The Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) has added four new routes to its “Step Out, Experience Macau's Communities” walking tours, to encourage visitors to explore Macau's lesser-known districts and unlock the secrets of this fascinating East-meets-West pocket of Asia. The short and easy-to-follow routes offer visitors a glimpse into local life and take in hidden gardens, magical temples and stunning Chinese and Portuguese architecture and monuments.

The new routes join four existing tours, which have been redesigned, and together cover all corners of the total 11 square miles of Macau, which is made up of the Macau Peninsula and the islands of Taipa and Coloane.

All eight route maps are available to download via mobile apps for Andriod and iOS devices and can be viewed on www.macautourism.gov.mo.

The four new walking routes are as follows:

• Enchanting Stories of Our Lady of Fatima Parish (25 minutes): The tour of this old parish, where Portuguese and Chinese cultures coexist harmoniously, starts at the Arch of Barrier Gate and passes by the impressive 2,900 square-metre Areia Preta Triangle Garden; Lin Fung Temple, one of the three oldest temples in Macau; and the Ox Warehouse, an art gallery and performance space and meeting point for local artists.

• The Marriage of East and West in St. Anthony's Parish (40 minutes): Beautiful Portuguese and Chinese buildings are the stars of this route. Visitors will pass by well known landmark monuments such as the Ruins of St. Paul's and Na Tcha Temple, but also some lesser known gems – Tou Tei Temple in Sam Pa Mun, San Kio Garden, Casa House and the Protestant Cemetery. 

• Bygone Days of Taipa Village (25 minutes): Macau's bygone village life is perfectly reflected on this route of Taipa, the island located directly south of the Macau Peninsula. The stunning Taipa Houses Museum and its five Portuguese-style houses; the Catholic Our Lady of Carmo Church; and the maze of streets around Rua do Cunha or “Food Street” packed with restaurants serving traditional cuisine and local delicacies are a culture vulture's paradise.

• Nostalgia in Coloane (30 minutes): Located on the southernmost part of Macau, Coloane is where to experience laid back village life, helped by its green landscapes, beaches and sea breezes. Stops on this walking route include the colourful baroque-style Chapel of St. Francis Xavier; the Ancient Temple of Tin Hau, the oldest temple on the island; and Coloane Pier, which was once the ferry terminal between Coloane, Taipa and the Macau Peninsula before any roads and bridges were built.

The four existing walking routes have been re-designed to include more points of interest relating to culture, art, history and gastronomy and can be viewed online: http://en.macautourism.gov.mo/plan/our_suggested_tours.php

-ENDS-

For further media information and images contact:

Polly Martin or Enrique Martin
Macau Government Tourist Office – UK & Ireland Representative

E: polly@humewhitehead.co.uk / enrique@humewhitehead.co.uk

T: +44 (0) 845 498 9985 / 9984

About Macau:

Located just 40 miles from Hong Kong on China's South coast, Macau continues to surprise and thrill visitors with an ever-evolving hotel, restaurant, shopping and entertainment scene, whilst retaining its unique Portuguese influences inherent in its culture, architecture, events and fusion cuisine. Chosen as one of the top 10 regions for travel in 2015 in Lonely Planet's Best in Travel 2015, Macau packs a lot into its 11 square miles with an abundance of historical buildings, beaches, gardens, museums, spas, shopping malls, dazzling shows and activities ranging from golf to bungee jumping. A Special Administrative Region of China since 1999, Macau blends the best of the past with new and is fast becoming one of Asia's most intriguing destinations.

About the Macau Government Tourist Office:

The Macau Government Tourist Office is the tourism development arm of the government of the Macau SAR (Special Administrative Region) dedicated to promoting Macau as a preferred destination and co-ordinating related activities and services within the local tourism industry. www.macautourism.gov.mo