Macao - Sightseeing

Sightseeing

Macao, in spite of its small (17 km²) size, boasts many sites to see. Most of them are either churches, built by the Portuguese, or temples, built by the indigenous people. The Church of St. Lawrence is a wooden church built in the 1560's. The Church of Sao Paulo (Saint Paul) is one of the greatest church buildings in the Far East, made of stone and crafted with great detail. ^5, ^6, ⁷ Originally called the Church of the Mother of God, the church was built by the Japanese Christians in the late 1500's. The Church of Sao Domingo (Saint Dominic) is also quite magnificent. ^4, ⁵ Other churches to visit include the Church of Sao Agostinho (Saint Augustine). ^5, ⁶ And if you only visit one temple, make sure it is the Kuan Im Temple, named after Kuan Im, the Goddess of Mercy. ^5, ^6, ⁷ The temple is very large, containing prayer halls, shrines, courtyards, and pavillions in addition to the main temple. Another interesting temple is the Ma Kok Miu Temple, dedicated to the goddess A-ma. ⁵ The city's name comes from A-mangao, meaning "Bay of the Goddess A-ma," who is the patroness of sailors. ¹ Also visit the Lin Fung Miu Temple, which is at least a few hundred years old. In it you will find shrines for the aforementioned Kuan Im and A-ma, as well as Kuanti, the God of War.

Photo of Kuan Im Temple from Journey of a Lifetime

Photo of St. Lawrence Church from Journey of a Lifetime