed by this giant Ferris wheel. Each cabin has a different theme, with 17 retro sci-fi themed observation pods, each accommodating up to 10 people.
Views from the Ferris wheel.
Location (ticket office): Level 3, The Boulevard at Studio City
Monday–Friday 12:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Saturday, Sunday & public holidays 11:00 am – 9:00 pm
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While strolling through Studio City in Macau, I stumbled upon a very popular restaurant called Joyride. This place sports a chic retro style, with macaron-colored vintage car tables and American diner décor – you can shoot retro film-like photos wherever you turn.
The seating is really fun: macaron-colored booth seats resembling racing car seats, transparent glass tabletops allowing you to see the car's mechanical parts! Besides the car booths, there are also striped seats. The wall decorations include Coca-Cola wallpaper and road trip posters, plus neon signs and a gas station – a full Western road trip vibe.
The kitchen is semi-open; through the counter you can catch glimpses of the busy chefs inside.
As a social media-famous restaurant, the food is also excellent. The signature beef cheese burger comes in a huge portion and the beef tastes great! I especially want to praise the fries – super generous and delicious! The pasta is also tasty.
Drinks: ordered milk tea and strawberry milkshake. Love the milk tea; the milkshake is sweet and makes a great photo prop!
Restaurant name: Joyride
Location: Level 1, The Boulevard at Studio City, Macau
Average spend: 50–80 MOP per person
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Sweet & Sticky is a candy shop that explodes with girlish charm, ultra-instagrammable! Very photo-friendly! It's on Level 1 of The Boulevard at Studio City, Macau – remember to check it out!
The shop is filled with all kinds of candies; girls absolutely adore them! These brightly colored sweets with dreamy packaging are truly lovable.
There is a huge variety of candies, from domestic to imported to local Macau brands, so many you can't count them all! You can buy pre-packaged gift boxes or purchase them loose.
Photo tips:
1. Stand or sit by the candy jars at the counter to take pics.
2. The white candy Ferris wheel can be a photo spot, pretending to pick candies.
3. The rainbow candy wall also yields great shots.
Suggest wearing a white dress for a sweet, girlish look in every shot!
Store name: Sweet & Sticky
Location: Level 1, The Boulevard at Studio City, Macau
Average spend: 50–80 MOP
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Every trip to Macau brings new discoveries and surprises. This time I visited teamLab SuperNature, and was blown away by the dazzling light installations and surreal dreamlike spaces!
teamLab SuperNature, created by the art collective teamLab, consists of super large-scale works up to 8 meters high, spanning a complex 5,000-square-meter interactive space with varying heights.
Taking photos here is also absolutely stunning, like stepping into a dream. Highly recommend "Light Sculpture - Plane", "Athletic Forest", and "Infinite Crystal Universe" – super photogenic!
Must-visit [Light Sculpture - Plane]
Light converges on a plane to reconstruct space and form three-dimensional sculptures. The space and sculptures envelop and immerse the body. The photos have a strong futuristic, technological feel.
Must-visit [Floating Balloons]
Must-visit [Infinite Crystal Universe]
In a complex three-dimensional space, powerful physical faculties fully immerse the human body in an interactive world. The photos are super cool!
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Ticket prices (MOP)
Standard (ages 13+): MOP 238.00
Child (ages 3–12): MOP 168.00
Ages 0–2: free
Location: Hall F, Cotai Expo, The Venetian Macao
Address: Estrada da Baía de N. Senhora da Esperança, Cotai Strip, Macau
Opening hours: 10:00 am – 10:00 pm
Closed on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month
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On this Macau trip, I found a place absolutely perfect for kids – Qube Adventure!
This fun and creative playground features breathtaking climbing structures equipped with various slides and rope nets, plus computer games that children adore.
The signature slide must be tried! There is one vertical slide and two smaller slides; the vertical slide is the most thrilling, and kids who love a challenge absolutely adore it!
At Qube Adventure, children can freely enjoy themselves while parents can "free their hands". Thoughtful staff provide different colored wristbands to distinguish which activities each child can play, and they look after the kids attentively throughout.
Hotel guest entrance: Take the South Tower Suite elevator to the 5th floor.
Visitor entrance: Enter via Level 3 of The Grand Canal Shoppes, next to Shop 2610 on St. Luca’s Canal.
⏰ Opening hours: Daily 11:00 am – 7:00 pm
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The Grand Canal Shoppes at The Venetian Macao is the largest indoor shopping mall in Macau, covered by a huge skylight and gathering several hundred retailers.
It features Venice-style bridges, canals, cobblestone lanes, and various architectural styles, complemented by themed streets, the canal, and a 157-foot Rialto Bridge. The elegant, magnificent setting makes visitors feel as if they are strolling through the Venice of old.
Inside the mall, there are three indoor canals: the Grand Canal, St. Luca’s Canal, and Marco Polo Canal, which do not connect with one another. Gondolas ply back and forth on each canal, and visitors can pay to take a ride.
Both tourists and locals love to shop and hang out here. A particularly pleasant surprise – Macau's first Heytea shop is located right here!
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During my Macau trip, I stayed three nights at MGM Cotai. Every day on my way to eat or shop, I passed the hotel's signature plaza – Spectacle. It is a place filled with technology, dazzling and super photogenic!
This massive indoor plaza features 25 permanent indoor LED screens, playing 24 hours a day art pieces created in collaboration by world-renowned artists and National Geographic photographers.
The guest rooms are elegantly laid out, fashionable, with a strong sense of space, offering a resort experience like never before.
Enjoy sweeping skyline views, overlooking the entire Cotai Strip and fountain scenery.
The bathroom amenities use MGM's own brand, and special bath salts release a natural fragrance that relaxes body and mind.
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Since September 23, mainland residents' tourist visas to Macau have been fully restored. Mainland tourists who meet Macau's COVID-19 prevention requirements can travel quarantine-free both ways by presenting a negative nucleic acid test certificate valid within 7 days.
Nucleic acid test in hand, and it's time to go – (for the latest guidelines, please refer to the Macau Health Bureau's announcements).
Currently, the epidemic in Macau is relatively under control, so visitors can enjoy their vacation with peace of mind.
[About visa application]:
Currently, mainland self-service visa machines are suspended. You need to go in person to the public security exit-entry administration center in your city for manual processing. The manual counter is very efficient; I tested it and it took only a dozen minutes. To prevent the spread of the epidemic, new documents can only be mailed home; for endorsements, you can choose either mailing or self-pickup.
[How to travel to Macau after the pandemic?]
1️⃣ Check whether your entry permit is expired? Make an appointment for endorsement.
2️⃣ Go in person to handle it (you must go to the exit-entry administration hall).
3️⃣ Two days before departure, make an appointment for a nucleic acid test at a hospital.
4️⃣ Before entering Macau, fill in the information; manually convert the Guangdong health code to the Macau health code.
5️⃣ Show the Macau health code (synchronized with the nucleic acid test result) + the endorsement to enter.
[About nucleic acid testing]:
Currently, a negative nucleic acid test certificate valid within 7 days is needed to enter and exit Macau!!! It's very important!!!
Getting tested is very simple. The medical institution I used performed a throat swab; a nurse just swept a cotton swab inside my mouth to take a sample. The whole process took less than a minute, with no discomfort.
[Entering Macau]:
Note: Visitors from provinces other than Guangdong entering via Zhuhai need to first register the Guangdong health code before converting to the Macau health code.
I entered via Hengqin Port. First, show the [Guangdong health code], then convert to [Macau health code], followed by fingerprint clearance step by step. Finally, fully geared quarantine officers will check the nucleic acid test proof. If tested at a hospital, remember to get it stamped! I was tested at a medical institution and they asked me to sign manually. Once everything is verified, they let you pass.
When exiting, use the original method to convert the [Macau health code] to [Guangdong health code], and scan the code to exit.
