Taipa Island Sightseeing
Taipa Village
Chinese shophouses, Portuguese-style offices, small temples and a former firecracker factory share the narrow streets and alleys of this busy, colourful village. Hanging flower baskets and old-fashioned street lamps make it an appealing place to stroll, and the numerous restaurants along the Rua da Cunha (known as Food Street) are popular destinations for Portuguese, Macanese, Chinese, or Italian cuisine.
University of Macau
Offers degrees in Arts, Social Sciences, Business Administration, Education, Engineering, and Law. The strikingly modern campus occupies a small hill on the north side of Taipa Island, facing the Outer Harbour of Macau. At the main entrance to the university is the Administration Building, where an information desk is located. Behind the Administration Building is a long stone stairway (and escalator) leading to the central quadrangle formed by the Tai Fung Building and three other classroom buildings. It is worth a visit to see the Nine Dragon Wall at the top of the stairs, the central gardens, and the views from various parts of the campus. Other buildings include the Student Union Building and canteen, the Sports Complex, staff and student residences, and the new International Library with its stylish Library Café, which is open to the public.
Macau Jockey Club
Weekend afternoon and mid-week might meetings are held on this modern, flood-it grass track, while punters can watch from the well-appointed, air-conditioned grandstand, containing restaurants and state-of-the-art computerized betting equipment. Horses are from Australia, Ireland and America, as do many of the trainers and jockeys. For more information, please visit website of Macau Jockey Club or call Macau (853) 28820868, HK Toll free 800967822.
Hiking Trails and Bicycling
Taipa Island′ s two highest hills, Taipa Grande and Taipa Pequena, are circled by nature trails which provide panoramic views of the entire Macau area. The Taipa Grande trail is reached by way of a short paved road off the Estrada Colonel Nicolau de Mesquita, near the United Chinese Cemetery. Adjacent to the trail on the east side of Taipa Grande, near the airport, is the Taipa Grande Nature Park. The Taipa Pequena trail can be accessed from the Estrada Lou Lim Ieoc, behind the Regency Hotel. Bicycles for touring the islands are available from a rental kiosk near the bus stop adjacent to Museum of Taipa and Coloane History in Taipa Village.
Churches
Our Lady of Carmel
Built in 1885, this church stands on a hill overlooking the sea, Taipa Village and the restored mansions of Old Taipa Praia.
St. Lawrence’s Church
* St. Lawrence’s Church is closed temporarily for maintenance
Today the most fashionable church in Macau, St. Lawrence’s Church was first built of wood in the 1560’s, replaced by Taipa in 1618 and reconstructed in stone 1801-3. Further renovations took place throughout the 19th century.
The church is an imposing structure, standing in a garden filled with palm trees. It can be approached from the rear or, by way of a grand staircase and ornamental gate. Painted in cream and white, St. Lawrence’s Church has twin towers, one of which was once an ecclesiastic prison, and a fine Chinese tile roof.
The interior is richly decorated. It has a magnificent wooden ceiling painted turquoise with white and gold beams, from which hang elegant chandeliers. The high alter contains a handsome figure of St. Lawrence in gorgeous vestments. Above him hangs a crown held by a cherub and behind is a stained glass window with a dove of peace. Over the window is a wooden lamb.
It is open 10 am till 6 pm daily, except Mondays, 1 pm to 2 pm.
Gardens
Carmel Garden
Next to the Church of Our Lady of Carmel on a hill overlooking the village of Taipa and the old Taipa Praia, the garden follows a formal European design. It has a vine-covered gazebo with fountains and stone benches, meticulously maintained flower beds and paths winding up to a small belvedere. From the park you can follow a zigzag walkway lined with low scalloped walls to the old praia, where one of a row of restored 1920s mansions is now the Taipa House Museum.
Flower City Garden
Location : Rua de Evora, Taipa
Opening hours : 06:30 - 22:00
Located across the street from the ParknShop supermarket in the centre of Taipa’s high-rise residential area, this walled garden is a modern interpretation of the classical Chinese garden, with traditional lotus ponds, winding bridges, and small pavilions, but it also incorporates a children’s playground and a skating and scooter area.
Museums
Museum Pass
At the cost of MOP$25 for adults and MOP$12 for children under 18 years old and senior over 60 years old, visitors can buy a Museum Pass, which entitles to one free entry, within a period of 5 days to each of the following museums: Grand Prix Museum, Wine Museum, Maritime Museum, Lin Zexu Museum, Museum of Art and Museum of Macau.
Museum Pass may be purchased at above Museums.
Taipa Houses - Museum
The Association of the eight panoramas of Macau selected the landscape that merges the classified area constituted by the Taipa Houses-Museum, the Carmo Church, the Carmo Lirbrary and the two little gardens as one of the eight views of Macau, especially the Taipa Houses-Museum, which includes five typical green houses with Macanese architectural characteristics of Portuguese Matrix, is considered one of the cultural relics and heritages of the Island.
The Taipa Houses-Museum was built in 1921, which had been the residences for high superiors and Macanese families. In the 80’s, the Tourist Department of Macau (now the Macau Government Tourist Office) bought and recovered them. In late 90’s, the government decided to fully remodel them, recognizing its important architectural value, transforming them into museums and renaming the houses as “Macanese House”, “House of the Islands”, “House of the Portugal Regions”, “Exhibition Gallery” and “House for Reception” The Taipa Houses-Museum opened to public on 5 December 1999 and is administrated by the Civil and Municipal Affairs Bureau.
The Macanese House
The “Macanese House” is one of the Macau’s typical houses in colonial style. It reminds visitors a period of Portuguese splendor that was characterized by frequent affluence of the British, Manchu, Mandarins and traders in this tiny territory. Wandering along the houses, anyone can admire and recognize the living standard of the Macanese families during that period. The characteristic of the house, furniture, objects, replicas and decoration is from the beginning of the 20th century.
House of the Islands
The “House of the Islands” is the only museum, where the physiognomy and history of the Taipa and Coloane Islands is exhibited. One can imagine by reviewing in retrospective, the past and the present on the Islands through historical traces, figures and written description. It is represented with ten themes, the characteristic of its physiognomy, archaeology, history development, actual population and transportation, temples, Portuguese building, cuisine, infrastructures and local activities.
House of the Portugal Regions
The “House of the Portugal Regions” is where Portuguese costume from different regions is shown.
Exhibition Gallery
The Gallery has served as a venue to host different kinds of exhibitions periodically with theme of photography, western painting, Ceramics and ware, sculpture etc and so far the host has invited different artists from all over the world such as Korea, Poland and Shanghai.
House of Reception
The “House for Reception” is designated only for private or government reception, as well as cultural events and gastronomy festivals.
Address: Avenida da Praia, Carmo Zone, Taipa, Macau
Tickets Price: Adult Mop$5.00, Student Mop$3.00, Group Mop$2.00, free entrance for children under 12 years old and seniors over 65 years old. Free entrance on Tuesdays.
Opening hours: 10:00a.m. to 6:00p.m. Open everyday except Mondays (if Monday happens to be public holidays, the museum will be closed on the next day). Open on public holidays.
Enquiries Tel.: (853) 28827103 / 28827527
E-mail: dic@iacm.gov.mo
Bus routes: 11,22,28A,30,33,34
Museum of Taipa and Coloane History
The two-storey Museum of Taipa and Coloane History consists of nine exhibition rooms, a video presentation zone and a souvenir shop. A comprehensive collection of exhibits are displayed at the museum.
On the first floor, the exhibitions of the historical relics unearthed in Coloane, the stone architectural remains in the basement of the building of former Island Municipal Council, and the development of the villages, religions and culture of the islands provide an overview of the history and culture of old Coloane and Taipa.
The exhibition rooms on the second floor have different themes, including the history of the former Islands Municipal Council, a look back at agriculture and handicrafts in the old days, the architectural features of buildings in Coloane and Taipa and the recent development of the two islands. It provides visitors with a better understanding of the modern political and economical development of Coloane and Taipa.
Address : Rua Correia da Silva, Taipa
Opening Hours : 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Closed on Mondays.
Admission : Adult – MOP5.00,Student I.D. holder – MOP2.00,Group(Minimum 10 people) – MOP2.00,Free admission for under 12 or over 65 years old . (Free entrance on Tuesdays)
Tel :(853) 28827103 / 28825631
Website: http://www.iacm.gov.mo/cotaimuseum
Source: Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau
Temples
Pou Tai Un
Pou Tai Un on Taipa Island is one of the best-endowed and most picturesque temples in Macau. It was founded in the 19th century by Buddhist monks and the original prayers hall contains images of the three Precious Buddhas.
Since then, both the monastery and temples have been extended and enriched by devotees. There are new pavilions with soaring yellow-tile roofs and an elegant status of Kun Iam on a marble-columned terrace.
The monks live in adjoining building. When not busy with prayers, they tend a large vegetable garden and operate a vegetarian restaurant where some of the produce is prepared.
Whether vegetarian or not, visitors will enjoy this casual verandah cafe, where the freshness of the ingredients is matched by the imaginative preparation and wide range of dishes.
Beer and soft drinks are available and prices are very low.
For enquiries: (853) 28811007
Other Things to See
Four Faces Buddha Shrine
There are two Four Faces Buddha in Macau: one at the end of the car park of the Macau Jockey Club on Taipa Island; and the other at the International Centre close to the wharf which is a very interesting monument in an ornate Thai Style.
Sai Van Bridge
The Sai Van Bridge was officially inaugurated on December 19, 2004. The 560 million-pataca 2,200-meter bridge links Macau with Taipa and also with Cotai, the site of several soon-to-be completed new casinos, hotels and resorts, making a smooth link between the southwestern end of Macau and the northwest coast of Taipa, and easing traffic flow.
The cable-stayed bridges have been built in many other parts of the world, but the two-deck design for Macau may well be unique. The enclosed second deck fulfilled one of the fundamental criteria for Macau’s third bridge, which was that it, unlike the two existing bridges, could be used safely during typhoons. The lower deck is designed to make the bridge a dual-purpose structure that can accommodate a future light rail system. The Sai Van Bridge is also strategically placed to interface smoothly with a proposed future mainland light rail link to Guangzhou.
Source: Macao Government Tourist Office