| Shopping Macau is a place where you can purchase almost all sorts of merchandise and fulfill all your shopping desires. Luxury items are cheaper here than in most other cities in the region. Jewelry (particularly gold), Chinese antiques, porcelain, electronic items, mobile phones, watches, cashmere sweaters and silk clothing are available at very reasonable prices. Manufacturing for the export market is one of the main business in Macau, so there is an abundance of goods for sale at bargain prices, and shopping can be fun and economical. The best buys are in jewelry, clothing, toys, antiques and reproduction furniture and electronic goods. The Senado Square is the historic heart of Macau, and also the location of one of the newest and best municipal markets, surrounded by several blocks of bustling street stalls. The square itself is a historic site, with the 16th century S??o Domingos Church at one end and the Provisional Municipal Council of Macau building on the other, on what used to be Macau's main shopping street, Avenida Almeida Ribeiro. In the narrow streets leading off the main square a wealth of inexpensively priced goods of all kinds can be found, with a good selection of local and international snacks conveniently nearby. Clothing is the biggest item here, and you'll find vendors specializing in locally manufactured baby clothes, undergarments, shoes, or accessories as well as jeans, sweaters, t-shirts ad sportswear in all sizes and styles. Nearby, the Sun Star City on Rua de Pedro Nolasco and Sportstar, a two-storey arcade of specialty shops on Rua da Palha offer a delightful variety of clothing, watches, stylish and original accessories like sunglasses, handbags, shoes and novelty items. On the other side of Avenida Almeida Ribeiro ies an area that is a little harder to find but an interesting excursion for more adventurous shoppers. Follow Rua do Dr. Soares uphill behind the Provisional Municipal Council of Macau building until you reach Rua de Felicidade, then turn right. Continue down past the restored 19th century shop houses in what was once a thriving red-light district, and you will find a part of town that is less visited by tourists and a fascinating place to browse among shops selling jewelry, curios, dried beef and even live snakes. At the end of the street lies the Porto Interior, lined with old and two storied houses that in times past held ship's chandlers shops and now still house a few such establishments, rare glimpses of the old Macau that are fast disappearing. Adjacent to the old Ponte e Horta municipal market, the Opium House has recently been restored and classified for its historic significance. The Red Market is located on the corner of Avenida Almirante Lacerda and Avenida Horta e Costa, in an area that has some of Macau's most interesting 20th century architecture. The market was built in 1936 by the Macanese architect J??lio Alberto Basto in the Art Deco style and is classified as an architectural heritage site. It still houses a vigorous trade, with vendors selling dried foods, fresh produce, fish and meat. In earlier times the market was closer to the waterfront, and vendors bought their goods directly at the nearby harbor. Today, all kinds of fish and seafood still arrive twice a day, and live poultry share quarters with fresh flowers, fruit and other produce. Avenida Horta e Costa is a long shopping street that begins at the Red Market and extends as far as the Flora Garden beneath Guia Hill. The avenue has several upmarket shops specializing in, among other things, clothing and shoes, electronic items, and cameras. But the best bargains are found in the streets surrounding the avenue. The historic "Three Lamps" area is a dense and vibrant network of street vendors and tiny shops selling many kinds of goods at bargain prices. The neighborhood begins at Rotunda de Carlos da Maia, with the three streetlamps that give it its name, and sprawls over several square blocks, with most shops located on Rua de Manuel de Arriaga and Rua de Tom Pires. Casinos and gambling There are altogether ten casinos in Macau and Taipa, operating 24 hours a day, including the 4-storey casino at Hotel Lisboa. All casinos offer probably the widest range of games in the world, including baccarat, blackjack, roulette, boule, "big and small", fan-tan and of course, hundreds of the most glittering array of slot machines anywhere (the locals call them "hungry tigers"). Players are not obliged to tip the croupiers and any request for a tip by the casino employees may be ignored. All Casinos in Macau are operated under Government franchise by the "Sociedade de Turismo e Diversoes de Macau", SARL (STDM). Founded by Dr. Stanley Ho in 1962, STDM is Macau's largest commercial organisation, offering tourists a plethora of entertainment selections and leisure facilities besides gambling, bringing Macau to life and turns it into a round-the-clock city of fun and excitement. As for gambling games, the rules are standard in all gaming halls and games found in the casinos are: roulette, baccarat, boule, blackjack and slot machines. Apart from all these games you may find anywhere in the world, Macau Casinos have also two Chinese traditional games: "fan-tan" and "dai-siu" (or "Big and Small"). Foreign vistiors must be over 18 years old in order to enter into the casino. The casinos also enforce a strict dress code: male guests are prohibited from wearing shorts, sandels or slippers. Weapons, cameras or bags are also strictly prohibited. Night life and entertainment Nightlife in Macau is famous for its variety, frantic activity, mystery and cosmopolitan characteristics. We can literally say that the city does not sleep, for many bars, shops and restaurants are open all night long. Therefore visitors will have no problem should they wish to get a delicious meal in the middle of the night. There is a great variety of night entertainment in Macau. If you are looking for bars, you will find them both in any five-star hotel and also the local pubs and music-bars. There you will find diversion together with a drink and unusual music, also a characteristic of Macau. Bars offer international, Brazilian, Latin or African music, many of them with live bands playing upon the customers' requests such as Bar Fortuna Palace (Hotel Fortuna, 6th Floor), Embassy Bar at Hotel Mandarin, UFO at Jai Alai Complex, Jazz Club near the Kun Iam Statue, etc... Though you can dance in most of the bars, you can also find discos with offering top music in the area (in Mandarin, Cantonese, Thai and other) together with international music. They offer amusing and cosmopolitan entertainment. These places are all around the city, but mostly in Av. Sun Yat Sen, near the Macau Cultural Centre and the Kun Iam Goddess Statue. There are also a few pubs on Taipa Island, just opposite the Macau Jockey Club, you will find the Irish Pub, Patio de Cantigas, etc... Night Show Performances is another option for live entertainment. Crazy Paris Show perform twice daily at Hotel Lisboa, at 8:00 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. While Jai Alai Show Palace located at 2nd Floor of Jai Alai Complex offers continuous show performances every night from 7:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. These are colourful shows, which are worth a visit. Besides bars, discos and show performances, you can always visit the Macau Casinos (open 24 hrs) and plunge into the frenetic world of gambling, a much peculiar characteristic of the city. Horse and greyhound racing The Macau Jockey Club is equipped with modern facilities and has assembled a cosmopolitan group of trainers, riders and administrators while horses are being imported from several countries in order to provide racing of international standards. With private boxes and air-conditioned grandstand, Club members and public can enjoy the races, whether watching them live, on the Diamond Vision or the closed circuit television monitors. Chinese and European restaurants are available. Summer recess is usually in between late June and early September. During June, when the weather is hot, races are conducted in the evening. Greyhound Racing takes place at the Canidrome on Avenida General Castelo Branco. These races are held on Mondays, Thursdays and weekends starting from 8:00 p.m. and there are 14 games on every racing evenings. Off-course betting centre is located on the G/F of the Hotel Lisboa, Jai-Alai Palace and Wing Heng Pacapio Centre. |
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