Taipa

TAIPA

Located in the Western Pearl River Delta by the South China Sea just off Guangdong, the former Portuguese colony is also a Special Administrative Region like Hong Kong. Known as the Las Vegas of Asia, there’s certainly more to Macau than just being a glamourous resort city and destination for gambling and entertainment. If you’re looking for an artsy weekend escape from Hong Kong, why not take the 1-hour ferry ride from the Shun Tak Ferry Terminal? Alternatively, with the new Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge, a car ride will take around 45 minutes.

Taipa is connected to the Macau peninsula by 3 bridges, and is further linked to neighbouring Coloane by the Taipa-Coloane Causeway, the main artery of the newly-reclaimed Cotai area. However, what stands out about Taipa are not its newly-built casinos, but rather its unique local flavour – a distinct blend of Macanese, Chinese, and Portuguese cultures.

Museum of Taipa and Coloane History

Just a few streets away, visit the Museum of Taipa and Coloane History, which is housed in a beautiful pistachio-coloured 1920s Portuguese building. With 9 galleries, the museum displays excavated relics, religious objects, and architectural models. If you have time after your visit, why not visit one of the many food stalls in Taipa Village to sample some authentic local street food?

Taipa Houses Museum

Another noteworthy destination is the Taipa Houses Museum, yet another cultural and heritage landmark that consists of 5 historic Portuguese houses (originally built in 1921), important for their significant architectural value. Displaying various artefacts and exhibits from Macau’s colonial era, one of the houses also serves as an art gallery to showcase the works of local and international artists.