China's Smallest Provincial-Level City: Macau Has So Many Fun Places, Which Ones Have You Visited?

Macau is located in the southwestern part of the Pearl River Delta Economic Zone, a special administrative region of China, and also the smallest provincial-level city in the country. Don't assume that Macau, with a land area of only 32 square kilometers, has few fun places—it actually has many, beyond our imagination. Among these numerous attractions, which ones have you visited?

The urban style of the new Taipa district is comparable to major mainland cities, even rivaling first-tier cities like Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou in scale and grandeur. Walking through every corner of Taipa, it seems you never feel crowded or oppressed, nor does it feel like you're on an island less than 20 square kilometers in size. The overall layout and aura resemble many mainland cities, exuding a big-city vibe. After seeing the urban scenery of Macau's new city, do you still think Macau is a miniature city?

Macau is not large in area, having grown from a small island of over ten square kilometers into an island city of over 40 square kilometers through land reclamation. Although Macau has no industry to speak of—almost entirely service-based—its economy is very well-developed, making it a world-class developed city. It ranks first in China in per capita GDP, second only to Luxembourg and Switzerland, and third globally among cities in per capita GDP.

The Grand Taipa Mountain Escalator is Macau's first and highest mountain escalator. Taking it from the foot of the mountain to the top of Grand Taipa Mountain takes about 30 seconds, quite fast. During the ride, the viewing experience is also excellent, gradually rising from low to high, offering a panoramic view of the new Taipa district, including Galaxy, The Venetian, City of Dreams, Our Lady of Hope Bay, and Avenida da Praia. Isn't the view stunning? If you think it's great, remember to try this free Grand Taipa Mountain Escalator when you come to Macau.

In Macau, you can see many wealthy people, world-class shopping malls, and global luxury hotels. However, these are just a superficial understanding for ordinary tourists. In fact, Macau is also a very people-friendly city, with many attractions open for free. One unexpected sightseeing project, which cost hundreds of millions to build, is free for all visitors to Macau: the Wynn Palace SkyCabin.

Known as the most beautiful university in Macau, the City University of Macau was formerly the University of Macau, located on a hill north of Taipa Island. Its external appearance is not large, but its space is well-designed, maximizing the use of space. The tops of buildings of varying heights have been developed into public areas, creating a sky garden-style campus, transferring typical university public areas from the ground to the rooftops—each spot is like a hanging garden.

Fisherman's Wharf, known as Macau's theme culture park, impresses with its European and American architectural features whether viewed from afar or up close. Due to its location, it is relatively quiet during non-peak tourist seasons, and many auxiliary service shops and entertainment facilities may be closed, but it offers a different kind of peaceful atmosphere. During peak tourist seasons or major Macau festivals, it becomes crowded, with many food and fun facilities operating normally.

The world-famous Ruins of St. Paul's (大三巴牌坊) is one of Macau's eight major attractions. It is just a facade, yet it has been listed on the UNESCO World Intangible Cultural Heritage List. Tourists from home and abroad flock here to take photos. The Ruins of St. Paul's combines Renaissance European elements with traditional Chinese architectural art, a blend of Chinese and Western art.

If talking about Macau's landmarks, most people would think of the Ruins of St. Paul's or the Macau Tower. However, for the essential meaning of Macau as a city, the landmark is neither the Ruins of St. Paul's nor the Macau Tower, but the Lotus Square. Under the blue sky and white clouds, the Lotus Square is so beautiful and vibrant. Such a square is very commemorative, so how could you come to Macau without visiting this square?

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

Taipa's nights are even more splendid, filled with romantic warmth and modern urban charm. Can you imagine this is Macau? The traditional impression of Macau should be shattered; the real Macau does not feel narrow, crowded, or oppressive due to its land area. The diligent and intelligent locals make reasonable use of land resources, maximizing their utilization. So after coming to Macau, you feel it is quite a sizable city.

Macau is the world's most typical city built on land reclamation. The waters between the islands create a unique urban scenery, adding color to Macau's cityscape, especially at night, when it is indescribably beautiful! With economic development and urban expansion, the West湾 Lake area is filled with a dazzling array of hotels, malls, and restaurants, symbolizing the prosperity of the lakeside.

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