China's Smallest Provincial City: Macau Has So Many Fun Places, How Many Have You Visited?

Macau is located southwest of the Pearl River Delta Economic Zone. It is a Special Administrative Region of China and also the smallest provincial-level city in the country. Don't think that because the land area is only 32 square kilometers, Macau doesn't have many fun places; there are actually more than we imagine. Among the many fun places, how many have you visited?

The urban style of the new Taipa district is comparable to that of major mainland cities, even rivaling the scale and grandeur of first-tier cities like Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou. Walking through every corner of Taipa, you hardly feel crowded or oppressed, nor do you realize that this is on an island less than 20 square kilometers. The overall layout and atmosphere resemble many mainland cities, with a big-city demeanor. After seeing the urban scenery of Macau's new city, do you still think Macau is a miniature city?

Macau is a place with a small area, having expanded from a small island of over ten square kilometers to an island city of over 40 square kilometers through land reclamation. Although Macau has no industry to speak of and is almost entirely service-based, its economic development is very strong. It is a developed city in the world, ranking first in per capita GDP in China, second only to Luxembourg and Switzerland, and third globally among cities in per capita GDP.

The Datan Hill Escalator is Macau's first and highest outdoor escalator. Taking it from the foot of the hill to the top of Datan Hill takes about 30 seconds, so it's quite fast. During the ride, the viewing experience is very good. As you slowly rise from low to high, you can take in the entire new Taipa area, including Galaxy, The Venetian, City of Dreams, Our Lady of Hope Bay, and the Taipa Houses–Museum. The view is amazing, isn't it? If you think it's great, remember to experience this free Datan Hill Escalator when you come to Macau.

In Macau, you can see many wealthy people, world-class shopping malls, and global luxury hotels. These are just superficial understandings from ordinary tourists. In fact, it is also a very humanized city. Many attractions are free, and there is even an unexpected sightseeing project worth hundreds of millions of dollars that is open to all visitors for free: the Wynn Palace SkyCabin.

The City University of Macau, known as the most beautiful university in Macau, was formerly the University of Macau. It is located on a hill in the northern part of Taipa Island. From the outside, its area is actually not large, but the space is well designed, maximizing the use of space. The tops of buildings of varying heights are developed into public areas, forming a sky garden campus. The public areas that would normally be on the ground are transferred to the tops of the buildings, and every place feels like a hollow garden.

The Macau Fisherman's Wharf, known as a themed cultural park in Macau, shows the European and American architectural features of this theme park whether you look at its overall structure from a distance or appreciate the details up close. Because of its location, it is relatively quiet during non-peak seasons, and many supporting facilities, shops, and entertainment venues close down, but there is another kind of peaceful environment. During peak tourist seasons or major Macau festivals, this place is packed with people, and many delicious food and fun facilities are in full operation.

The world-famous Ruins of St. Paul's is one of Macau's eight major attractions. It is just a facade, but it has been inscribed on the UNESCO World Intangible Cultural Heritage list. Tourists from home and abroad flock here to take photos. The Ruins of St. Paul's is a blend of European Renaissance elements and traditional Chinese architectural art, a fusion of East and West.

When it comes to Macau's landmarks, most people would probably think of the Ruins of St. Paul's or Macau Tower. However, in terms of the essential meaning of Macau as a city, the landmark is neither the Ruins of St. Paul's nor Macau Tower, but the Golden Lotus Square. Under the blue sky and white clouds, the Golden Lotus Square is so beautiful and vibrant. This square is very meaningful, so how could you come to Macau and not visit this square?

Macau is also a world-famous shopping paradise. Its shopping centers are relatively concentrated and include most of the world's brands. Where are Macau's shopping centers mainly located? Generally, small shopping centers are found on the main streets of the Macau Peninsula, while large shopping centers are on Taipa Island. The main shopping centers in Taipa are Sands Cotai Central, The Venetian Macau, and City of Dreams, all located in the Taipa area.

Taipa's nights are even more beautiful, exuding romantic warmth and modern urban charm. Can you imagine this is Macau? The traditional impression of Macau should be broken. The real Macau does not feel narrow, crowded, or oppressive because of its land area. The hardworking and intelligent people of Macau make rational use of land resources, maximizing their utilization. So, after coming to Macau, you feel that it is not a small city at all.

Macau is the world's most typical city created by land reclamation. The waters between the islands form a unique urban landscape, adding color to Macau's cityscape, especially at night, when it is indescribably beautiful! With economic development and urban expansion, the Sai Van Lake area is filled with a dazzling array of hotels, shopping malls, and restaurants, becoming a symbol of lakeside prosperity.

The simplified self-service customs clearance method has attracted more mainland tourists to travel and vacation in Macau. Many people think Macau is small, so they decide to stay for 2-3 days. Later, they find that although Macau is small, there are still plenty of places to visit, not as small as we imagined. This photo was taken by me at the Nam Van Lake in Macau on October 20, 2019.