Magical Macau: 5 Ways To Explore Beyond The Casinos

Photo above courtesy of Thinkstock. All other photos by Rosalind Cummings-Yeates.

If you’ve heard anything about Macau, the small peninsula on the Southern coast of China, you’ve surely heard about the casinos. Blocks and blocks of hotel casinos blanket Macau like a neon halo. With a gaming industry seven times larger than Las Vegas, Macau is the gambling capital of the world, but this fascinating port city offers so much more.

After spending a week in Macau, I was dazzled by the unusual blend of Chinese and Portuguese culture. A former Portuguese colony and a Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China, Macau was the first and last European colony in China and retains the essence of both Europe and Asia.

Here are five singular experiences I had in Macau without stepping a foot inside of a casino:

Skywalking On Macau Tower

Okay, so maybe strolling on the 764-feet high outer perimeter of a skyscraper isn’t for everybody. I get that.

But the space age vision of the Macau Tower has been the region’s landmark since it was constructed in 2001 so it’s a must see.

Soaring 1,108.92 feet high, Macau Tower supplies beautiful views of the Pearl River Delta, the entire Macau Penninsula and on a clear day, Hong Kong. 

The observation deck, equipped with a glass floor, serves up panoramic vistas but for a close-up, heart-stopping perspective, I recommend the skywalk.

I was harnessed and strapped onto cables attached to the tower’s outer rim so I could stroll around the tower (no handrails) and literally touch the sky. 

It was a heady experience that I’ll always remember. For serious adrenaline junkies, Macau Tower also boasts the world’s highest bungee jump and a tower climb to the top of the tower and highest point in Macau.

Sampling Portuguese Egg Tarts

Macau is a foodie paradise with a strong legacy of Chinese, Portuguese and the fusion of both, called Macanese, cuisine. Both street eats and more formal dining are highlights of the food-focused culture but no dish is more famous than the egg tart.

A trip to Lord Stow’s Bakery to snatch up the warm, buttery pastries is an absolute must-do in Macau. The bakery popularized the egg tarts in 1989 after the owner, Andrew Stow, visited Portugal and decided to create a Macanese version of Pasteis de Nata or custard tarts. An Englishman nicknamed “Lord Stow” by local Portuguese for jokingly “lording” his British heritage over them; Andrew Stow’s egg tarts have become Macau’s most well known treats.

I visited Lord Stow’s original bakery in Coloane and munched the warm, slightly sweet tarts straight from the box. Caramelized brown on top and smooth inside, egg tarts are the essential Macanese snack.

Acting Like A Kid At Shrekfest

It’s an unexpected sight, but Dreamworks animation characters Shrek, Princess Fiona, Puss–N-Boots and a host of others can be regularly spotted in Macau. A visit to the Shoppes at Cotai Central gives you the chance to view the daily Dreamworks All Star Parade, where 32 characters dance and greet fans.

If you’re a big kid at heart like me or actually have real kids, a stop by Sheraton Macao’s Shrekfest  is a top pick. An extravagant brunch laid out like a royal banquet, Shrekfest features Shrek-shaped pancakes, dragon eggs, donkey pop cakes and my favorite, Kung Fu Panda buns filled with red bean paste.

If you’re boring, the event’s eight stations also offer regular bacon, eggs, waffles, fruit and oatmeal. Of course, the food plays second fiddle to the line-up of characters from Shrek, Madagascar, Puss-N-Boots and Kung Fu Panda who prance down the stage in the middle of the ballroom. I spent more time taking pictures and having my hair pulled by a naughty Puss-N–Boots than I did eating but that’s just me.

Shopping In The Three Lamps District

Macau attracts thousands of tourists who flock to the hotels and casinos but heading to the markets gives a glimpse of local life. The Three Lamps District is one of the most popular local shopping spots and the small shops and street vendors sell staples like Chinese herbs, jade jewelry, incense for the temples and dried meats.

Browsing through the stalls and narrow lanes, I spotted Hello Kitty t-shirts, piles of the infamously stinky durian fruit and spices used for cooking and medicine. I ended up buying a bracelet strung with delicate jade beads, a perfect Macau souvenir.

Watching The House of Dancing Water Show

A spectacular showcase of Chinese myth and acrobatics, The House of Dancing Water was designed specifically for Macau. Performed in a theater with a stage that dissolves into a pool five times the size of an Olympic swimming pool, the show features water acrobats, aerial stunts and motorcycle tricks. I was the edge of my seat, whipping my head up and down to stare at the ceiling, and then at the water below. It was unlike any performance I’ve ever seen and like Macau, it was unforgettable.