56 SEPTEMBER 2019 / TRAVELANDLEISUREASIA.COM
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CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: JAMES NESTERWITZ/ALAMY STOCK PHOTO; MANFRED GOTTSCHALK/GETTY IMAGES; CARMO CORREIA/ALAMY STOCK PHOTOAN AUDIENCE WITH PANDAS
Now that where-anything-goes
Macau is officially a part of China,
it shouldn’t come as a surprise that
a main attraction these days is
pandas. A mere 15 minutes by taxi
or bus from Macau proper drops you
in front of the Macau Giant Panda
Pavillion Coloane (macaupanda.
org.mo). Here, you can get up close
with red pandas Luo Luo and Tong
Tong as well as the family of giant
pandas: Kai Kai, Xin Xin, Jian Jian
and Kang Kang, whose names
collectively mean happy and healthy
in Mandarin.
THE COLOANE HIKING TRAIL
Standing outside a glittering casino,
it’s difficult to wrap your mind
around the fact that Macau has its
fair share of beaches and greenery.
Hiking trails vary in distance and
xxxx xxxx x
xxxx x xxxx xxxSymbols of
China, giant
pandas.The sign
says it all.difficulty, but most routes shouldn’t
take more than two hours. A novice
would be pleased with the options
of four family trails located around
the Panda Pavillion (Estrada de Seac
Pai Van; 853/2888-0087). The main
circular route loops around the
hill before it forks, either to Hac Sa
Beach, Coloane Village or the Panda
Pavillion. For views of the sea and
the protection of a leafy canopy,
head along the southern part of the
Coloane trail.A-MA CULTURAL VILLAGE
This 7,000-square-meter complex
on top of a hill, with ornately carved
reliefs on the temple’s pavilion
roofs, is definitely worth a visit.
Named after the Goddess of the
Seafarers, A-Ma Cultural Village
(Estrada do Alto de Coloane) is also
home to a tall statue of the goddess.
The towering piece of carved white
stone can be seen from afar atop
the 170-meter hill. The approach
to the temple is up a series of small
stepped terraces, decorated with
auspicious carved reliefs, including
the roaring tiger, double lion, five
cranes and double phoenix, leading
up to the main pavilion.On the ninth day of the ninth
lunar month, Chung Yeung Festival
is celebrated across China. Crowds
of devotees scale up the hill in
Coloane to the A-Ma Temple—the
custom of hiking uphill stems from
legends about dodging misfortunes
and the need to metaphorically keep
scaling heights in life, from career
prospects to prayers for children to
grow tall and strong.ANY GOOD WALK DESERVES A MEAL
After any trek in Coloane, stop
by Café Nga Tim (8 Rua Caetano;
853/2888-2086) in the village for
lunch. Order the entire range of
garlic shrimps, garlic clams, and the
sweet and sour pork, a Guangdong
specialty. Then head over to the
original Lord Stow’s Bakery (1 Rua
do Tassara; 853/2888-2534) and
finish your meal off with a piping-
hot Portuguese egg tart, its buttery,
flaky crust filled with wobbly
smooth egg custard, lightly torched
with caramelized sugar on top.
If you prefer Western food,
there are several Portuguese
eateries as well as pizza at La
Gondola (41 Escadaria da Praia de
Cheoc Van; 853/2888-0156), >>Macau’s A-Ma
Te m p l e.