"Gold is enough to lose, gold is enough to lose, Jingle Bells" If you talk about Christmas, the atmosphere in Xiamen is far from enough. Therefore, on Christmas Eve this year, I chose Macau, which coincides with the 20th anniversary of the return to Daqing. , together with my best friend, come to a prodigal journey! Twice a year in Macau, I really love it!
With the bright red festive stage and Christmas snowflake elements, Senado Square is already a sea of joy.
Santa Claus at the Ruins of St. Paul's Square also dispatched together
I have never seen the night of Ruins, so dazzling
The more exciting the night, the lights of the Macao Light Festival make people intoxicated.
When you stay at The Venetian Macao, you can’t stop shopping.
Take a gondola ride and experience the romance of Venice
Delicious food, from corner shops to high-end restaurants in Sands Cotai, Macau has great food.
【Strategy】
1. Regarding visas: To go to Macau, you need to apply for a Hong Kong and Macau Exit Permit. It is recommended to replace it with a card, which will be more convenient. Self-service customs clearance is quick and easy, and the visa must be within the validity period. The card is also very convenient. For example, at the gate of Xiamen, I can renew my visa on the self-service machine at the exit and entry of Xiamen. I can get a new visa in 1 minute. Compared with the previous book, it takes more than 3-5 working days to send Going back or picking it up by yourself saves a lot of trouble.
2. Regarding transportation: There are four types of transportation to Macau, direct flight, Zhuhai customs gate, boat from Hong Kong, and Zhuhai-Hong Kong-Macao Bridge, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. It is very convenient if you pass through Zhuhai. The Zhuhai Railway Station is next to the Gongbei Port, and you can go through the customs directly after dispatching the station. From Hong Kong to Macau, you need to take a boat. There are speedboats and ordinary boats. It takes about 1 hour and the fare is about 150. If you plan to visit Hong Kong together, you can come by boat through Hong Kong, which is also very convenient. The time for direct flight to different departure places is different. For example, if you come from Xiamen, you only have an afternoon or evening flight, which is actually a waste of half a day. I haven't tried the customs clearance method of the Zhuhai-Hong Kong-Macao Bridge. Those who have passed through are welcome to add explanations.
3. Regarding currency: The official currency of Macau is the Macau Pataca, but the Hong Kong dollar is also commonly used. Most small roadside stores (restaurants) do not support mobile payment channels such as WeChat and Alipay. Mobile payment is not as popular as in Hong Kong, but most drug stores support Alipay. It is recommended to prepare some MOP when you go to Macau. Prepare for a rainy day. Of course, if most of the shopping malls support card swiping, WeChat, and Alipay.
4. About the traffic in the city: Macau is actually not big. It consists of the Macau Peninsula, Taipa, and Coloane Island. The most convenient is the shuttle bus for entertainment venues. There are major buses from Gongbei Port, Hong Kong-Macau Ferry Terminal, and the airport. Shuttle buses for entertainment venues, (of course, if it is too late, there is no one, so it is not recommended to take a late flight to Macau). The bus price is uniform, 6 Australian dollars, and there is no change for direct coin insertion, but you must pay attention to the bus and pay attention to the stop. The direction indicated by the bus waiting booth is not clear, so pay attention to check. It is more expensive to take a taxi. The starting price is 19 Australian dollars, and 2 yuan per 240 meters jumping meter (I am terrified, but if there are many people and the distance is relatively close, it is recommended to take a taxi), and there is an additional 5 Australian dollars for taxis from the airport, plus 5 Australian dollars for luggage. 3 Australian dollars, and there is another charge for crossing the bridge... Distressed.
5. About hotels: The most important thing in Macau is luxury hotels, as long as your budget is sufficient. Of course, in fact, as long as you keep an eye on it, if you are lucky, you can still book a good hotel at a low price. The price of the luxury Belle Suite at The Venetian Macao this time is less than 1400HK on the official website, which is really worth it.
[Itinerary: This time the main line is to buy, buy, buy]
It’s not the first time for my best friend and I to visit Macau, and we have already checked in famous scenic spots such as Ruins of St. Paul’s and Longhuan Portuguese Rhyme. Therefore, in fact, for three days and two nights, the two of us basically have nothing but meals. I keep buying, buying, buying! (The fighting power of the two women is really terrifying)
D1: I passed the customs from Zhuhai in the morning. On the left hand side of the exit, I took the Venetian shuttle bus to the hotel to store my luggage first (guests can store it for free, tourists can also store it for a fee, 20mop/piece), and then go shopping in the St. Paul’s block Buy medicines, have lunch [Uncle Bao’s Food], and meet up with my best friend at the hotel at 4 pm. She flies directly from Xiamen to Macau, and also takes a shuttle bus from the airport to the hotel. Dinner [Chiado Portuguese Restaurant], take a walk after dinner to see the night view of Sands City.
D2: Hotel [Xianfengwei] buffet breakfast, shopping at the Grand Canal Shopping Center (Uniqlo bought it for two hours), 12:00 [Parisian Fashion Gallery] to create an exclusive personal look (you can make an appointment online for free), 14:30 Continue to buy, buy, buy in the center of the Grand Canal, eat [Andrew’s Egg Tart], take a [Gondola Boat], go to the Ruins of St. Paul’s at 16:30, watch the performance of the 20th anniversary light and shadow show, and have dinner [Fengcheng Zhuji Pasta Expert 】
D3: Hotel [Xianfengwei] buffet breakfast, Grand Canal Shopping Center continue to buy, buy, buy... (served both of us), lunch [Imperial Lotus Palace], check out and take the hotel shuttle bus to the airport, MF8682 Macau-Xiamen
【About Shopping】
I always thought that I was a very restrained person. When shopping, I never thought that two women would lose themselves in shopping, especially the Grand Canal Shopping Plaza. I couldn’t stop shopping. And it's just downstairs in the hotel. After buying it, I took it back to the room and went down to continue fighting. I carried two more bags in my hand.
1. Drugs: Hong Kong and Macau are famous for their drugs, so you have to buy some every time you come. I am used to shopping in Senado Square. There are dozens of drug stores on the main road in the direction of the Ruins of St. Paul’s, and Alipay can also be used for payment, but the price of the same drug in each store will still vary slightly. It is recommended You can also shop around. There are basically no such small drug stores in the shopping malls of the Golden Sands Resort.
2. Beauty makeup: Sasa and Watsons, which everyone likes very much, can be said to be everywhere, but if you stay in a hotel under the Sands Resorts (such as the Venetian, Parisian), it is recommended to go directly to the Grand Canal Shopping Center, Sands City, Buying from stores inside the Parisian, the customer flow will be much less than that outside, and the service will be better. Of course, such international famous products as L’Occitane, SK-II, and Clarins are also sold in special counters or specialty stores in various shopping malls under the Sands Resort, and they can also participate in shopping mall discounts.
3. Clothes, shoes, hats and bags: cheap ones such as Bossini are sold in the area around the Ruins of St. Paul’s. Familiar brands such as Uniqlo and H&M seem to have more styles in Macau than in mainland China. There is an exchange rate difference, which is equivalent to a 17% discount! (This time I couldn't get out of Uniqlo in the Grand Canal Shopping Center...)
4. Luxury goods: Macau is synonymous with luxury, and almost all the luxury goods you can think of are available here.
5. Electrical appliances: In fact, I do not recommend buying mobile phones, cameras and other electronic equipment abroad or in Hong Kong and Macau. Electronic equipment has probability problems. Once there are any quality or other problems when returning to China, warranty and maintenance will be very troublesome.
Finally, if you have a shopping plan, you can take a look at the overseas credit card discounts of major banks, as well as the overseas preferential policies of Alipay and WeChat, some vouchers and red envelopes, remember to get them~ you can save a little, and you can buy more what~
Recommended shopping place: The Venetian Grand Canal Shopping Center, the artificial sky makes you feel like you are outside, so big that you need to download the app to find a store, and you can buy it if you are optimistic about it, because the price of the same brand in the Sands Resort It's the same, there is no price comparison problem, otherwise if you miss it and want to come back to buy it again, you will have to go a long way.
【San Bus, Day and Night Carnival】
Speaking of the most classic tourist attractions in Macau, it is the Ruins of St. Paul's. This area is concentrated in Senado Square, Our Lady of the Rosary Church, Ruins of St. Paul's, Macau Museum, Fortress of St. Paul and other famous attractions. There are also many merchants in the district, and you can buy almost all kinds of souvenirs, cosmetics, and medicines. At the entrance of the Parisian Hotel, you can take 26A directly and get off at Xinma Road/Yongting Station, which is Senado Square. This is also the area that I have to visit almost every time I come to Macau. No matter how many times I come to Macau, there are photos of Ruins of St. Paul’s.
The theme of Christmas, New Year and the 20th anniversary of comeback is everywhere, it is really a joyous scene. I just came here during the day and walked around, and at night I came to watch the light show and saw its morning and night.
Even the front of the Ruins of St. Paul's has added Santa Claus elements, cute and cute, and the blue sky and white clouds are super suitable for the scene. Of course, it's almost impossible to capture moments of no one here.
The Macao Light and Film Festival held in December every year, and this year it is even more lively due to the celebration of the 20th anniversary of the handover.
The Ruins of St. Paul's starts at 19:00 every day, and every half hour there is a 5-minute light and shadow show, "Bloom (blooming)" created by the Spanish team, "Time Celebration" created by the Macau team and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay The "Adventures of Little Snowflakes" created by the team from the regional city of Shenzhen not only highlights the architectural beauty of the Ruins of St. Paul's, but also showcases the unique culture of Macau. The best camera position is the second flat ground under the steps. The mobile phone can just record the panorama, but the disadvantage is that there are too many people. However, if you squeeze into the first row, the mobile phone cannot record the panorama (unless there is a wide-angle lens),
On weekdays, the Ruins of St. Paul's, which is extremely deserted at night, becomes lively because of the elements of the Light and Shadow Festival, and it is indeed worth seeing.
[The romance of the Venetians, from the gondola boat]
I am actually quite familiar with the Venetian Hotel. I was attracted by the artificial sky of the Grand Canal Shopping Center for the first time during my first trip to Macau 10 years ago when the Venetian Hotel was just built. After so many years, luxury hotels in Macau have emerged one after another, but the Grand Canal Shopping Center does not look outdated at all, and we have to admire the forward-looking designers of the year.
A gondola is a traditional flat-bottomed Venetian rowboat. It resembles a canoe, only narrower. For centuries, gondolas have been the most common boat and primary form of transportation in Venice. In modern times, the iconic boat still plays an important role in the city's public transport, serving as a traghetti (ferry) on the Grand Canal. However, today they mainly carry tourists for a fixed price. There were an estimated 80,000 to 10,000 gondolas in the 17th and 18th centuries. More than 400 people are still in service today, and almost all ships are employed by tourists.
When you come to The Venetian Macao, you can also experience this unique means of transportation. This is also the first time I have been to the Venetian so many times to sit on a gondola boat. The entire boat journey takes about 10 minutes. The three canals are not connected to each other. Previously, the boatman had always been dominated by men, but this time he was on a boat owned by a beautiful boatman.
Gondola tickets are divided into weekday tickets and weekend and holiday tickets, which can be bought directly on the spot or booked online, and there will be some discounts. You can board the boat at any pier, and there are many people who need to queue up.
Generally, there are 4 people in a boat, and the boat can also be chartered. The entire voyage is only about 10 minutes. In the first half, you can quietly enjoy the beauty of the Grand Canal Shopping Center. The artificial sky is reflected in the clear water. The canal is surrounded by Venetian buildings and arch bridges, making people feel like they are in a romantic place. Venice, enjoy the exotic style.
In the second half, the boatman sang on the return journey, the singing was melodious, and there was also the Chinese song "The Moon Represents My Heart". There is also a video service here. Although it is a bit expensive, it feels memorable to take home.
【Festive elements in Jinsha Tourist Area make people linger and forget to return】
There is also a light festival performance in the Jinsha tourist area at night. The Parisian Eiffel Tower routinely has a light show every 15 minutes, which is in line with the factors of Christmas and New Year's Day, adding a cheerful "Jingle Bells" soundtrack. It is said that the countdown event will also be held at the outdoor artificial lakeside of the Venetian Macao on New Year's Eve. District and the Parisian Garden of The Parisian Macao, presenting live performances by top bands, festive food, festive gifts, etc. to the audience. A large-scale New Year's Eve countdown concert will also be staged at the Cotai Arena that night.
The best place to take pictures of the Eiffel Tower is in the outdoor smoking area between the Sands City and the Venetian, where you can take a panoramic view.
With the theme of the 20th anniversary of Macao's return to China, the 3D light effect projection show projected festive colorful patterns and scenes onto the exterior walls of The Venetian Macao's buildings with an area of more than 43,000 square feet. From November 14, 2019 to January 2, 2020, the dazzling light projection show will be staged every half hour from 6:30 pm to 10:30 pm.
Really happy. There are also Christmas post offices and so on, which make people feel the joyous atmosphere of the New Year.
The most amazing thing is that on the Neptune Fountain in the lobby of the Parisian Hotel, there is a Christmas tree about 17 meters high and upside down. watch! I feel that the seat on the 5th floor will be the most shocking.
In addition, some fashion elements in every corner are also good places to take pictures, which can be literary and romantic.
Of course, it can also be extremely luxurious. Whether it is the Parisian Hotel or the Venetian Hotel, the first sight when you enter the hotel is magnificent, and the eyes are full of rich gold!
[Personalized fashion styling, create makeup and clothing that suits you]
I have been suffering from not knowing how to match and what kind of makeup and clothing are suitable for me. In Jinsha Resort, I can enjoy personalized fashion styles for free. Apply on the official website in advance, and just go there according to the agreed time.
The latest "Parisian Fashion Gallery" launched by Shoppes at Parisian aims to provide more experiential and personalized services for guests who pursue elegance and fashion. The styling consultant will make image changes or give fashion suggestions according to the guests' personal preferences or special occasions they need to attend, and will accompany them to shop at Shoppes at Parisian in order to find the most suitable outfit for the guests.
First of all, I will help you do a color matching analysis. Through the color test of different colors of cloth, you can make reference recommendations for the color system of future outfits. For example, I am more suitable for clothes in warm colors.
Then comes the makeup. The makeup artist will design the makeup according to your skin tone and face shape and the occasion you want to attend. For example, I planned to take street photos later, so I helped me paint a more everyday makeup that is easy to take pictures.
It will also take you to Parisian Shopping Center to choose clothes that suit you, or you can also try different styles of outfits, and they will not sell any products. You can try clothes boldly without any psychological burden.
Such a thoughtful and free personalized styling service, I did not expect to experience it in the Parisian Fashion Gallery of Sands Resorts Macao.
[Luxury Venetian Belle Suite, creating a fresh style of modern Venice water]
When you come to Macau, the most comfortable thing is actually to stay in a hotel. For the same price, hotels in Macau can be said to be much more comfortable than those in Hong Kong. It is especially recommended to stay in a hotel in the Jinsha tourist area. You don't have to go out at all, and you can eat, drink, play and shop in one package.
Luxurious Belle Suite, a large space of 70 square meters, can accommodate up to 4 people. Such a luxury suite can be booked in advance on the official website on weekdays, and can be won at around 1300hk, which can be said to be super value!
Mainly modern and fresh style, retaining the essence of dark blue symbolizing Venetian cultural elements
The living room is independent, and the desk is equipped with a 220V power supply common to mainland China, no need for a conversion plug
The luxurious marble bathroom has a separate vanity and double sinks, so you don't have to fight for the sink anymore.
There is an independent reading light at the head of the bed. Compared with the design directly above the head of the bed in many hotels, this one is on the oblique side, and the light is softer
Newspapers are delivered every day~
The biggest advantage is that the Grand Canal shopping street is just downstairs, and you can't stop shopping every day. Tired of shopping, come up to have a cup of tea and watch TV, then go downstairs for a stroll.
When you come to Macau, you should find a hotel like this, buy and buy, treat yourself well, and enjoy this shopping paradise.
[From roadside stalls to Michelin stars, Macau is delicious]
As a modern city with multiculturalism, Macao also has a rich variety of cuisines. Traditional Macao flavors, Cantonese-style and Portuguese-style cuisines are all loved by locals, and many international cuisines are also gathered. People often describe Macau as the "City of Gastronomy". Eating in Macau has become one of the main reasons for many people to travel to Macau. As a food blogger, every trip to Macau must be eaten~
※Uncle Bao's gourmet food
At the end of this year, going to Macau for New Year's Eve is the most worthwhile! Coinciding with the 20th anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland and the double day festival, the entire city of Macao is a sea of carnival! You must clock in at the Ruins of St. Paul’s, and this must-eat restaurant hidden in the alley also needs to clock in! The 70-year-old Baoshu Cuisine has been in business since 1947.
Address: Shop 6A, G/F, Guangye Building, Delong New Street, Shouhouwei (next to the God of Fortune Hotel)
Recommended dishes: (It’s more casual for one person to eat)
Shark fin rice, 58mop, not to mention the real and fake shark fin, I love the soup base, and the bibimbap is super delicious! There are really big shark fins!
Milk tea, more original flavor, you can add syrup yourself
Pineapple oil, meringue is well done, it goes well with milk tea!
※Fengcheng Zhuji Noodle Expert
On the second night, I used the Ruins of St. Paul's for the second time, and I was still looking for delicious food in the alley, and Fengcheng Zhuji was one of them. It was also next to the Uncle Bao’s delicacy I ate on the first day.
Address: 1st Floor, No. 127 Camp Street
Recommended dishes: (the amount of food for two people in the picture below, propped up to the supporting wall)
Curry belly noodles, 26mop, super cost-effective, the beef brisket is much larger and chewy, and the noodles are wonton noodles, which are more chewy.
Squid noodles, 26mop, the squid is cut into small pieces, and the bowls are made of porcelain bowls with a sense of age, which is very impressive~
Fengcheng Three Treasures, 45mop, wontons, dumplings, fish skin corners, super love fish skin corners, you can see that they are all packed at the door, a big bowl full, cost-effective!
※Chiado Portuguese Restaurant
When you stay at The Venetian Macao, come check out this Chiado Portuguese restaurant, which is also located in the Sands tourist area!
Address: No. 2206, 2nd Floor, Sands Cotai Central, Macau, Cotai Strip Connecting Road
The whole environment is also full of Portuguese style, very elegant!
"Chiado Portuguese Restaurant" is co-managed by Portuguese star chef Henrique Sá Pessoa. With the concept of casual high-end dining, combined with modern and innovative styles, it presents the most delicious classic Portuguese dishes to diners.
Grilled octopus with chili almond miso sauce and tender asparagus. As a starter, the presentation is quite surprising. The taste of octopus is completely different from what we usually eat. It is a bit soft and glutinous, and the tender asparagus is refreshing!
Lobster cream soup with cornbread and coriander mousse, the lobster meat is peeled and mixed in the creamy soup, and the coriander mousse with it can remove the fishy smell!
Portuguese-style cod with slow-cooked egg yolk and onion puree, the presentation is very in line with the atmosphere of the restaurant, (patients with intensive phobia may be a little worried) the cod is slow-cooked, remember to stir the egg yolk before eating, the taste is super unique!
Suckling pig confit with turnip puree, pickled onions and black pepper sauce. For carnivores, this suckling pig confit is recommended. The skin is super crispy. The suckling pig is also slow-cooked at low temperature to retain the original aroma of the meat!
Chocolate bomb with salty caramel hazelnut ice cream, recommended dessert must order, a little sweet, but girls really love it! Chocolate balls should be rolled on the dipping sauce first~
Haiyun citrus, grapefruit sorbet and seaweed frosting, in comparison, this one is very refreshing, slightly sour and particularly stimulating taste buds, and the grapefruit aroma is also very strong!
Cocktail recommendation: The capital of Macau and Chiado special cocktails all have stories~ The alcohol content is not high, just a little drunk!
※ Lotus Palace
To travel in Macau, you only need to find a hotel, especially the Sands tourist area, from the Parisian to the Venetian to the Sands Cotai, the whole area allows you to eat, drink, buy, buy, buy, and shop in three or four days! After shopping, I stopped by the Parisian Lotus Palace for lunch.
Address, No. 3316, Level 3, The Parisian Macao, Cotai Strip, Cotai Strip, Macau
Soak the snails in green mustard juice, which is very characteristic of southern Fujian, and it is super fairy on the table! Hualuozi is very Q, with mustard taste, endless aftertaste!
Black Truffle Queensland Crab Meat and Spinach Dumplings. This dumpling looks ordinary, but it is full of good ingredients. It is decorated with black truffles and filled with crab meat.
Shrimp and leek beancurd skin rolls, this is a huge portion, the bean curd skin is very crispy, the inside is fresh shrimp, the taste is very delicious
Purple potato crispy shrimp rice rolls, the skin is made of purple potatoes, so it is purple, and the inside is still wrapped with shrimp rice rolls, the rice rolls are very waxy.
Pan-fried abalone and glutinous rice chicken, two unrelated foods, abalone and glutinous rice chicken, are very interesting. The glutinous rice chicken is fried, and the bottom is crispy. A bite has both the aroma of glutinous rice and chicken gravy.
Stir-fried shrimp balls with pumpkin and wet butter. The shrimp balls are very big. The appearance is covered with pumpkin and butter. The whole taste is relatively crispy and has a milky aroma.
This restaurant also specializes in seafood hot pot, you can try it next time!
※Salty and abundant
When staying at The Venetian Macao, the two-day buffet breakfast is served in Xianfengwei, located on the first floor of the hotel, near the elevator in the south wing. The buffet breakfast is served from 6:30 am to 11 am, so you don't have to eat lunch.
The environment of the restaurant is very elegant, the whole is resplendent and magnificent, and the elevated space gives people a broad view.
There are many types of meals, but the breakfast may be a bit messy after seeing too much. It feels best to cook some noodles casually for two days.
I really like this freshly cooked pho, a hot bowl, I feel energetic all day long.
Buffet lunch and dinner are also available, it is recommended to book a place in advance.
※Andrew Egg Tart
When you come to Macau, you must eat egg tarts. The most famous egg tarts in Macau are Andrew and Margaret. There is also an Andrew in the Grand Canal Shopping Center. It can be said that it is a must-see every time you come.
The location is on the 3rd floor of No. 870, Venetian Shopping Center. The dine-in location is relatively small, but if you just sit on the side of the Grand Canal and eat, you can enjoy the melodious singing of the gondola boatman, which is very pleasant. Not far from dine-in, there is also a small stall that can take away directly.
One egg tart is 12mop, 6 65mop, of course 6 came. The hot egg tarts are really delicious, with a crispy egg tart skin and a tender inside, and the mixture of egg liquid and caramel is just right, and it will not be too sweet. It is no problem for one person to have two or three.
It is a good choice with a cup of coffee or lemon tea.
How can you come to Macau without eating egg tarts?
【postscript】
A date in Macau
With the blessings of the 20th anniversary of the return, the Christmas season, and the New Year's Eve triple festival, I am intoxicated
The gorgeous light show, grotesquely displayed in front of your eyes
And, I can’t stop buying, buying, eating, and eating
