Taipa Island

In the 18th and early 19th centuries Taipa consisted of two hilly islands and a protected harbour which provided an anchorage for clipper ships and Indiamen engaged in trade with China. Smaller vessels would transship the cargoes of muslin, manufactured goods and opium up the Pearl River to Canton and return with tea, silk, and porcelain for export around the world. Taipa is now once again an international gateway with the opening of the Macau International Airport.

Pou Tai Un

Situated close to the bridge, this is the largest temple on the islands and still growing. New buildings with yellow-tiled roofs, vividly painted carved wooden eaves and ornate balconies stand overlooking older prayer halls, gardens with statues, carp ponds and classical pavilion as well as vegetable plots which, supply the kitchens of the vegetarian restaurant.

For enquiries: (853) 2881 1007

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.

Carmel Gardens and Taipa Praia

On a hill to the east of the village looking towards the causeway and Coloane Island is Our Lady of Carmel, a neo-classical church built in 1885. Paths wind down from the church square through the hillside Carmel Gardens to the Avenida da Praia, a tree-lined pedestrian area which harks back to the early days of the 20th century. Five restored Mediterranean style residences of the 1920's look out on the former anchorage of China trade clipper ships, and one of the buildings, the Macanese House Museum, contains period furnishings of Chinese and European styles and mementoes of Macanese life at the time. Taipa Praia is one of the best places to catch a cooling breeze in summer, and an ornate kiosk with cafe tables provides refreshments.

Flower City Garden

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.

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 Caf?, which is open to the public.

Macau University of Science and Technology

Macau University of Science and Technology (MUST) is committed to providing quality higher education to serve the needs of the Asia-Pacific region, and is determined to develop itself into an international academic institution.

MUST has established seven faculties: Faculty of Information Technology, Faculty of Management and Administration, Faculty of Law, Faculty of Chinese Medicine, Faculty of International Tourism, Faculty of Health Sciences and Faculty of Humanities and Arts. In addition, they also have the School of Graduate Studies and the School of Continuing Studies to ensure effective systematic management and stable long-term development.

The university campus is beautifully constructed with many spacious and bright classrooms. A state-of-the-art computer network, including wireless access to the internet, connects the whole campus, and LCD monitors are a standard feature. Using advanced optical fiber technology, the computer network and the digital IP telephone network are interlinked to provide efficient communication services. The University has invested strongly in advanced technologies to support teaching/learning processes, so as to ensure high quality education.

Macau Jockey Club

Weekend afternoon and mid-week might meetings are held on this modern, flood-lit 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) 2882 0868, HK Toll free 800967822.

Macau Stadium

Opened in early 1997 next to the Raceway, this sports arena has seats for 15,000. It has two playing fields for soccer, hockey, and track and field, plus two gymnasiums for basketball, volleyball, and gymnastics. The stadium is used for local and international sports events, gala occasions, and pop concerts.

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.

Taipa Village (40 minutes Hiking Trail)

Crossroad of Past and Present

Take a bus to the Taipa terminus...look in at the small Tin Hau Temple in the square...Opposite is a green and white neo-classical mansion that is the Museum of Taipa and Coloane History...Walk a few metres down Rua Correia da Silva and turn left into Travessa da Felicidade, continue to Rua dos Mercadores, one of a cluster of narrow streets lined with traditional Chinese shop-houses, with pastel plaster walls, wooden shutters and stucco ornamentation...at street level they contain shops, restaurants and family businesses...Stroll through Largo das Virtudes and Largo Maia de Magalh?es to Rua da Cunha, which is popularly known as Food Street because of the many restaurants here and on nearby streets, serving Portuguese, Macanese, Indian, Italian, different kinds of Chinese and even African food...Cross Rua Correia da Silva and take the narrow lane on your right to the cobbled slope of Cal?ada do Quartel (named after the former military fort on the hilltop)...which becomes Avenida Carlos da Maia...Pass the post office and school to reach Our Lady of Carmo (a pastel and white neo-classical church built in 1885)...In front are landscaped gardens, with fountains and vine-covered bowers...Take the zigzag path, lined with scallop-shaped borders, down to Avenida da Praia (this was the waterfront for merchants and sailors when the bay - now mostly reclaimed land - was anchorage for China Clippers and Indiamen)...You will find a beautifully restored row of early 20th-century houses and an avenue of banyans and flower-covered bowers...The first building is the Macanese House (filled with reproduction period furniture and furnishings in both Chinese and European style, illustrating the life of typical Macanese at the time)...Next door is the House of the Islands (displaying maps, pictures and memorabilia from Taipa and Coloane)...then the House of the Portugal Regions (displays of costumes, musical instruments and photos)...Next is the Exhibition Gallery, with changing shows of photographs, paintings and posters...and finally the largest house is now used for meetings and receptions,which can overflow onto the praia and a small open arena...Note that the museums are closed on Monday...By now you should be hungry, so walk back up the steps and take Cal?ada do Carmo to Avenida Direita Carlos Eug?nio...Opposite is one of the former firecracker factories that once flourished on Taipa...Ahead is Food Street!

Taipa - by night

There's plenty of nightlife on Taipa...Of course the many restaurants of Food Street are particularly busy...as are the island's major hotels, which contain casinos and nightclubs as well as a variety of places to eat and drink...But Taipa is also a place for sports fans...there are night meetings at the Macau Jockey Club's superb horse racing facility at midweek and sometimes weekend evenings...There's no need to plan in advance and it's easy to combine a night at the races with drinks and dinner either before or after...The other sports venue is the Macau Stadium, close to the race track...It is equipped to host soccer matches, track and field events or pop concerts...Check with the Tourist Office or your hotel for details.